The victims of an apparent double homicide Monday in Hilo are being remembered as low-key, humble people who, in their quiet way, made the community a better place.
Jeffrey Yoshio Takamine and Carla Kayoko Takamine, both 68, were the owners of Big Island Delights, purveyors of cookies, candies and other local-style treats since 1996.
“It’s hard to believe that this could happen to a family that was so much a part of our community,” Miles Yoshioka, executive director of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, said Monday. “Throughout the years, we’ve been touched so many times by their generosity.
“Words come to mind like kind, humble, trusting — and always generous.”
The couple was found stabbed to death early Monday morning after police responded to a call shortly before 7 a.m. for an “unknown-type disturbance” at a Makalika Street home in the Panaewa Agricultural Lots subdivision.
Officers arrested 21-year-old Joshua Ho without incident at the scene. He hadn’t been charged as of late Monday afternoon.
According to police, Ho, the grandson of the deceased victims, was being restrained by family members when officers arrived. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated for lacerations to his hands and released into police custody.
In addition, a 28-year-old man also received what police described as life-threatening injures from a stab wound to the head. He was taken via ambulance to HMC, where he was treated for multiple head lacerations and subsequently released.
Police Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division said officers observed what they believe to be the murder weapon at the scene, but were waiting for a search warrant to recover and process it.
Amon-Wilkins said he had no prior knowledge about the suspect, but said he thinks officers had previously responded to calls at the residence. He added he “doesn’t know the actual nature” of those calls.
According to Amon-Wilkins, police on Monday did not yet have a motive for the stabbings.
Autopsies for the victims are scheduled for this morning to determine the exact cause of death.
The case is being investigated as a first-degree murder because there was more than one victim.
“Obviously, it’s a very tragic situation, especially when you have the (suspect) and the victims being related like that,” Amon-Wilkins said. “You have the extra layer of tragedy to it.”
Yoshioka said the deaths of the Takamines has a widespread effect “from their personal and business relationships or the hundreds of nonprofit organizations, including sports teams and Boy Scouts troops, who benefited from their generosity.“
“I think our whole community is feeling it, because in some way or another everyone’s been touched by this family,” he said.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.