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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 3, 2010

Man, woman found dead in Waianae are remembered

Advertiser Staff

A small memorial of flowers and candles placed by tenants of the Pokai Bay Beach Cabanas in Wai'anae rests on the wall in front of an apartment shared by a couple who were found shot to death Friday morning.

Tenants from the building held a prayer vigil Friday night to help provide closure against the violence. The couple, whose names have not officially been released by the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office, have been identified as Tanya Vagai, 39, and Tusigafa "Kepi" Matua, 33.

They became the fourth and fifth people to die in a spate of violence on O'ahu over the past two weeks.

"We put flowers out by the door," said Imelda Tagaleoo, a resident of the Pokai Bay Beach Cabanas. "We got together for a short prayer. I said another around midnight."

The couple were found dead by Vagai's mother. Police described the deaths as a homicide and unattended death, but the case has the characteristics of a murder-suicide.

A handgun was found in the living room, police said.