Man Charged With Murder Following Discovery of Body in Puna

Authorities have charged a 36-year-old man with murder following the discovery of a body on a property in Hawaiian Beaches earlier this week.

The charges against Michael Dwayne Carvalho II stem from an incident reported shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday when Hawai’i Police Department’s Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on Kahakai Boulevard for a report of an active burglary. The residence was reportedly being renovated and no one should be on the premises.

Responding officers found the residence to have numerous shattered glass windows; however, no one was located within. Shortly afterward, officers observed fresh footprints on the exterior sidewalk area of the residence, and upon investigating further, they located Carvalho hiding behind a stone wall bordering the property. He was taken into custody at that time for trespassing. As officers continued to clear the property, the lifeless body of 34-year-old Makalapuanani Beverly Mauga was located in the grassy yard behind the residence.

Police say Mauga had numerous blunt force trauma-type injuries about her head and body.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to continue the investigation.

Mauga was transported to the Hilo Medical Center and pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m.

An autopsy was performed Friday morning. The forensic pathologist determined that Mauga died as a result of multiple blunt force head injuries, and strangulation. The manner of death was ruled homicide.

Along with second-degree murder, Carvalho is charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal property damage, habitual property crime and first-degree assault against a law enforcement officer. His bail is set at $1 million.

The assault against a law enforcement officer charge stems from Carvalho assaulting a police officer while he was incarcerated in the Hilo Cellblock early Friday morning.

Carvalho remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon in Hilo District Court. Police are asking anyone with information on this incident or who may have been in the area of the 15-300 block of Kahakai Boulevard early Thursday morning, to contact Detective John Balberde of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, at 808-961-2386 or email him at [email protected].

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.