Beneath the Palms: Hawaii's True Crime, Mysteries & Untold History

Janine Meyer murder in Waikiki, Hawaii — this Legacy episode returns to the 2013 killing of a Honolulu woman who warned family she was afraid before she was found dead in a dumpster behind the Hawaiian Colony. This is a retelling with a clearer public record, stronger reporting, and a sharper line between what the documents prove and what they never fully answer.

When this podcast first launched, I told Janine’s story without all of the factual detail that was available later. So this version comes back with the fuller record: the reported threat at the shelter, the Medical Examiner’s ruling of asphyxiation, the witness account and surveillance described in reporting, the second-degree murder charge, the later manslaughter plea, and the 20-year sentence that ended the case without a full jury verdict. Janine was more than the place she was found. She was remembered by family as sweet, always laughing, and willing to help the people she loved.

This episode stays close to what public reporting, court coverage, and other documented sources can actually support. Where the record is clear, we stay with it. Where it thins out, we say so plainly. And when the story steps into the part where the record goes quiet, that section is clearly separated from the verified timeline and not presented as fact.

If you or someone you know is dealing with threats or abuse in Hawaii, the Domestic Violence Action Center lists an Oahu helpline at 808-531-3771, a toll-free helpline at 800-690-6200, and a text line at 605-956-5680. If you have information about violent crimes in Honolulu, CrimeStoppers Honolulu lists 808-955-8300 and accepts web tips through its official site.

Sources used in this episode: Janine Ululani Caldeira Meyer obituary in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; Hawaii News Now reporting on the family’s statements that Janine was afraid of Joseph Kahawai, the Medical Examiner’s ruling, the second-degree murder charge, the June 2015 manslaughter plea, and the September 2015 sentencing; plus the current official resource pages for the Domestic Violence Action Center and CrimeStoppers Honolulu.

Mahalo to Yoza for “Obsession.”

#JanineMeyer #Waikiki #Honolulu #HawaiiTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #LegacyEpisode #BeneathThePalms #HawaiiPodcast

Maunalua Bay Beach Park Marines double murder (Hawaii Kai, Oahu): two young Marines—Rodney “Rocky” Padilla and Lawrence “Larry” Martens—were found beaten and shot beside a car in September 1980, and the case remains unsolved. Investigators have acknowledged writing in the sand near the scene but have never publicly revealed what it said. This episode sticks to documented reporting and official NCIS information, and includes a clearly labeled Speculation Lane that is not presented as fact.

If you have information, you can submit a tip through the NCIS website or the NCIS Tips app. You can also call Honolulu CrimeStoppers at 808.955.8300 (anonymous). NCIS is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Sources credited in this episode include: NCIS public releases and reward/tip information; Hawaii News Now reporting; Hawaii Public Radio reporting/interviews; publicly available family advocacy statements and memorial material used only to humanize the victims.

Mahalo to Yoza for her song “Obsession”—thank you for lending your voice to the parts of this story that don’t have words.

If you want this case to stay visible, follow the show and share this episode with someone who lived on Oahu then—or who knows someone who did.

#BeneathThePalms #TrueCrimePodcast #HawaiiTrueCrime #Oahu #HawaiiKai #MaunaluaBay #ColdCase #UnsolvedMurder #NCIS #Marines #Justice

This is a facts-first story about two victims, a courtroom outcome that detonated public trust, and a later-reported claim that tried to explain the unexplainable word that followed: bribery. Where the record is limited, unclear, or conflicting, I say that plainly—and I do not fill in gaps.

A clearly labeled Speculation Lane appears later and is kept separate from the verified timeline.

Key timeline (verified):

• May 28, 1980: Charles K. Stevens indicted for the murders (on or about April 6, 1978).

• March 1981: Jury returns guilty verdicts.

• Sept. 28, 1981: Judge Harold Shintaku enters a post-verdict judgment of acquittal (the verdict is erased).

• Feb. 1982: The Hawaii Supreme Court declines the State’s extraordinary writ effort; the acquittal stands.

• Later reporting describes a 1992 plea context in which Stevens admitted shooting Patricia Stevens, taking part in dismemberment/concealment, and alleged judicial bribery.

