Beneath the Palms: Hawaii's True Crime Chronicles

About Beneath the Palms: Hawaii's True Crime Chronicles

Beneath the Palms explores Hawaii’s true crime cases, unsolved mysteries, disappearances, historical injustices, and stories too often left in the shadows. From cold cases and notorious crimes to forgotten events that shaped the islands, each episode looks beyond paradise to the people, places, and truths still waiting to be remembered. 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday at 5AM HST. Darkness may linger beneath the palms, but so does hope.

Publisher

Aku Bone Media

Category

true crime

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Jan 2025

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

99 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Karen Stitt Murder: Gary Ramirez, DNA and the 1982 Sunnyvale Cold Case

   Karen Stitt was 15 when she was murdered in Sunnyvale, California, in September 1982. The Pennsylvania transplant loved rock music, rode the El Camino bus routes on her own, and was building a new life in California. After an ordinary night with her boyfriend, she headed for a bus home and never made it. For decades, Karen's murder remained a Bay Area cold case. Preserved blood and biological evidence eventually led investigators through DNA testing and investigative genetic genealogy to Gary Gene Ramirez, then living on Maui. A direct DNA comparison after his 2022 arrest confirmed the match; in 2025, Ramirez pleaded no contest to first-degree murder and received life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. This episode keeps Karen at the center: the girl in the rock T-shirts, the copper ring a former boyfriend kept for decades, the Rush cap she borrowed that last night, and the people who never stopped remembering her. Listener discretion: sexual assault and murder of a minor, significant violence, and a brief reference to suicide. Sources: The Murder of Karen Stitt | Santa Clara County District Attorney (https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/murder-karen-stitt) https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/murder-karen-stitt Gary Ramirez Complaint and Statement of Facts (https://files.santaclaracounty.gov/migrated/RAMIREZ_C2209665_COMPLAINT-SOF_Redacted.pdf) https://files.santaclaracounty.gov/migrated/RAMIREZ_C2209665_COMPLAINT-SOF_Redacted.pdf Karen Stitt's Friends, Family Remember a Vibrant Soul Who Was Brutally Murdered | The Almanac (https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2022/08/19/karen-stitts-friends-family-remember-a-vibrant-soul-who-was-brutally-murdered/) https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2022/08/19/karen-stitts-friends-family-remember-a-vibrant-soul-who-was-brutally-murdered/ Makawao Man to Be Extradited to California | The Maui News (https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2022/08/makawao-man-to-be-extradited-to-california/) https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2022/08/makawao-man-to-be-extradited-to-california/ Badass Detective: Karen Stitt Cold Case | ABC News 20/20 (https://abcnews.com/video/129033776/) https://abcnews.com/video/129033776/ A Man From Hawaii Convicted of 1982 Murder of Karen Stitt | Santa Clara County DA (https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/hawaiian-man-convicted-1982-murder-karen-stitt) https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/hawaiian-man-convicted-1982-murder-karen-stitt Elderly Man Sentenced for the 1982 Murder of Karen Stitt | Santa Clara County DA (https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/elderly-man-sentenced-1982-murder-karen-stitt) https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/elderly-man-sentenced-1982-murder-karen-stitt Hawaii Man Gets Life Sentence in Karen Stitt Murder | Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-12/hawaii-man-gets-life-sentence-for-raping-and-murdering-15-year-old-california-girl) https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-12/hawaii-man-gets-life-sentence-for-raping-and-murdering-15-year-old-california-girl Cold Case Killer Pleads No Contest | The Mercury News (https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/mercury-news-cold-case-killer-pleads-no-contest-stabbing-sunnyvale-girl-59-times-1982) https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/mercury-news-cold-case-killer-pleads-no-contest-stabbing-sunnyvale-girl-59-times-1982 Historical newspaper coverage: San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 4, 1982; Oakland Tribune, Sept. 5, 1982; San Francisco Examiner, Nov. 15, 1982; Peninsula Times Tribune, July 27, 1985. https://www.newspapers.com/ Music: "Broken Wings" by Yoza, used with permission. #KarenStitt #GaryRamirez #ColdCase #GeneticGenealogy #BeneathThePalms

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Matthew Joel Peak Murder: The Unsolved Waipio Valley, Hawaii Cold Case | Buried in Paradise

