Father and son found dead in apparent murder-suicide

One of Hawaii’s most famous families is struggling for answers after one of their own apparently killed his 7-year-old son and committed suicide in Pauoa on Tuesday morning.

Gerald Aikau, 42, nephew of Eddie Aikau, a legendary surfer and lifeguard who died in 1978 attempting to assist the crew of the Hokule‘a voyaging canoe, was found hanged to death from a tree. His uncle Clyde Aikau, who found him, tried unsuccessfully to revive him then went into a cottage on the family compound in Pauoa and found Gerald Aikau’s son Reef with multiple stab wounds and unsuccessfully tried to revive him as well, family members said.

Police, who received a call from the house at 5:45 a.m., said both the man and boy suffered “multiple injuries,” with the boy injured by a sharp object. Police said they are investigating the case as a murder-suicide.

Aikau family members, still in shock, gathered Tuesday afternoon in Pauoa to grieve and talked of how Gerald Aikau was struggling with “family issues.”

Court records show that he and his wife, Katherine Bullock Aikau, were going through a contentious divorce and child custody battle, and that she had a temporary restraining order against her estranged husband.

According to one court document, Gerald Aikau said he was planning to enter a substance abuse treatment program in Palm Springs, Calif.

Court records also show that two other women had sought TROs against Aikau in 2003 and 1994.

Aikau had been staying with his son in a cottage next to his Aunt Myra’s home in the Aikau family compound for about six months. His estranged wife was reportedly traveling back to Hawaii and could not be reached for comment last night.

Myra Aikau said Tuesday at the family’s home, “Gerald was a really good boy. He had so much problems, and he tried to settle it by himself and I don’t know what happened. … He did this, but he was loved by all of us.”

Gerald Aikau’s problems with alcohol had reached a point in 2015 that his driver’s license was revoked. His conflict with his wife seemed to be coming to a head after a series of court actions that started in 2016 and continued through this year.

He had been scheduled for a trial in May for allegedly violating a temporary restraining order that included making no contact with his wife — a case to which he pleaded not guilty in November. He posted $2,000 bail.

His trial was delayed until mid-August, and if he were found guilty, the outcome of his trial might have weakened his divorce case.

Family members said they wanted to help him find his way through “family issues.”

The family is known for helping organize one of the premier big-wave surfing contests, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay.

More than 20 close family and friends gathered Tuesday afternoon outside the home near the Yee King Tong Cemetery.

Aikau’s father, Solomon Aikau, who flew from Hawaii island after hearing of the tragedy, declined to discuss details about his son. He said he wanted to thank friends who have been calling to pay their respects.

Family and friends filled social media with condolences for the Aikau family, posting photos of Reef Aikau learning to surf and enjoying the beach.

Police were investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide, pending the outcome of autopsies by a medical examiner.