The Killer Hawaii Kept Releasing: Eugene Barrett, Roxanne Kastner, Annie Phillips and Roberta Barrett

The Killer Hawaii Kept Releasing: Eugene Barrett, Roxanne Kastner, Annie Phillips and Roberta Barrett

Eugene Walter Barrett was not a warning sign Hawaii missed once. He was a man whose name appeared again and again in Honolulu court records, parole history, old newspaper archives, and finally in the memories of families left behind after three women were gone. This episode of Beneath the Palms follows the case of Eugene Walter Barrett, a Honolulu killer connected to the deaths of Annie Phillips in 1959, Roberta Ululani Barrett in 1972, and Doneshia “Roxanne” Kastner in 1995. Annie Phillips was a mother of five. Roberta Ululani Barrett was a young mother whose life should still have been ahead of her. Roxanne Kastner was a wife, a mother, and a woman remembered as warm, outgoing, and full of life. Each woman deserved more than the court record gave her. Each woman deserved to be remembered by name. The central question in this episode is not just what Eugene Barrett did. It is how a man who had already killed was released, and then released again, before another woman died. The record moves through domestic violence, parole decisions, reduced charges, psychiatric concerns, and the long shadow left on children who had to grow up with loss no child should carry. In Roxanne’s case, her seven-year-old son Ethan was outside riding his bicycle when he heard gunshots. He saw Gene leaving the building. Then he went inside and found his mother on the bedroom floor. His words afterward still carry the weight of the entire case: “Gene shot mommy.” This is a Hawaii true crime story, but it is also a domestic violence story. It is about patterns, missed warnings, and the danger of treating each violent incident as if it exists alone. Annie, Roberta, and Roxanne were not footnotes in Eugene Barrett’s life. They were women, mothers, loved ones, and people whose lives mattered before they became part of this record. Listener discretion is advised. This episode discusses domestic violence, stalking behavior, threats, murder, child witnesses, and grief carried by surviving families. Sources: Man killed 3 Honolulu women over 36-year period [https://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/12/13/news/story14.html] - https://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/12/13/news/story14.html Accused killer says he tried to get help [https://ipac2.librarieshawaii.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?booklistformat=&profile=main&session=U508440X5W234.39&uri=full%3D3100001~%21127817~%210] - https://ipac2.librarieshawaii.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?booklistformat=&profile=main&session=U508440X5W234.39&uri=full%3D3100001~%21127817~%210 Shooting suspect faces charges [https://ipac2.librarieshawaii.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?booklistformat=&profile=main&session=17W45I30636A4.702196&uri=full%3D3100001~%21342142~%210] - https://ipac2.librarieshawaii.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?booklistformat=&profile=main&session=17W45I30636A4.702196&uri=full%3D3100001~%21342142~%210 Honolulu Star-Bulletin Archive: Saturday, December 13, 2003 [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/273864862/] - https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/273864862/ The Ballad of Mean Gene Barrett [https://medium.com/%40truecrimeotaku/the-ballad-of-mean-gene-barrett-3296f44c704e] - https://medium.com/%40truecrimeotaku/the-ballad-of-mean-gene-barrett-3296f44c704e Doneshia “RoxAnne” Kastner, age 41 [https://gunmemorial.org/1995/08/11/doneshia-roxanne-kastner] - https://gunmemorial.org/1995/08/11/doneshia-roxanne-kastner Additional research included archived Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser newspaper coverage from 1953, 1956, 1959, 1971 through 1973, 1995, and 1997, including court reporting, parole history, sentencing coverage, and public memorial material connected to Doneshia “Roxanne” Kastner. Hashtags: #HawaiiTrueCrime #EugeneBarrett #RoxanneKastner #BeneathThePalms #DomesticViolenceAwareness

