MEDIA RELEASE

Police have arrested a 55-year-old Hilo man for a murder that occurred in the Hilo Bayfront area late last year.

Mark Anthony Whyne, who has no permanent address, was arrested at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday (February 6) on suspicion of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony.

Whyne was already in police custody on three firearms-related offenses prior to being arrested for the new charges. He remains in the police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.

On December 29 at about 8:47 p.m., police received a number of calls of possible gunshots heard in the area of Moʻoheau Park in Hilo. Responding officers discovered the victim, identified as Faatetai Fiu of Hilo, with apparent gunshot wounds.

An autopsy performed on Fiu’s body determined that he died from exsanguination as the result of multiple gunshot wounds. Detectives are awaiting additional toxicology reports from the medical examiner’s office.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case or anyone who may have witnessed this shooting contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or ralmeida@co.hawaii.hi.us or Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.