If you have verified documents tied to this case (trial transcripts, the written ruling, filings) or firsthand information that can be checked, send it in. If you have information, contact:

• Honolulu CrimeStoppers: 808.955.8300

• Honolulu Police Department (non-emergency): 808.529.3111

Mahalo to Yoza for her song Obsession.

Sources include:

• Hawaii Supreme Court decision: State ex rel. Marsland v. Shintaku (1982)

• Honolulu Star-Bulletin archival reporting (Feb. 9, 2004; Jun. 3, 1999)

• Honolulu Police Department official contact information

• CrimeStoppers Honolulu official contact information

#Waianae #WaianaeValley #Oahu #Hawaii #HawaiiTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #TrueCrime #HawaiiHistory #ColdCase #DoubleMurder #Dismemberment #CourtScandal #JudicialCorruption #Honolulu #PatriciaStevens #ConradMaesaka #HaroldShintaku

Larry Kuriyama assassination (Oct. 23, 1970) — Hawaii State Senator Larry Kuriyama is shot and killed outside his Aiea Heights home on Oahu after returning from a political rally. He’s hit multiple times at close range late at night, with his family inside the house.

This episode reconstructs the verified timeline from documented reporting and contemporaneous records, then separates out what remains disputed: the motive, the full chain of responsibility, and later underworld-era claims that appear in the public record.

You’ll hear:

• What’s known about the night of the killing (including later reporting that places his arrival home around 11 p.m., and mentions a silencer).

• Why investigators believed it looked like a professional hit, and why motive theories split early.

• The 1975 prosecutions and acquittals that left the case publicly unresolved for years.

• The later “closure” narrative tied to Ronald “Ronnie” Ching—and why accounts differ on his exact role.

• A clearly labeled Speculation Lane that stays separate from the verified record.

  
  

Note on the record: most archival summaries anchor the murder to Oct. 23, 1970, but at least one later wire-service account references Oct. 25 in its framing; where sources conflict, this episode flags it plainly.

If you have information that could help law enforcement, contact Honolulu Police Department at 808-529-3111. To remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300.]

Sources / research used (high level): Honolulu Star-Bulletin archives and reporting; Hawaii News Now background reporting; UPI archival reporting; Pacific Citizen archival coverage; contemporaneous Japanese-language Hawaii press archives; later long-form reporting/excerpts and court-statement context related to the underworld era.

Music: Yoza — “Obsession” (used with permission).

#LarryKuriyama #LarryKuriyamaAssassination #AieaHeights #Aiea #Oahu #Honolulu #Hawaii #HawaiiHistory #HawaiiPolitics #HawaiiStateSenate #PoliticalAssassination #Assassination #HawaiiTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #TrueCrime #CrimeHistory #ColdCaseHistory #OrganizedCrime #Underworld #1970 #1970s #HawaiiCrime #PodcastRecommendation #TrueCrimeCommunity #FactsFirst

Linda Sue Hannon murder—Kahana Bay, Oahu (Feb 25, 2007). She was found dead near the Huilua Fishpond in a case that remains unsolved. This episode centers the verified timeline, the known facts, and Linda’s humanity—before the violence. A clearly labeled Speculation Lane appears later, separate from the verified record.

Linda was known along this stretch of Kamehameha Highway—often seen on a Huffy Stone Mountain bike with a wicker basket, moving through Kahana Bay and nearby areas. A friend described her as “no beggar,” someone who worked for what she needed, paid people back, carried a first-aid kit, and helped care for others.

Content note: This episode contains factual reporting on a homicide and references to possible sexual assault, as described in documented reporting and official public information. Listener discretion is advised.

If you have information about Linda Sue Hannon’s death:

• CrimeStoppers: 808.955.8300

• Emergency: 911

• HPD (non-emergency): 808.529.3111

• HPD Missing Persons Detail: 808.723.3670

Support resources:

• RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.4673

• Hawaii CARES (call/text): 988

Sources (public record + contemporaneous reporting):

• Honolulu Police Department — Cold Case: Linda Sue Hannon

• Honolulu Star-Bulletin — reporting including quotes from Irene Theofanis (Shrimp Shack)

• Honolulu Star-Bulletin — “Whatever Happened To…” follow-up coverage on unsolved 2007 homicides

Mahalo to Yoza for the song “Obsession,” and for trusting me to use her music in this space—where the story needs restraint, and the sound needs heart. Used with permission.

