Honolulu police opened an unattended death investigation as Jenny Lupton’s relatives questioned how the longtime flight attendant died during a Hawaii layover.
HONOLULU, Hawaii — Honolulu police are investigating the death of a 50-year-old Southwest Airlines flight attendant from Oklahoma who was found dead in Waikiki during a work layover, while her family says it is still waiting for a clear explanation of what happened.
Jenny Lupton, of Moore, Oklahoma, was identified by relatives and news organizations as the woman who died last week. Hawaii News Now reported that the Honolulu Police Department has opened an unattended death investigation. Police have released few other details, and authorities have not publicly announced an official cause or manner of death.
Reports citing Lupton’s family said she was found near a dumpster at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort. Her relatives said they were told by the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner that it appeared she had fallen from the balcony of her room on the 24th floor. That account has not been publicly detailed by police, and investigators have not announced whether the death was accidental, a suicide or the result of another cause.
There is also conflicting public information about when Lupton was found. Her family told news outlets that she was discovered early Thursday, Aug. 20, while Hawaii News Now reported that she was found Friday. Honolulu police have not publicly provided a detailed timeline that resolves the difference. The uncertainty is among several questions surrounding the case as the investigation continues.
Lupton’s sister, Tresa Lupton, told KFOR in Oklahoma that the family does not believe Jenny intentionally caused her own death. “We strongly believe that she didn’t do this intentionally,” she said, adding that the family believes investigators should determine whether the death resulted from an accident or whether someone else was involved. Authorities have not announced evidence of foul play.
Family members said Lupton had been enjoying her Hawaii layover before her death. According to relatives interviewed by news outlets, she spent time dancing with another flight attendant and had recently gotten the outline of a hibiscus tattoo honoring her late father. Her sister said Lupton had messaged her about plans to add color to the tattoo after returning home.
Lupton had worked for Southwest Airlines for more than two decades, according to reports, and was the mother of a 15-year-old son. Relatives described her as outgoing, social and devoted to her family. Her niece, who also works as a flight attendant, remembered traveling with Lupton and said Hawaii was a destination her aunt knew well from previous trips.
The Honolulu Police Department’s description of the case as an unattended death investigation does not by itself establish how Lupton died. Such investigations allow authorities and medical examiners to examine the circumstances surrounding a death before making a determination. As of Monday, officials had not publicly released findings establishing whether another person was involved.
Lupton’s relatives have said they want a thorough investigation and more information from authorities in Hawaii. Reports said family members and friends were traveling to the islands as they sought answers. The family also questioned the amount of time that passed before relatives were notified of her death, though authorities have not publicly explained the notification timeline.
Honolulu police said the investigation remains open. Until the medical examiner and investigators release additional findings, the precise circumstances of Lupton’s death, including its official cause and manner, remain undetermined.
Author note: Last updated August 24, 2026.