FBI urges victims to come forward in Sean Sakaida case
Sean Sakaida, the former Moanalua High School girls wrestling coach, has been arrested and charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. The FBI's Honolulu Field Office is urging possible victims and tipsters to complete a confidential online form as agents seek to identify minors targeted between 2012 and 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Sean Sakaida, 44, of Honolulu, was arrested Sept. 24, 2026, and charged with receipt and possession of child pornography.
- A federal complaint says he messaged a minor on WhatsApp in 2025-2026 and received sexually explicit photos.
- The FBI says he primarily targeted female wrestlers who were minors from 2012 to 2026.
- Potential victims or tipsters can use the FBI's confidential online form; identities will be kept confidential.
- If convicted as charged, he faces five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
What charges does Sean Sakaida face?
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii, Sean Sakaida was taken into custody on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. He is charged with receipt and possession of child pornography and is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu.
The complaint alleges he frequently messaged a minor on WhatsApp between 2025 and 2026 and received multiple sexually explicit photographs of the victim. Prosecutors did not disclose the age or gender of that victim, or whether the minor wrestled for him.
If convicted as charged, local reporting says he could face at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release.
Why is the FBI asking victims to come forward?
The FBI's Honolulu Field Office said it believes Sakaida primarily targeted female wrestlers who were minors between 2012 and 2026. Agents are legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes they investigate, and those victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal or state law.
Anyone victimized by Sakaida, whose dependent was victimized, or who has information relevant to the investigation is asked to complete the bureau's short form at forms.fbi.gov. The FBI said identities of victims will be kept confidential. Responses are voluntary but may be useful in the federal investigation, and people may later be contacted for more details.
Hawaii News Now reported the FBI is looking for possible victims and directing the public to the same outreach. For more BlasterPost coverage across desks, visit our Future Tech & AI Wonders category hub.
What is known about Sakaida's coaching history?
Sakaida led Moanalua's girls wrestling program to four state titles and was named the 2025 National Wrestling Coaches Association Hawaii coach of the year. Moanalua put him on leave in the fall of 2025 after he was accused of dating an athlete. Reggie Torres replaced him and won the school's fifth straight state title in March.
In 2012, while head coach of Roosevelt High School's wrestling team, a parent accused Sakaida of texting wrestlers as late as 3 a.m. and kissing a 13-year-old. Sakaida denied the claims to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser at the time, saying they were "totally false" and that he never came on to any of his students. He had coached boys and girls wrestling at Roosevelt for at least seven years before later building Moanalua's title run that began with state championships in 2021.
As of Sept. 26, 2026, Sakaida remains charged in federal court, and investigators continue to seek tips through the FBI victim form.