#LindaSueHannon #KahanaBay #HuiluaFishpond #Oahu #HawaiiColdCase #UnsolvedMurder #Honolulu #HawaiiTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #BeneathThePalms #ColdCaseHomicide #JusticeForLindaSueHannon

Walter Robert “Fig” Mitchell murder in Wailua, Kauai — June 10, 2002.

Fig was a familiar Kauai sports voice: a youth-sports coach, a radio sportscaster, and a former sports editor tied to local games and local routine. He was found dead at home, and the case remains unsolved.

Early reporting said police found injuries but did not suspect foul play while awaiting autopsy findings. Days later, reporting described investigators seeking help identifying a suspect vehicle seen speeding away around the time he was killed, and later coverage described blunt-force trauma to the head and an early Crime Stoppers request tied to a vehicle and a person description. Today, the County of Kauai lists the case as an unsolved homicide, with death attributed to trauma injuries.

If you have information that could help, contact Special Investigator Cynthia Reider at 808-241-2882 or email [email protected].

Follow Beneath the Palms for more Hawaii cold cases, and if this episode stayed with you, share it with someone who remembers Kauai in 2002—or someone who might remember a detail you don’t.

Sources:

2002 - Walter Robert “Fig” Mitchell (County of Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Cold Cases) — https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Prosecuting-Attorney/Cold-Cases/2002-Walter-Robert-Fig-Mitchell

Cold Cases (County of Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney) — https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Prosecuting-Attorney/Cold-Cases

Hawaii News Briefs / Police, Fire, Courts: “Police ID man found dead in his Kauai home” (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 13, 2002) — https://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/06/13/news/briefs.html

Hawaii News Briefs / Police, Fire, Courts: “Police seek suspect in Kauai editor’s death” (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 18, 2002) — https://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/06/18/news/briefs.html

Obituaries: “Walter R. Mitchell II” (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 19, 2002) — https://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/06/19/news/obits.html

KPD: Mitchell died from blow to head (The Garden Island, June 26, 2002) — https://www.thegardenisland.com/2002/06/26/news/kpd-mitchell-died-from-blow-to-head/

Kahuku’s Carvalho recalls 1991 Red Raiders (Hawaii Prep World) — https://www.hawaiiprepworld.com/football/kahukus-carvalho-recalls-1991-red-raiders/

Walter MITCHELL Obituary (The Cincinnati Enquirer via Legacy.com, Jun. 6, 2004) — https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/cincinnati/name/walter-mitchell-obituary?id=48048919

Walter Robert Mitchell II (Find a Grave Memorial ID 176098704) — https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176098704/walter-robert-mitchell-ii

Fig Mitchell Story - Kauai Broadcasting Legend (Kauai Sports Page, YouTube) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43C7l_ZGaX8

#WalterRobertMitchell #FigMitchell #Kauai #Wailua #KauaiColdCase #UnsolvedHomicide #ColdCase #HawaiiTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #BeneathThePalms #KauaiCounty #JusticeForFigMitchell

John Reverio Oahu cold case homicide: a young man connected to Makaha was found burned near Keaau Beach Park in May 2002—an unsolved case where fire may have been used to erase the truth.

On Oahu’s Leeward Coast, John Reverio vanished inside a narrow window of days. What’s publicly known is stark: he was reported last seen in early May 2002, and on May 14, 2002, a burned body was located near the shoreline by Keaau Beach Park. Police later classified the death as a homicide, and the case remains open.

This episode stays anchored to the documented record—who John was to his family, what the official pages say (and where they differ), and the investigative gaps that still matter more than theories.

Verified timeline (public record highlights)

May 2, 2002: CrimeStoppers’ cold-case entry says John was last seen by his mother at a 7-Eleven in Makaha.

May 11, 2002: HPD’s cold-case listing states John was last seen alive camping at Lahilahi Park.

May 14, 2002: CrimeStoppers’ entry reports a burned body was found near the beach/park area; the body was identified as John Reverio.

August 2002: Local reporting describes the case as being treated as a homicide.

January 2006: Archived reporting includes family perspective and continued public appeals for information.

