Killer who dumped body gets 20-year prison term

A man who strangled a woman and tossed her body into a Waikiki dumpster nearly two years ago was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison without an opportunity for parole.

When a judge asked Joseph Kahawai whether he wanted to comment during his sentencing for manslaughter, the 48-year-old said, “No, your honor,” while standing at a table in front of the gallery where the victim’s brother sat.

Deputy Prosecutor Adrian Dhakhwa told Circuit Judge Shirley Kawamura that Kahawai has shown no remorse for the slaying of 51-year-old Janine Meyer.

He said surveillance footage showed Kahawai throwing Meyer’s body into the trash “like a piece of garbage.” Less than 24 hours earlier, Kahawai and Meyer were captured on surveillance video walking into the Island Hostel on Ala Moana Boulevard near Ena Road.

“There’s nothing that would justify what the defendant did in this case,” he told the judge, adding that Kahawai had suffocated Meyer.

Police had said Meyer filed a police report a week before she died, alleging that Kahawai threatened to kill her if she didn’t have sex with him.

Outside of court, Dhakhwa said Kahawai and Meyer met at a homeless shelter.

Meyer had mental health problems but was on medication and doing what she was supposed to do to get her life back on track, he said. She had no illegal drugs or alcohol in her system at the time of her death.

Meyer’s brother left the courtroom grief-stricken and said his family was relieved that the criminal proceedings were over.

“She was my sister,” he said. “She was troubled but she did not deserve this.”

A woman with him said the victim’s family supported a plea agreement to ensure Kahawai went to prison.

Both declined to give their names.

Kahawai was charged with murder but in June was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter as part of the plea agreement.

He must serve 20 years without any possibility of parole, work furlough or early release. He received credit for time served.

Police arrested Kahawai in November 2013, about a week after Meyer’s body was discovered in a dumpster near the hostel.