   Matthew Joel Peak was 22 years old when his life ended in Waipio Valley, Hawaii. In 1999, he was living between Waipio and Puna, often hitchhiking through Hilo and sleeping in a simple camp in the valley. On June 1, beachgoers found a body buried in the sand near the beach. Fingerprints gave that body a name: Matthew. What followed became one of Hawaii Island’s enduring cold cases. His death was ruled a homicide after investigators determined he died from asphyxia due to homicidal violence. No suspect has ever been publicly identified, and more than 25 years later, police are still asking for the one memory, conversation, ride, or detail that could matter. Buried in Paradise goes beyond the case file to look at the young man behind the photograph, the life he was living in Waipio, the rumors that grew around his death, and the line between what people said and what investigators could actually prove. If you knew Matthew, saw him around Waipio, Hilo, or Puna, gave him a ride, or remember anything from 1999 that may help, contact the Hawaii Police Unsolved Homicides Division at 808-961-2380, Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300, or unsolvedhomicides@hawaiipolice.gov. Case F-96184. Sources: Matthew Peak Murder (F-96184), Hawaii Police Department (https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/matthew-peak-murder-f-96184/) https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/matthew-peak-murder-f-96184/ Waipio Body Found Update 06/04/99, Hawaii Police Department (https://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-found-update-060499) https://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-found-update-060499 Waipio Body Found Update 06/05/99, Hawaii Police Department (https://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-found-update-060599) https://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-found-update-060599 Waipio Body Update 08/03/99, Hawaii Police Department (https://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-update-080399) https://www.hawaiipolice.com/waipio-body-update-080399 Mystery of Waipio Valley murder still unsolved 25 years later, KHON2 (https://www.khon2.com/hawaiis-unsolved-murders/mystery-of-waipio-valley-murder-still-unsolved-25-years-later/) https://www.khon2.com/hawaiis-unsolved-murders/mystery-of-waipio-valley-murder-still-unsolved-25-years-later/ Newspapers.com archival coverage (https://www.newspapers.com/): Hawaii Tribune-Herald, “Waipio Valley body identified” (June 6, 1999), “Foul play suspected in death” (Aug. 4, 1999), “Fear and loathing in Waipio Valley” (Nov. 15, 1999), “Police still seeking leads in these likely homicides” (May 25, 2003); Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “Police identify Waipio Valley body” (June 8, 1999); Honolulu Star-Bulletin, “Autopsy report due today on body found in Waipio” (June 4, 1999). https://www.newspapers.com/ Wet and Wild: Waipio Valley, Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-03-tr-60670-story.html) https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-03-tr-60670-story.html Music: “Broken Wings” by Yoza, used with permission. #MatthewPeak #WaipioValley #HawaiiTrueCrime #UnsolvedMurder #ColdCase

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Who Killed Lynn Ebisuzaki? The Unsolved 1987 Hilo Murder | Hawaii True Crime Cold Case

   Who killed Lynn Ebisuzaki? In 1987, the 26-year-old Hilo woman stepped away from a home she was visiting and never came back. Police found her body nearby, and nearly four decades later her murder remains unsolved. This episode of Beneath the Palms revisits the Lynn Ebisuzaki cold case from the beginning: the life she built in Hilo, her work, her years helping children at church, the timeline on May 1, 1987, the unidentified man seen near Hilo Airport with a bleeding hand, the original composite sketches, forensic evidence, and the later witness account involving another unidentified man seen arguing with Lynn before her death. But this is not just a Hawaii cold case. Lynn was a daughter, sister, coworker, friend, and a familiar presence in her church community. People remembered her as quiet, friendly, caring and kind. When she died, people lined the street to say goodbye. If you have information about Lynn's murder, contact Hawaii Police Detective Sybastian Keltner at 808-961-2326 or Sybastian.Keltner@hawaiipolice.gov. Anonymous tips: Crime Stoppers, 808-961-8300. Sources: Police Renew Request for Information Regarding 1987 Unsolved Homicide in Hilo (https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/police-renew-request-for-information-regarding-1987-unsolved-homicide-in-hilo/) https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/police-renew-request-for-information-regarding-1987-unsolved-homicide-in-hilo/ Lynn Ebisuzaki Murder C-60060 (https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/lynn-ebisuzaki-murder-c-60060/) https://www.hawaiipolice.gov/lynn-ebisuzaki-murder-c-60060/ Who killed Lynn Ebisuzaki? Victim in unsolved 1987 murder 'was a very kind person' (https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/02/25/hawaii-news/who-killed-lynn-ebisuzaki-victim-in-unsolved-1987-murder-was-a-very-kind-person/) https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/02/25/hawaii-news/who-killed-lynn-ebisuzaki-victim-in-unsolved-1987-murder-was-a-very-kind-person/ Lynn Emiko Ebisuzaki Obituary Archive (https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/obituaries/8984/) https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/obituaries/8984/ Woman murdered in Hilo, May 3, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ Police Beat, May 3, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ 2 murder cases on Big Island, May 4, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ Possible suspect is sought, May 5, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ Police describe suspect in slaying of woman, May 5, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ Man sought, May 6, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ Isle murders on the increase, July 23, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ Not 'outdoor shower,' August 11, 1987 https://www.newspapers.com/ Music: Yoza, "Broken Wings" | @yozamusic | https://yozamusic.com/ #LynnEbisuzaki #HawaiiTrueCrime #UnsolvedMurder #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

70,880

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.1 / 5

16 ratings

Spotify

3.6 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 81 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

89

Social presence

94

YouTube

85

Engagement

49

Contact Beneath the Palms: Hawaii's True Crime Chronicles

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.