323. The Killer in the Bucket Hat

Our sources for this episode are cbsnews.com, hawaiitribuneherald.com, khon2.com, hawaiipublicradio.org, staradvertiser.com, hawaiinewsnow.com, nbcnews.com, kitv.com, lawandcrime.com, mariettatimes.com, happyscrub.com, and Peacock TV.

Now, most people, when they think of Hawaii, they probably imagine crystal blue beaches, warm summer air on your skin, maybe a mai tai in front of a sunset, but if you've visited, you know Hawaii is so much more than that.

The culture there is unlike anything else.

It seems like everyone is always smiling, helpful, thoughtful, kind.

In fact, they, they have a word for the energy and lifestyle.

It's called the Aloha Spirit.

But even in a place built on warmth and compassion, true crime still exists.

Do...

Sorry.

Do we have any listeners from Hawaii?

Probably.

Anyways, if you're listening from Hawaii, let us know.

And how sad Hawaii is not exempt from our podcast, 'cause it feels like it should be.

Uh, so darkness can definitely still slip through because Hawaii, despite always being on island time, has real people with real problems and real secrets, which is why today's story is a reminder that sometimes evil can strike in the places we least expect it to, even in paradise.

So based on that intro, you probably know where we're headed to today.

We are headed to the state of Hawaii, the island of Oahu to be exact.Where just northwest of Pearl Harbor lies the small community of Waipahu.

And I, I did look up how to say these.

I know the accent is probably not correct.

I'm definitely saying it in a very American, like, non-Hawaii accent.

But Waipahu.

Nice job, baby.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Now, Waipahu is a working class town with a lot of ancient history, a place where families have known each other for generations, where childhood friends stick with you for life, where you refer to your neighbors as auntie and uncle, where life definitely moves slow but news spreads fast.

And in a place like that, secrets, if you wanna keep them, need to be protected with your life.