What We Know
Gerhardt Konig: What We Know
Video · 3:17 · Watch on YouTube
Gerhardt Konig, an anesthesiologist from Maui, was convicted by a Honolulu jury on April 8, 2026 of attempted manslaughter based upon extreme mental or emotional disturbance, for a March 24, 2025 attack on his wife, Arielle Konig, on Oahu's Pali Puka Trail. She survived and testified. The jury did not convict him of the charged offense, second-degree attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty and testified that he acted in self-defense. On Sept. 18, 2026, Judge Paul B.K. Wong denied his motion for a new trial. Sentencing is set for Jan. 8, 2027.
What's confirmed
- March 24, 2025Arielle Konig, 36, was found on the Pali Puka Trail near the Pali Lookout on Oahu, where the couple was visiting from Maui. It was her birthday. Two other hikers called 911. She survived. Prosecutor release; ABC; NBC; Courthouse News
- March 28, 2025An Oahu grand jury indicted Gerhardt Konig, then 46, on a charge of second-degree attempted murder. He was held without bail. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney release, March 28, 2025
- Prosecutors alleged he tried to push her toward the cliff edge and then struck her with a rock. At trial he pleaded not guilty and testified that she shoved him first and he acted in self-defense. Prosecutor release; ABC; NBC; Courthouse News
- April 8, 2026The jury convicted him of attempted manslaughter based upon extreme mental or emotional disturbance, not the charged attempted murder. ABC; NBC; Courthouse News
- HRS § 707-702(2)extreme mental or emotional disturbance "is an affirmative defense, which reduces the offense to manslaughter or attempted manslaughter." Hawaii State Legislature
- After the verdict, the jury's foreperson told reporters that jurors did not think intent to kill was proven. NBC News; Courthouse News; KHON2
- The defense moved for a new trial, citing the foreperson's remarks and an anonymous comment on a trial livestream claiming to be texting a juror. Prosecutors answered that jury deliberations are secret and an anonymous internet comment is not enough. Courthouse News; KHON2; ABC
- September 2026The judge recalled all 12 jurors; each said they had not communicated with anyone outside the jury. ABC; Hawaii News Now; KHON2
- Sept. 18, 2026Judge Wong denied the motion, saying the verdict "was unanimous and impartial." Sentencing moved from Aug. 13 to Jan. 8, 2027. ABC; KHON2; Hawaii News Now; KITV
What we don't know / what's disputed
- What sentence the judge will impose. The maximum is 20 years (HRS § 706-659); his lawyer says he will ask for probation, which Hawaii law allows for this offense (HRS § 706-620).
- Whether an appeals court will hear the self-defense claim. His lawyer says he will appeal after sentencing; none had been filed as of Oct. 16, 2026.
- What happened on the trail is told two ways, prosecutors' and his own testimony; we report each as presented in court.
What happens next
Sentencing: Jan. 8, 2027, Judge Paul B.K. Wong. We'll update this when he is sentenced.
Chapters
- 0:00Gerhardt Konig verdict: what it decided
- 0:28Gerhardt Konig case: the Pali Puka Trail
- 0:56Gerhardt Konig trial: two accounts
- 1:28Gerhardt Konig verdict: what the law says
- 1:51Gerhardt Konig new trial: why no sentence yet
- 2:32Gerhardt Konig sentencing: where it stands
Read the video transcript
In April, a Honolulu jury was asked whether Gerhardt Konig, a doctor from Maui, tried to murder his wife on a hiking trail. The jury said no to attempted murder, and convicted him of attempted manslaughter instead. So what, exactly, did that verdict decide? And why, six months later, has he still not been sentenced?
March twenty-fourth, 2025. Arielle Konig, a nuclear engineer, and her husband had flown to Oahu from Maui. It was her birthday. They hiked the Pali Puka Trail, a narrow ridge above the Pali Lookout.
She was hurt there, and she survived. Two other hikers heard her and called 911. A year later to the day, she told a jury what happened. Prosecutors charged him with second-degree attempted murder.
They said he tried to push her toward the cliff edge, then struck her repeatedly with a rock. He pleaded not guilty. On the stand, he said she shoved him first, and that he hit her twice in self-defense. On April eighth, 2026, the jury did not convict on that charge.
Its verdict: attempted manslaughter, based on extreme mental or emotional disturbance. This is the Hawaii statute the verdict rests on. It answers the first question. In Hawaii, this kind of manslaughter is not a separate accident charge.
The law calls extreme emotional disturbance, quote, "an affirmative defense, which reduces the offense" from attempted murder to attempted manslaughter. And that is where the second answer starts. After the verdict, the jury's foreperson told reporters that jurors did not think intent to kill was proven. Someone also posted on a trial livestream, claiming to be texting a juror.