Speculation Lane policy

A clearly labeled Speculation Lane appears later in the episode and is separated from the verified timeline. Nothing in that section is presented as fact.

How you can help

If you know anything about John Reverio’s last-days window—Lahilahi Park, Makaha, or the area near Keaau Beach Park—share it. Even one specific, checkable detail can matter. If you want to remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers Honolulu at 808-955-8300.

Sources used for this episode

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Cold Case listing: John Reverio

CrimeStoppers Honolulu cold-case entry: John Reverio

Hawaii News Now archived reporting (Jan 2006)

The Honolulu Advertiser archived reporting (Jan 2006)

Honolulu Star-Bulletin archived reporting (Aug 2002)

#BeneathThePalms #HawaiiTrueCrime #Oahu #Makaha #Waianae #ColdCase #UnsolvedHomicide #HonoluluPolice #CrimeStoppers #TrueCrimePodcast #LahilahiPark #KeaauBeachPark #LeewardOahu #JusticeForJohnReverio

Michael Robert Scheidt was shot and killed at Kahe Point Beach Park in Waianae, Oahu on Dec. 20, 2002—an unsolved Honolulu cold case that still haunts the shoreline.

Scheidt was 38 years old. He lived in Makakilo, was born in Kailua, and was a father. In the early morning hours, he was with friends at a beach parking lot when—without warning—a single shot fired from a distance struck him in the chest. He was taken to St. Francis Medical Center West, where he was pronounced dead.

This episode follows the verified timeline, what investigators publicly said at the time, and why cases like this can freeze for years: fear, silence, and the gap between what gets whispered and what can be proven. It also examines later reporting that connected his family’s search for answers to broader criminal proceedings, and Honolulu Police Department’s renewed cold case push—re-examining evidence and encouraging new tips as technology and time change what’s possible.

If you have information about Michael Scheidt’s killing, contact Honolulu CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300. You can remain anonymous.

If you’re listening on Spotify, tap Follow so you don’t miss the next episode. Wherever you listen, following the show helps these stories reach more people.

Sources:

Honolulu Police Department — Cold Case: Michael Scheidt (Dec. 20, 2002 case summary)

Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Hawaii News Archive) — “Closure eludes slain man’s father” (Nov. 17, 2009)

Hawaii News Now — “To solve cold cases, Honolulu police launch new call for tips” (July 19, 2018)

#BeneathThePalms #MichaelScheidt #KahePoint #KaheBeach #Waianae #Oahu #Honolulu #Hawaii #HawaiiTrueCrime #ColdCase #Unsolved #UnsolvedHomicide #HomicideInvestigation #HPD #CrimeStoppers #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #JusticeForMichaelScheidt #NeverForgotten #AolePoina

Samuel Joseph Martinez was 23 years old when he flew from Nebraska to Kauai for a solo hiking and camping trip in May 2021. He was a University of Nebraska-Lincoln microbiology student, a son, a brother, and a young man who came to the island to read, think, and explore.

This revisited episode of Beneath the Palms follows Samuel’s disappearance after arriving on Kauai on May 12, 2021, his last known contact with family, his camping permits connected to areas including Kokee State Park and the Kalalau Trail, and the search that followed after he missed his May 25 flight home.

The episode looks at the verified timeline: phone pings near Waimea Canyon Drive and the Kokee/Waimea area, a reported early sighting, search teams working by air and ground, volunteers speaking with hikers, campers, and hunters, and the later discovery of a backpack believed to belong to Samuel.

Facts first. Samuel first. Always.

Any online theories, public chatter, or speculation are kept clearly separate from the verified record. This story is not treated as a puzzle. It is the story of a young man still deeply loved by his family, and a disappearance that remains unresolved in the public record.

If you have information connected to Samuel Martinez’s disappearance on Kauai in May 2021, contact Kauai Police dispatch at 808-241-1711. Anonymous tips may also be reported to Crime Stoppers Kauai at 808-246-8300 or cskauai.org.

Mahalo to Yoza for the song “Broken Wings.”