The Murder at the Moana Hotel | Jane Stanford’s Unsolved Poisoning in Honolulu

The Murder at the Moana Hotel | Jane Stanford’s Unsolved Poisoning in Honolulu In 1905, Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, arrived in Honolulu and checked into the Moana Hotel in Waikiki. She was one of the most powerful women in America, a widow, a grieving mother, and the woman who had fought to keep Stanford University alive after the deaths of her husband and only child. Then, on the evening of February 28, she became violently ill after taking bicarbonate of soda, an ordinary household remedy meant to soothe the stomach. In her final hours, Jane said the words that would travel around the world: “I have been poisoned.” Hawaii’s coroner’s jury later ruled that Jane Stanford died from strychnine poisoning, administered with felonious intent by a person or persons unknown. More than 120 years later, no one has ever been convicted. This episode of Beneath the Palms follows the life, grief, power, and final mystery of Jane Stanford. From the death of her son, to the founding of Stanford University, to the first alleged poisoning attempt in San Francisco, to her death at the Moana Hotel in Honolulu, this is one of Hawaii’s oldest unsolved murder mysteries and one of the most overlooked true crime stories in American history. This is not just a story about wealth, legacy, or a famous university. It is the story of a woman who carried unbearable loss, built something meant to outlive her, and died trying to tell the people around her what she believed was happening to her. Sources Our Heritage, Our Mission | Stanford Magazine [https://stanfordmag.org/contents/our-heritage-our-mission] - https://stanfordmag.org/contents/our-heritage-our-mission Founding Mothers: Jane and Jane | Stanford University Libraries [https://exhibits.stanford.edu/stanford/founding-mothers-jane-and-jane] - https://exhibits.stanford.edu/stanford/founding-mothers-jane-and-jane Stanford Special Collections and University Archives [https://library.stanford.edu/spc] - https://library.stanford.edu/spc Library of Congress, Chronicling America Historic Newspapers [https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/] - https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Newspapers.com Historical Newspaper Archive [https://www.newspapers.com/] - https://www.newspapers.com/ Additional contemporaneous newspaper coverage reviewed from the Honolulu Commercial Advertiser, Hawaiian Gazette, Hawaiian Star, Evening Bulletin, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Call, Oakland Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Oregonian, Buffalo Courier, Syracuse Herald, Coshocton Daily Age, Fresno Morning Republican, The State, and other historical newspaper archives covering Jane Stanford’s death, the Moana Hotel poisoning, the coroner’s jury verdict, and the later public dispute over the finding. #JaneStanford #MoanaHotel #StanfordUniversity #HawaiiTrueCrime #UnsolvedMurder

The Pier 24 Execution: David Walden’s Unsolved Murder

The Pier 24 Execution: David Walden’s Unsolved Murder On April 16, 1994, David Larry Walden went to Honolulu Harbor for work. He was waiting near Pier 24 for a production vehicle coming from Maui when two helmeted men arrived on a motorcycle. Within seconds, David, a husband, father of four, Navy veteran, and working man, was shot to death in a public parking lot near 711 North Nimitz Highway. This episode of Beneath the Palms follows the unsolved murder of David Walden and the world surrounding it: Hawaii’s film and television production industry, Star Suites, movie-production trucks, the 1991 equipment fires, business disputes, reported threats, federal attention, and the questions that still remain more than thirty years later. No one has ever been charged with David Walden’s murder. This story includes allegations involving business disputes, labor conflict, arson, extortion, and publicly named individuals. Unless otherwise stated, those allegations were never proven in court. Mahalo to David’s daughter, Angela Whitworth, who has continued speaking publicly about her father’s case for years, and who took the time to read this story before recording so David could be remembered with care. If you have information about the murder of David L. Walden, contact CrimeStoppers Honolulu at 808-955-8300 or submit an anonymous tip through the P3 Tips app. Sources: David L. Walden [https://www.honolulupd.org/cold-case/david-l-walden/] - Honolulu Police Department Driving Factors [https://fluxhawaii.com/driving-factors/] - FLUX Hawaii, James Dooley 20th anniversary of cold case murder, still no arrests [https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/25257901/20th-anniversary-of-cold-case-murder-still-no-arrests/] - Hawaii News Now 25 years after father’s ‘calculated execution,’ daughter renews plea for tips [https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/04/16/years-after-fathers-calculated-execution-daughter-renews-plea-tips/] - Hawaii News Now Honolulu Cold Case: Daughter seeks public’s help to find her father’s killers [https://www.hawaiireporter.com/cold-case-daughter-seeks-publics-help-to-find-her-fathers-killers/] - Hawaii Reporter Slain man had movie trailer link [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Advertiser, Apr. 20, 1994 Police hunting two in slaying by waterfront [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Apr. 20, 1994 Film industry violence in Isles probed by FBI [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Advertiser, May 21, 1994 Film worker slaying hasn’t been solved [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Jul. 2, 1997 Smoke from isle film fires fogs Hollywood [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Jun. 12, 1991 Teamster charges fly in aftermath of fires [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Advertiser, Jun. 12, 1991 Arson forces owner out of business [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Advertiser, Jun. 14, 1991 Film-industry figure denies arson [https://www.newspapers.com/] - Honolulu Advertiser, Apr. 22, 1999 David Larry Walden obituary and memorial notice [https://www.newspapers.com/] - The Kansas City Star, Apr. 1994 #DavidWalden #HawaiiTrueCrime #UnsolvedMurder #Honolulu #BeneathThePalms

