Waikiki Lifeguard Cleared in Confrontation With Notorious Criminal

Criminal AttorneyAugust 13, 2025

On a hot day at Kuhio Beach, veteran lifeguard Christopher Kekaulike Kam stepped in when things got out of control. A known troublemaker, Tommy Joe Chiles, started harassing people on the sand. He was loud, drunk, and challenging strangers to fight. Kam knew he had to act.

Chiles is a 60-year-old convicted sex offender with 76 past convictions and nearly 400 run-ins with the law. His rap sheet is stacked with everything from sexual assault to domestic violence. On top of that, he wasn’t even supposed to be in Waikiki, thanks to a court-imposed geo-restriction. But that didn’t stop him.

The News / Kam, a 44-year-old lifeguard with more than 10 years on the job, saw Chiles becoming a threat. Witnesses later told police that Chiles was stumbling, yelling, and getting in people’s faces.

Some said he looked ready to fight. Kam didn’t attack him, didn’t lose his temper. But when Chiles tried to grab him, Kam defended himself with what he described as a push or kick.

That one move led to Kam’s arrest. He was booked for felony assault. It shocked a lot of people. Why was the lifeguard in cuffs while the guy harassing beachgoers walked free? It didn’t sit right with many in the community, and it didn’t last long.

The Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney reviewed the case. They looked at witness statements, police reports, and video. What they found backed Kam’s side of the story. Chiles had clearly been aggressive, and Kam had every reason to defend himself and others. Prosecutors dropped the charges, saying Kam acted in self-defense.

Chiles didn’t walk away clean, though. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and held on a $500 bail. He had a bleeding mouth and a scraped knee, but refused medical help at the scene. It wasn’t the first time he had gotten violent. In fact, he had a pending misdemeanor assault case from just a few weeks earlier, on June 18.

Standard procedure meant Kam was placed on leave while the investigation played out. That is common in cases like this. But now, that he has been cleared, many believe he should be back on the tower, watching over one of Oahu’s busiest beaches.

These men and women deal with everything from drunk tourists to unstable locals. They are often the first to respond in emergencies. They keep the peace when things get weird. Kam showed that side of the job when he stepped in.

Freepik / Chiles sustained minor injuries (bleeding mouth, scraped knee) but refused initial medical treatment. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and held on $500 bail.

There is a reason he stayed calm. Ten years on the beach teaches you how to read a situation. Kam didn’t lash out. He didn’t panic. He used minimal force when a volatile man crossed the line. The prosecutor saw that. The public saw that. And now the record shows it.

Chiles, on the other hand, is a walking red flag. He has had more court cases than most people can count. His list of convictions reads like a warning sign. He is known to be violent, drunk in public, and a danger to those around him.

The city needs to make sure people like Kam feel supported. No lifeguard should have to worry about getting arrested for stepping in to protect others.