The defense asked for a new trial. Prosecutors said deliberations are secret, and an anonymous comment proves nothing. In September, the judge called all twelve jurors back. Each one said no outside contact.
On September eighteenth, he ruled the verdict was, quote, "unanimous and impartial." Sentencing is set for January eighth, 2027. The maximum is twenty years. His lawyer says he will ask for probation, which Hawaii law allows for this offense, and then appeal. What we don't know: what sentence the judge will impose, or whether an appeals court will ever hear the self-defense claim again.
We'll update this when he is sentenced. Sentencing is January eighth. If you want the record, not the rumor, subscribe.
Sources
- Honolulu Dept. of the Prosecuting Attorney release (March 28, 2025) Primary recordhonoluluprosecutor.org/2025/03/o%ca%bbahu-grand-jury-indicts-doctor-for-attempted-murder/
- Hawaii Revised Statutes § 707-702 Primary recordcapitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0707/HRS_0707-0702.htm
- ABC News (new trial denied) Reportingabcnews.com/US/hawaii-doctor-found-guilty-kill-wife-hike-denied/story?id=136572588
- NBC News Reportingnbcnews.com/news/us-news/maui-doctor-attempted-murder-wife-birthday-hike-rcna266990
- Courthouse News Reportingcourthousenews.com/maui-doctor-loses-bid-for-new-attempted-murder-trial/
- Hawaii News Now Reportinghawaiinewsnow.com/2026/09/19/judge-denies-new-trial-maui-doctor-convicted-trying-kill-wife-oahu-trail/
- KHON2 (via Yahoo) Reportingyahoo.com/news/us/articles/judge-denies-konig-request-trial-023308073.html
- Star-Advertiser Reportingstaradvertiser.com/2026/09/22/hawaii-news/convicted-doctor-plans-to-appeal-judges-denial-of-new-trial/
The record · as of Oct. 23, 2026
How we know
Primary records are court and agency documents; reporting is news coverage we checked against them. How we report.
What happens next
- Sentencing, First Circuit Court, Honolulu (Judge Wong); hearing time not confirmed, re-check the week before
Verified timeline
- 2025-03-24Arielle Konig was attacked on the Pali Puka Trail on Oahu during a birthday hike; prosecutors allege her husband, Gerhardt Konig, was responsible. She survived.NBC News; ABC News; Courthouse News
- 2025-03-28An Oahu grand jury indicted Gerhardt Konig on a charge of second-degree attempted murder (a charge, not a finding).Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney release; NBC News
- 2026-04-01Konig testified at trial that he acted in self-defense, saying his wife tried to push him and struck him with a rock; he pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors' account differs.NBC News; ABC News
- 2026-04-08A Honolulu jury convicted Konig of attempted manslaughter based upon extreme mental or emotional disturbance; it did not convict on the charged second-degree attempted murder. Verdict was a Wednesday.NBC News; ABC News; Courthouse News; Hawaii News Now
- 2026-04-08After the verdict the jury foreperson said jurors did not believe the evidence showed he intended to kill his wife.NBC News; Courthouse News
- 2026-09-11Judge Paul B.K. Wong recalled jurors over two days in September (Sept. 11 and 18 per Star-Advertiser); each answered no when asked about outside communication about the case.Star-Advertiser; ABC News; Courthouse News; Hawaii News Now
- 2026-09-18Judge Wong denied the motion for a new trial, finding the anonymous livestream comment came from an anonymous viewer, not a juror, and no evidence of outside influence. Sentencing moved from August to Jan. 8, 2027.Hawaii News Now; ABC News; Courthouse News
- 2027-01-08Sentencing scheduled before Judge Wong. Attempted manslaughter carries a maximum of 20 years; prosecutors seek the maximum; defense attorney Thomas Otake says he will seek probation.ABC News; Hawaii News Now; Star-Advertiser; Courthouse News
- 2027-01-08Defense says it will appeal the new-trial denial after sentencing; no appeal filed as of Oct. 16, 2026.Star-Advertiser; Hawaii News Now
Also in our research file
- Doctor accused of trying to kill wife on hike found guilty of attempted manslaughter ReportingABC News · April 8, 2026
- HNN full court stream, Aug 15 2026 hearing Secondaryhawaiinewsnow.com
- Fox: trial bodycam coverage Secondaryfoxnews.com
- GoFundMe for Arielle Konig (friend Christina Ferguson) gofundme.com
Updates and corrections
The conviction is not final until sentencing and any appeal are decided; he testified he acted in self-defense. Domestic violence help: National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233.
Signs of abuse, and how to help someone you’re worried about: our domestic violence support guide.
Spot an error? Email corrections@undercurrentdaily.com. See our corrections policy. Have information about this case? Contact the investigating agency first.
