Honolulu Man, 23, Charged with Murder in Makiki Stabbing Death

Sinaleen Joseph, 23, allegedly stabbed her boyfriend Keisar Ekiek multiple times before he was found dead at the bottom of a storm drain near Makiki Stream, bearing wounds to his face, head, and chest. Police responded to the scene on Makiki Street at about 5 a.m. on March 27, 2026; Joseph was arrested later that same day.

Witnesses told investigators they had heard arguing and a man yelling for help before Ekiek was discovered. Investigators connected Joseph to the victim through his own family: a relative told police that Ekiek was regularly seen with a woman known by the nickname "Sinsin," who was subsequently identified as Joseph. Court documents also noted that the family member said Joseph was dating another member of Ekiek's family at the time, a detail that added texture to the relational circumstances investigators were piecing together in the hours after the killing.

What appears to have sealed probable cause, according to court filings, was an alleged confession. Joseph reportedly told a family member she had committed the stabbing, a disclosure detailed in court documents released Thursday.

HPD formally charged Joseph with second-degree murder on April 1, five days after Ekiek's death. A judge confirmed bail at $250,000 during Joseph's initial court appearance on April 2. The Honolulu Police Department described the investigation as active and ongoing, and asked anyone with additional information to contact the department.

The case now moves toward formal arraignment, with charging affidavits and further discovery filings expected to deepen the public record of what happened on Makiki Street before dawn on March 27.