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Police Investigating Body Found in Waipio Valley

September 3, 2026 |
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Media Releases

The Hawai‘i Police Department is investigating the death of an unidentified woman whose remains were located in Waipio Valley along the shoreline.

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, at 12:35 a.m., Hāmākua patrol officers arrived at the Waipio Valley beach area after receiving a report of a body observed at the shoreline. Officers located the body of an apparent woman near the water’s edge in an advanced state of decomposition.

The approximate age and race of the female could not be determined due to decomposition.

On Tuesday, Sept. 1, an autopsy was performed at the Hilo Benioff Medical Center. No suspicious injuries were found and foul play is not suspected. The official cause and manner of death are pending toxicology results. Police are attempting to positively identify the woman through fingerprint database searches and DNA analysis.

Police ask anyone with information to please contact Detective Daniel Tam of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at (808) 961-2380, or via email at Daniel.Tam@hawaiipolice.gov.

Department:
Hawaiʻi Police Department
Division:
Area I Criminal Investigation Section
Officer:
Lieutenant Derek Morimoto
Report Number:
26-073553

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