Murder suspect to make initial appearance in District Court

The suspect in the death of a woman whose body was found in a Waikiki trash bin is scheduled for an initial appearance Tuesday to face a murder charge.

Prosecutors charged 46-year-old Joseph M. Kahawai with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Janice U. Meyer.

Dr. Masahiko Kobayashi, deputy medical examiner, said Meyer died of asphyxiation and determined the cause of death was homicide.

Meyer ‘s body was discovered on the morning of Oct. 29 in a trash bin near the Hawaiian Colony apartments off Ala Moana Boulevard.

Police classified the case as an unattended death until Thursday when it became a second-degree murder investigation. According to police records, Kahawai was then arrested in connection with the alleged crime and charged Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Police have not explained what led them to reclassify the case or to suspect Kahawai. He remains in police custody unable to post $1 million bail.