Hawaii Doctor Found Guilty in Wife’s Attempted Murder on Hike

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 8, 2026 9:20 PM ET

Hawaii Doctor Found Guilty in Wife’s Attempted Murder on Hike

A Hawaii doctor was found guilty of attempted manslaughter after a high-profile Honolulu trial. The jury reached the verdict following two days of deliberations.

Charges and verdict

Dr. Gerhardt Konig, 47, had faced a second-degree attempted murder charge. Jurors instead convicted him of attempted manslaughter based on extreme mental or emotional disturbance.

The panel had been instructed to consider lesser assault counts if they could not prove attempted murder. The case drew widespread attention across the islands.

The hiking incident

The confrontation occurred on the Pali Puka Trail on Oahu. Prosecutors say the episode happened during a birthday hike on March 24, 2025.

Arielle Konig told the court the couple traveled from Maui to Oahu to mark her birthday. She testified that her husband pushed her near a cliff and struck her repeatedly with a rock.

Prosecution account

Prosecutors portrayed the attack as planned to avoid a costly divorce. They pointed to bloody scene evidence, the severity of injuries, and witness accounts.

Two women reportedly found the couple during the struggle. Prosecutor Joel Garner described Arielle Konig’s testimony as straightforward and corroborated.

Defense account

Gerhardt Konig denied any plan to kill his wife. He said he acted in self-defense after she allegedly struck him first.

He admitted striking her with a rock twice while on top of her. He denied producing syringes or attempting to pull her over the cliff edge.

Witnesses and testimony

Both spouses testified and gave conflicting versions of events. The jury heard evidence over three weeks before deliberations began.

Konig’s older son, Emile, testified about a FaceTime call. He said his father told him he would not return to Maui and that he had tried to kill Ari.

Aftermath and professional consequences

Arielle Konig received hospital care for severe scalp lacerations. She later filed for divorce in May 2025 and sought full custody of their two young children.

Gerhardt Konig worked as an anesthesiologist on Maui. Maui Health suspended his medical staff privileges at Maui Memorial Medical Center pending investigation.

Defense response and closing arguments

Defense attorney Thomas Otake argued there was reasonable doubt. He challenged Arielle Konig’s credibility and noted deleted messages between her and a colleague.

Prosecutors countered that digital evidence and witness statements supported the victim’s account. They urged the jury to reject the self-defense claim.