Owen Hamada: Unsolved Murder at Waikele Community Park, Oahu, Hawaii

Owen Hamada was found beaten to death inside the women’s restroom at Waikele Community Park on March 21, 2005. More than twenty years later, his murder remains unsolved. Owen was originally from Hilo, worked in construction and roofing, and was a familiar face around Waikele Shopping Center. Police said he regularly slept overnight in the park restroom and was last seen alive the previous evening at the Waikele McDonald’s. His wallet was missing when park employees found him at about 7:00 a.m. This episode of Beneath the Palms follows Owen’s life before the headline, the final known hours of Sunday, March 20, the early homicide investigation, his family’s reward offer, and the renewed cold-case appeal in 2006. It also examines the limited possibilities raised by the missing wallet, his visible routine, and the unknown hours before his death, while keeping every unproven idea separate from verified fact. Owen was more than the word “homeless.” He was a son of Hilo, a working man, a brother, a father of four, and a grandfather of eleven. This story is told with care for Owen, his family, the park employees who found him, and the community that knew his face. Listener discretion advised: This episode discusses homicide, homelessness, and fatal violence. If you have information: Contact Honolulu CrimeStoppers at 808-955-8300, submit an anonymous online tip, or use the P3 Tips app. Do not investigate the case yourself or post accusations online. Sources: * Owen Hamada | Honolulu Police Department [https://www.honolulupd.org/cold-case/owen-hamada/] – https://www.honolulupd.org/cold-case/owen-hamada/ * Attackers Sought in Fatal Beating | The Honolulu Advertiser [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/266825232/] – https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/266825232/ * Suspect Sought in Homeless Man’s Death | Honolulu Star-Bulletin [https://archives.starbulletin.com/2005/03/24/news/briefs.html] – https://archives.starbulletin.com/2005/03/24/news/briefs.html * Reward Offered in Waikele Death | The Honolulu Advertiser [https://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jun/03/ln/ln18p.html] – https://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jun/03/ln/ln18p.html * Owen Kazutoshi Hamada Obituary | The Honolulu Advertiser [https://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Apr/14/ln/ln50pobituaries.html] – https://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Apr/14/ln/ln50pobituaries.html * Owen Kazutoshi Hamada Obituary | Honolulu Star-Bulletin [https://archives.starbulletin.com/2005/04/15/news/obits.html] – https://archives.starbulletin.com/2005/04/15/news/obits.html * Police Seek Help in Beating Death | The Honolulu Advertiser [https://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Nov/03/ln/FP611030370.html] – https://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Nov/03/ln/FP611030370.html * Public’s Help Sought in Homeless Man’s Death | Honolulu Star-Bulletin [https://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/11/04/news/briefs.html] – https://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/11/04/news/briefs.html * Owen Kazutoshi Hamada Obituary | Hawaii Tribune-Herald [https://staradvertiser.newspapers.com/paper/hawaii-tribune-herald/12556/articles/2005-04-13] – https://staradvertiser.newspapers.com/paper/hawaii-tribune-herald/12556/articles/2005-04-13 * CrimeStoppers Honolulu [https://www.honolulucrimestoppers.org/] – https://www.honolulucrimestoppers.org/ Mahalo to Yoza for the song “Broken Wings.” #BeneathThePalms #OwenHamada #HawaiiTrueCrime #UnsolvedMurder #Waikele

Kalaupapa Forced Exile: Hawaii’s Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) Settlement on Molokai | 075

Kalaupapa forced exile on Molokai remains one of the darkest and most important stories in Hawaii history. In 1866, the Hawaiian Kingdom began sending people diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, then commonly called leprosy, to the remote Kalaupapa peninsula, separating families and turning illness into exile. Over the next century, nearly 8,000 people were sent there. This episode follows the law, the fear, the family rupture, and the human cost behind Kalaupapa. It also traces the community people built anyway through care, faith, music, friendship, and endurance. You’ll hear the larger history behind Father Damien, Jonathan Napela, the removal of children from parents, the repeal of forced isolation in 1969, and the descendant-led work to restore names, graves, and family ties today. Kalaupapa is not just a Hawaii history story. It is a story about stigma, state power, Native Hawaiian loss, survival, and memory. If you’ve searched for Kalaupapa, Molokai history, Father Damien, Hansen’s disease in Hawaii, or the history of Hawaii’s leprosy settlement, this episode goes straight to the heart of it. Sources: A Brief History of Kalaupapa — https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyculture/a-brief-history-of-kalaupapa.htm [https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyculture/a-brief-history-of-kalaupapa.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com] The History of Hansen’s Disease in Hawaii — https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyculture/hansensdisease.htm [https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyculture/hansensdisease.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Father Damien — https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyculture/damien.htm [https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyculture/damien.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com] The Kalaupapa Names Project — https://www.kalaupapaohana.org/kalaupapa-names-project [https://www.kalaupapaohana.org/kalaupapa-names-project?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Kalaupapa Month honors settlement’s history and strength of those who were exiled — https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-01-17/kalaupapa-month-honors-settlements-history-and-strength-of-those-who-were-exiled [https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-01-17/kalaupapa-month-honors-settlements-history-and-strength-of-those-who-were-exiled?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Kalaupapa has thousands of unmarked graves. A proposed memorial would honor all who lived there — https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2022-01-06/kalaupapa-has-thousands-of-unmarked-graves-a-proposed-memorial-would-honor-all-who-lived-there [https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2022-01-06/kalaupapa-has-thousands-of-unmarked-graves-a-proposed-memorial-would-honor-all-who-lived-there?utm_source=chatgpt.com] #Kalaupapa #Molokai #HawaiiHistory #HansensDisease #LeprosyHistory #FatherDamien #NativeHawaiianHistory #HistoryPodcast #HawaiiPodcast #BeneathThePalms