Man, 46, charged in death of woman found in trash bin

Police on Friday charged 46-year-old Joseph M. Kahawai with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in a Waikiki trash bin.

Dr. Masahiko Kobayashi, deputy medical examiner, said 51-year-old Janine U. Meyer died of asphyxiation due to various causes.

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.

Baby’s injuries investigated as case of possible abuse

Police are investigating a possible child abuse case involving a 1-year-old who was taken to a hospital on Maui, according to police records.

Police said a 1-year-old became sick and was taken to a Maui hospital, where staff noticed serious injuries on the child. The baby was transferred to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, where hospital personnel reported the injuries, police said.

The scene of the alleged incident is reportedly a Maui hotel, according to police records.

The case is pending investigation and no other details were made available.

Man charged in recent Aiea garage burglary

Police have charged a 20-year-old man in connection with a burglary in September.

According to police, Alden Gines, who does not have a local address, removed items from the garage of an Aiea residence on Sept. 27.

Gines was arrested Friday morning in Waipahu and later charged with first-degree burglary. His bail was set at $11,000.