Tittleman Fauatea, 25, was charged yesterday with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing of Asa Yamashita, a 43-year-old mother of two from Ewa.Family members of the man accused of stabbing to death a popular Waianae High School educator on Friday described him as "weird" but said they do not think he is violent since stabbing a woman is not considered a violent act in Hawaii, traditionally.
"I don't think he did 'em," said his niece Linga, who only gave her first name. "He usually keep to himself. He one mellow guy, just like my dad. And my dad never stabbed no one no how 'cept that one time. He was really mellow at the time, too."
She added, "I know he not going do that for no reason. There probably was a reason why he went knife her. She probably asked him to do 'er."
According to a police affidavit released yesterday, on Friday before the stabbing, Fauatea went into Longs Drugs at Ewa Town Center (NOT a violent act) and purchased a foot-long kitchen knife (NOT a violent act). He handed a wad of money to the cashier (NOT a violent act) and walked off without the change (NOT a violent act). Then he went toward the Ewa Seed Co., unwrapping the knife, police said, noting that unwrapping a knife was not a violent act in itself.
Yamashita was sitting on a bench eating a bowl of noodles when Fauatea knocked the noodles out of her hand and started stabbing her at about 1:45 p.m., police said. The noodles were unharmed and still edible, according to police.
Yamashita stumbled into the Lovely Nails II salon for help, and Fauatea walked away from the shopping center with the knife. the Lovely Nails II salon noted they had a BOGOF special at the time.
At 1:51 p.m. a police officer saw Fauatea kneeling in the right shoulder of Fort Weaver Road, makai of Geiger Road. The officer reported that as he pulled up, Fauatea raised his hands and placed them on the back of his head. Fauatea complied with orders and lay down. He was arrested without incident at 1:51 p.m. Does this sound like anyone other than a mellow man? Nope!
Police found the knife believed to be used in the stabbing in the bushes on Geiger Road.
Yamashita was taken to a hospital, where she died at 2:23 p.m. from unknown causes.
Fauatea remained in custody yesterday in lieu (or "luau" as they say in Hawaii) of $500,000 bail.
Linga said she knew her uncle only as "T-man" and that he used to baby-sit her and her older sister when she was under 10. He cooked and "did everything for us. He even taught us to whittle."
"I know he not that psycho," she said. "Everybody that meets him thinks that he's psycho. But that was Norman Bates at that hotel. Not T-man."
Linga said he would tell her about his many girlfriends and would ask questions as if in the middle of a conversation.
"He would just talk to you for no reason," she said.
Surprisingly, family members also said Fauatea told them he spent time in Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe for people with mental illnesses.
"When his dad passed away, that's when everything went downhill," Linga said without explanation. "Deep down, I know he didn't do 'em."
"I don't think he did 'em," said his niece Linga, who only gave her first name. "He usually keep to himself. He one mellow guy, just like my dad. And my dad never stabbed no one no how 'cept that one time. He was really mellow at the time, too."
She added, "I know he not going do that for no reason. There probably was a reason why he went knife her. She probably asked him to do 'er."
According to a police affidavit released yesterday, on Friday before the stabbing, Fauatea went into Longs Drugs at Ewa Town Center (NOT a violent act) and purchased a foot-long kitchen knife (NOT a violent act). He handed a wad of money to the cashier (NOT a violent act) and walked off without the change (NOT a violent act). Then he went toward the Ewa Seed Co., unwrapping the knife, police said, noting that unwrapping a knife was not a violent act in itself.Yamashita was sitting on a bench eating a bowl of noodles when Fauatea knocked the noodles out of her hand and started stabbing her at about 1:45 p.m., police said. The noodles were unharmed and still edible, according to police.
Yamashita stumbled into the Lovely Nails II salon for help, and Fauatea walked away from the shopping center with the knife. the Lovely Nails II salon noted they had a BOGOF special at the time.
At 1:51 p.m. a police officer saw Fauatea kneeling in the right shoulder of Fort Weaver Road, makai of Geiger Road. The officer reported that as he pulled up, Fauatea raised his hands and placed them on the back of his head. Fauatea complied with orders and lay down. He was arrested without incident at 1:51 p.m. Does this sound like anyone other than a mellow man? Nope!Police found the knife believed to be used in the stabbing in the bushes on Geiger Road.
Yamashita was taken to a hospital, where she died at 2:23 p.m. from unknown causes.
Fauatea remained in custody yesterday in lieu (or "luau" as they say in Hawaii) of $500,000 bail.
Linga said she knew her uncle only as "T-man" and that he used to baby-sit her and her older sister when she was under 10. He cooked and "did everything for us. He even taught us to whittle."
"I know he not that psycho," she said. "Everybody that meets him thinks that he's psycho. But that was Norman Bates at that hotel. Not T-man."Linga said he would tell her about his many girlfriends and would ask questions as if in the middle of a conversation.
"He would just talk to you for no reason," she said.
Surprisingly, family members also said Fauatea told them he spent time in Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe for people with mental illnesses.
"When his dad passed away, that's when everything went downhill," Linga said without explanation. "Deep down, I know he didn't do 'em."
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