Hawai‘i Police Department
Criminal Investigation Division – Area I
Captain Rio S. Amon-Wilkins
Phone: (808) 961-2251
Report No.: 23-005289
Media Release
Hawai‘i Island police have charged 21-year-old Joshua Makana Jiro Ho, of Hilo, with first-degree murder following an early morning incident that led to the death of his grandparents on Monday, January 16, 2023.
On Tuesday afternoon, January 17, 2023, after conferring with the County Prosecutors Office, Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives charged Ho with the following offenses:
- first-degree murder
- two counts of second-degree murder
- second-degree attempted murder
His bail is set at $2,750,000.
The charges against Ho stem from an incident reported shortly before 7:00 a.m. Monday, January 16, when South Hilo patrol officers responded to an unknown-type disturbance at a residence located on Makalika Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers were met by two family members who were physically restraining Ho. He was covered in blood and immediately arrested without incident. Police and Fire personnel were then informed that two elderly persons were deceased within the residence, and a 28-year-old male had also received potentially life-threatening injuries to his head. The victims were observed with multiple stab-wound type injuries.
The deceased victims, both age 68, have been identified as Jeffrey Yoshio Takamine and Carla Kayoko Takamine, of Hilo. The 28-year-old victim was transported via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center where he was treated for multiple lacerations to his head and was subsequently released.
Ho was also taken to the Hilo Medical Center for lacerations to his hands. Following treatment, he was taken to the Hilo police cellblock for booking.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to assist in continuing this investigation. On Monday afternoon, January 16, detectives executed a search warrant on the residence and recovered multiple large kitchen-type knives and biological evidence.
Both deceased victims were transported to the Hilo Medical Center and officially pronounced dead shortly after 6:30 p.m. Final autopsy results are pending.
Ho remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, January 18, in South Hilo District Court.