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Editor’s note: Civil Beat contributor Ian Lind will be dropping in on the federal racketeering trial of Mike Miske and providing observations and commentary that you can find on his site, , and Civil Beat as well.

Michael Buntenbah, who pleaded guilty in March 2022 and admitted being a member or associate of a racketeering organization controlled by former Honolulu business owner Michael Miske Jr., was sent back to Honolulu’s federal detention center last week after a judge found “probable cause that the Defendant has committed a Federal, State or local crime while on release.”

Buntenbah, also known as Michael Buntenbah Malone or by his nickname Mike B, is probably best known as the owner of the “Defend Hawaii” line of clothing and accessories. He had been released from custody pending trial over three years ago after posting a $500,000 mortgage on a Kaneohe home to secure his bond. Later, after pleading guilty, he was allowed to remain free until sentencing.

Buntenbah, 51, was already in custody when he appeared in federal court on Wednesday afternoon for a hearing to decide whether he should remain in custody or be set free again, court records show.

After discussing an “alleged violation” with his lawyers, Buntenbah pleaded “no contest” to violating one of the special conditions of pretrial release, according to minutes of the hearing. One of those conditions provided that the “defendant shall not commit any offense in violation of federal, state, or local law while on release in this case.”

Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield then ordered Buntenbah to be returned to federal custody and held until he is of conspiring with Miske and others to commit assault in aid of racketeering while working as a bouncer at Miske’s M Nightclub. His sentencing, like that of most other defendants who have agreed to testify against Miske, has been delayed until Miske’s trial is over.

The court announced Monday that the trial, which began on Jan. 22, was postponed for a week because a juror is sick.

Mansfield, however, indicated he was “inclined” not to require forfeiture of Buntenbah’s bail because he had surrendered to the federal probation office. Mansfield gave prosecutors until Wednesday to advise the court, and Buntenbah’s attorneys, of their position regarding forfeiture.

Melee At Moani’s

No information about the violation leading to Buntenbah’s return to federal custody has been officially disclosed.

However, a video appearing to show Buntenbah and two of his sons attacking several people in a Waikiki bar last month has been circulating on social media. The incident took place in the Moani Waikiki Island Bistro and Bar in the International Market Place on Jan. 20.

The video shows several men approaching a table where three people were seated drinking beer, their backs to the camera.

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A man wearing a white cap, identified by sources as Buntenbah, confronts one of the men, who was sitting to the right of the table from the camera’s perspective. Buntenbah pointed back across the table warning one of the others not to stand up or try to enter the fray. Then he slammed a chair out of the way to clear a path to the man he had confronted.

The man being confronted was identified on social media as Daniel Miller, a local businessman who has been involved with several restaurants and bars in recent years.

Within seconds, one of Buntenbah’s sons can be seen in the video moving forward swiftly and slapping one of the seated men, who had been reaching out to shake hands. At this point, several men leaped forward to attack Miller.

For the next 25 seconds, Miller was punched repeatedly until he fell to the floor, then punched, kicked and stomped by the group while on the ground. The video shows Buntenbah joining his sons in kicking Miller after he fell to the ground. Another man came from the background, threw a few punches, then snatched a gold chain from Miller’s neck before retreating.

‘I Have Nothing To Do With This Guy’

Reached by phone on Saturday, Miller acknowledged he was the person seen on the video being assaulted by Buntenbah’s group.

He agreed to speak in order to set the record straight and to dispel rumors that have been going around.

“The rumors and the lies, that’s what damages reputation and creates more unnecessary conflict,” Miller said. If left unchecked, “the rumors keep the conflicts brewing, like little fires that can become bigger ones.”

Miller said he and two friends had gone to Moani’s after attending the UB40 concert at Blaisdell Arena.

When they arrived, Buntenbah and his sons were also in line to enter the restaurant.

“We all shook hands,” Miller said.

Miller — who is not related to Wayne Miller, a former Miske insider who spent most of last week as a government witness in Miske’s federal trial — said he doesn’t understand why he was assaulted.

Miller said he had to make a quick, calculated decision when Buntenbah, backed up by several others, confronted him. 

“If i stand up, that would make things more complicated,” he said. “With those odds, I thought to myself, just let this guy get whatever it is off his chest.”

“I really didn’t think he was going to hit me,” Miller said, because it was a public place with many other people present. 

“I thought he (Buntenbah) would then walk away,” Miller said. But when Buntenbah’s sons made their move on Miller, the senior Buntenbah hesitated, then joined in the assault.

Miller said he had tried to “cover up” while being pummeled but said he may have suffered a broken rib or two in the beating.

It took about a minute for bouncers to break up the assault, usher the assailants away and clear the area.

“I have nothing to do with this guy,” Miller said. “I have never had anything to do with any of these guys, I’ve never done a deal with them, it’s fucking crazy.”

An 11-Year Grudge?

Miller acknowledged the hostility toward him could possibly be traced back to a Dec. 15, 2012, in which Miller’s cousin, local promoter Michael Galmiche, was viciously assaulted by Miske and a group of bouncers from the nightclub.

It is one of three incidents detailed in Buntenbah’s written plea agreement. Additional information appears in court records of a civil lawsuit brought by Galmiche, as well as records from the prosecution of Miske and his half-brother, John Stancil, on felony assault charges.

Stancil pleaded guilty to reduced charges in April 2018. Miske is awaiting trial in state court on the assault charges, but the trial has been held in abeyance pending resolution of the federal case.

But, Miller says, that incident was 11 years ago, and he has tried his best to leave the past behind.

Miller points out that he did not call the police to report the incident at Moani’s and declined to cooperate when contacted by HPD and federal investigators after the assault.

“I don’t want anything to do with these people,” Miller said, referring to Buntenbah and his associates.