Man, 21, charged with murder in fatal stabbing of visitor in Waikiki
COURTESY HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Pictured is Oscar K. Cardona.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole statue near the intersection of Kalakaua and Ohua avenues in Waikiki, seen June 1. Police and Emergency Medical Services responded to a call of a stabbing near the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole statue at the intersection of Kalakaua and Ohua avenues at about 12:40 a.m.
Prosecutors charged a 21-year-old man in connection with Tuesday’s stabbing death of a 19-year-old California visitor.
Oscar K. Cardona made his initial appearance before Judge Kristine Yoo at Honolulu District Court on Friday via video teleconference from the courthouse cellblock after prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder in Elian De La Cerda’s death. Cardona is being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in lieu of $1 million bail.
The stabbing occurred near the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole statue at the intersection of Kalakaua and Ohua avenues at about 12:40 a.m.
Police said Dela Cerda and a friend, 23, who was also visiting from California, were confronted by a group. A fight ensued, and De La Cerda was stabbed in the chest, left shoulder and left side of his torso, police said in charging documents.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said De La Cerda died of a stab wound to the chest.
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Family members say he was scheduled to return to California on Tuesday after vacationing in Hawaii for five days.
During a police investigation a witness provided video to police that showed an argument between De La Cerda and a group. Police said the the argument escalated, at which time De La Cerda slapped or punched another man in the face. The video also showed another male holding what appeared to be a sharp object in his hand.
Court documents indicated the man whom De La Cerda allegedly hit went to the Waikiki police station that night where he provided his account of what happened. Police said the man told police he was hanging out at Waikiki Beach with some girls near some tables when two males approached them. He alleged the males, one identified as De La Cerda, called him names and pushed one of the girls.
The man called Cardona “to come and help him chase off” De La Cerda and his friend, court documents said. The man alleged he and De La Cerda were “face to face” and that De La Cerda hit him.
Cardona then allegedly stabbed De La Cerda three times with a knife and fled the scene with the group.
District 6 Crime Reduction Unit officers arrested Cardona in Waikiki at about 6 p.m. Tuesday.
