Eden Roc body ID’d, police seek leads in slaying

A 49-year-old homicide victim was awaiting sentencing for violating his probation for a pair of burglary convictions, according to court records.

Sean Nephi Kuhia, who was free on supervised release, was to be sentenced for the probation violations Sept. 17 by Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.

Kuhia also was to be sentenced for two counts of misdemeanor terroristic threatening, to which he pleaded guilty on July 9. In exchange for his plea, charges of promoting a dangerous drug and drug paraphernalia were dropped.

Police on Thursday identified Kuhia, who lived at a Volcano address, as the man whose body was found Aug. 17 on an unpaved roadway near the intersection of Kahikopele Street and Ohia Avenue in the Eden Roc subdivision in upper Puna.

A forensic pathologist who conducted an autopsy the following day concluded Kuhia died as a result of multiple blunt-force trauma injuries and ruled the manner of death as homicide.

Police think Kuhia, who was last seen alive during the late evening hours of Aug. 16 on Leila Road in Fern Forest, was killed elsewhere and his body dumped in the remote Eden Roc location.

Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins said police haven’t yet identified a suspect in the slaying and police are still seeking potential witnesses in the case, which has been classified as a second-degree murder.

Anyone with information about the incident or who might have been in the area of Leila Road on the evening of Aug. 16 is asked to contact Detective Scotty Aloy at 961-2375 or scotty.aloy@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.