A 29-year-old Honolulu man has been charged with second-degree murder after officers conducting a welfare check found his 60-year-old mother dead inside a Hawaii Kai home late Saturday morning, authorities said.
Honolulu police said the case moved quickly from a welfare call to a homicide investigation after patrol officers entered the residence and determined the woman was deceased with apparent injuries. Detectives identified the victim’s son as a suspect at the scene and later booked him into custody. On Monday, police said prosecutors accepted a count of second-degree murder and the man was charged as the investigation continued. A second person, a 27-year-old woman who was also at the home, was initially arrested on suspicion of the same offense but was later released pending further investigation, according to officials.
Officers responded just before noon Saturday to a home on the 6200 block of Upolo Place after relatives reported concerns and requested a welfare check, police said. Inside, patrol officers found the woman on the floor and called detectives from the Homicide Detail. Lt. Denna Thoemmes said at the scene that the victim was “obviously deceased,” and that the 29-year-old man, identified as her son, was arrested for murder in the second degree. Investigators said the woman appeared to have suffered blunt force injuries, but the precise cause and time of death will be determined by the medical examiner. Neighbors reported seeing police cars and crime-scene tape sealing off the property through the afternoon while technicians documented the interior.
Authorities on Monday identified the charged suspect as Micah Auna and set his bail at $500,000. The 27-year-old woman who was detained alongside him at the home was released as detectives evaluated statements and physical evidence. Police have not released the victim’s name, pending notification of next of kin. Detectives said they were awaiting autopsy results and lab testing of items collected from the residence. The department did not detail any prior calls for service to the address, and it remained unknown whether any protective orders or recent family disputes had been reported to authorities.
Hawaii Kai, a residential area in East Honolulu, typically sees lower violent crime rates than denser urban neighborhoods, but investigators said homicides inside private homes often depend on domestic circumstances rather than geography. In similar cases, detectives review recent medical visits, phone records, and digital communications to establish a timeline. Officials said the home’s layout and any signs of forced entry will be part of the analysis, along with interviews of relatives and neighbors who may have had contact with the household in the days before the welfare check. The department said it would compare findings with medical examiner conclusions to reconcile injury patterns with any accounts provided by witnesses.
Charging documents are expected to outline the basic probable cause, including where the victim was found, visible injuries, and what officers observed when they arrived. Police said evidence from the scene will be processed and, if needed, sent for additional forensic testing. If prosecutors proceed after the initial appearance, the case would move to Circuit Court, where a grand jury presentation or preliminary hearing could follow. Investigators said they do not believe there is an outstanding suspect and emphasized that the release of the 27-year-old woman does not mean the inquiry has ended. The autopsy report will be a central component of the timeline and charging decisions.
Residents described a quiet street sealed by officers and a steady procession of detectives, evidence technicians, and a medical examiner vehicle. Blue tarps and paper coverings shielded parts of the entryway as photographers documented the interior. A neighbor who asked not to be named said the street was “calm but tense” as families returned from weekend errands to find cruisers parked along the block. As the sun set over Koko Head, officers maintained the perimeter and logged people entering the home, while others canvassed the area for surveillance cameras that might show who came and went in recent days.
As of Monday afternoon, Auna remained in custody on $500,000 bail, according to police. The medical examiner’s office was expected to conduct the autopsy and release the victim’s name after family notifications. Police said additional updates would follow once charging documents are filed and preliminary hearing dates are set.
Author note: Last updated December 29, 2025.