Sources:

Hawaii search still on for missing Nebraska hiker — Associated Press

https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-nebraska-hawaii-56625c6a88994b059b978e9e940b2731

Search for Nebraska man who went missing in Hawaii back on following discovery of new evidence — 3NewsNow / KMTV

https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/search-for-nebraska-man-who-went-missing-in-hawaii-back-on-following-discovery-of-new-evidence

Months after hiker from Nebraska disappeared on Kauai, new evidence is found — Hawaii News Now

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/10/16/months-after-hiker-nebraska-disappeared-kauai-new-evidence-is-found/

Search continues for missing UNL student Samuel Martinez — 3NewsNow / KMTV

https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/search-continues-in-hawaii-for-missing-unl-student-samuel-martinez

Kauaʻi police seek help with finding missing Nebraska man — 3NewsNow / KMTV

https://www.3newsnow.com/news/kaua%CA%BFi-police-seek-help-with-finding-missing-nebraska-man

Family of missing UNL student says keep him ‘in your prayers’ — KLKN

https://www.klkntv.com/family-of-missing-unl-student-says-keep-him-in-your-prayers/

Help us find Samuel Martinez and bring him home! — GoFundMe

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-samuel-martinez-home

Samuel Martinez Missing Nebraska Man Kauai HI — public Facebook missing-person page

https://www.facebook.com/p/Samuel-Martinez-Missing-Nebraska-Man-Kauai-HI-100069079296466/

Crime Stoppers Kauai

https://www.cskauai.org

#SamuelMartinez #MissingOnKauai #KauaiMissing #MissingPerson #MissingHiker #Kokee #Waimea #KalalauTrail #HawaiiTrueCrime #BeneathThePalms #TrueCrimePodcast #UnsolvedMystery #MissingPersons #Nebraska #Kauai #HawaiiMissing

Khiara Henry vanished on Maui in July 2019 after renting a car and heading toward Waianapanapa State Park near Hana. In this revisited Beneath the Palms episode, the story is rebuilt with clearer sourcing, deeper care, and a firm line between verified facts and public speculation.

Khiara was 23, from San Diego, and had come to Maui with a return flight, a suitcase, and plans that pointed toward going home. Her rental car was later found near Waianapanapa with her luggage, credit card, and identification inside. Missing from the car were her phone, rental key, and small black backpack.

This episode follows the verified timeline: her Kihei hotel stay, guided tours through East Maui, the July 21 rental car pickup at Kahului Airport, the vehicle being noticed and later towed, the family’s search, the 2023 Pahoa tip that was later confirmed not to be her, and the unanswered questions that remain.

This is not just a case file. It is the story of a daughter, a sister, and a young woman whose family has never stopped saying her name. Where the facts are clear, we stay with them. Where the record becomes uncertain, we say so plainly.

If you know anything about Khiara Lavinia Henry’s disappearance, contact Maui Police. Even after all this time, one honest memory can still matter.

Sources used for this episode:

Khiara Henry Timeline and Interview with her Family

https://mauinow.com/2019/09/13/kihara-henry-interview/

Khiara Henry’s Family Leaves “Heartbreaking” Situation on Maui, Vows to Return

https://mauinow.com/2019/09/18/khiara-henrys-family-leaves-heartbreaking-situation-on-maui-vows-to-return/

Khiara Henry tip proves it’s not her; family of missing Maui visitor hasn’t been the same

https://mauinow.com/2023/02/11/khiara-henry-tip-proves-its-not-her-family-of-missing-maui-visitor-hasnt-been-the-same/

Khiara Lavinia Henry

https://charleyproject.org/case/khiara-lavinia-henry

Missing Person / NamUs #MP72339

https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP72339

Khiara Henry’s family vows to keep searching for her

https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2020/07/khiara-henrys-family-vows-to-keep-searching-for-her/

Father begs Maui community for help in finding missing daughter

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/09/10/father-begs-maui-community-help-finding-missing-daughter/

Police renew search for CA woman missing on Maui since 2019

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/02/03/hawaii-island-police-renew-search-calif-woman-who-went-missing-maui-2019/

2-03-23 Police Request Assistance Locating Missing Woman

https://www.hawaiipolice.com/2-03-23-police-request-assistance-locating-missing-woman

Waianapanapa State Park

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/waianapanapa-state-park/

#KhiaraHenry #MissingInHawaii #MauiMissingPerson #Waianapanapa #HawaiiTrueCrime #BeneathThePalms #MissingPerson #UnsolvedDisappearance #Maui #TrueCrimePodcast