Grand jury indicts adoptive parents for ‘heinous’ murder of 6-year-old Isabella ‘Ariel’ Kalua

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A grand jury indicted the adoptive parents Wednesday of 6-year-old Isabella “Ariel” Kalua on murder, hindering prosecution and other charges.

Lehua and Isaac “Sonny” Kalua remain behind bars without bail.

In a news conference outlining the new charges, city Prosecutor Steve Alm called the allegations against the couple “heinous.” He added that if convicted, they both face extended terms of life without the possibility of parole because of sentencing guidelines for those accused of killing a child under 8.

“This is heinous crime. They need to be held accountable for it,” Alm said. “It’s really sickening.”

In addition to murder, 44-year-old Lehua Kalua was charged with:

• One count of hindering prosecution
• Two counts of abuse of a household member
• Two counts of persistent nonsupport
• Two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor

Isaac Kalua, 52, also faces murder, hindering prosecution, and endangerment charges.

Hawaii News Now cameras were outside the grand jury room Wednesday morning as Honolulu police officers and other witnesses waited to testify.

Jurors heard evidence against the Kaluas for five hours before returning the indictment.

After the foreman read out the counts in court, the deputy prosecutor divulged disturbing new information about the alleged torture Isabella and her sister endured.

“Throughout the time victim and older sister were in the defendant’s home they were subject to various mental and physical abuse at the hands of both defendants,” said deputy city Prosecutor Tiffany Kaeo.

“Both children had been duct taped and repeatedly hit without provocation or justification. The victim had been prevented from eating food and older child forced to monitor victim’s eating habits.”

Kaeo added that Isabella’s sister “would be punished for trying to help the victim.”

Kaeo also detailed several abusive incidents this past summer.

“In June 2021, the victim was hit in the face with an object by (Lehua Kalua), which caused the victim to suffer a black eye,” Kaeo told the court.

“Another occasion in July and August of 2021, the victim’s neck was pushed down on a crib railing in a strangling type position causing her chin to rub against the crib causing a large scab to form.”

Kaeo said the Kaluas worked to cover up the alleged abuse happening inside their Waimanalo home by keeping Isabella and her sibling out of school, saying they had 20 unexcused absences.

The exact date of Isabella’s death is unclear.

But police have said the girl was last seen alive on home surveillance on Aug. 18, and they believe she was murdered on or around that date. She was reported missing nearly a month later.

Her disappearance prompted an intense, multi-agency search and hundreds of community members also joined in the search. The two told police they’d last seen Isabella in her room.

But, police say, the couple had been lying from the start.

Kaeo, the deputy prosecutor, said in court that the Kaluas went to great lengths to cover up the murder ― allegedly disposing of evidence in various spots around the island.

“Following the death of the victim the defendants took multiple steps to destroy evidence, including throwing away various items in various locations across the island, cleaning the house extensively with various cleaning agents and purchasing products to mask the smell of odors,” Kaeo said.

Isabella’s remains have not been found, though investigators are continuing their search.

Court documents released last week detailed horrific allegations against the couple, including that the child died after being kept in a dog cage in the bathroom with duct tape over her nose and mouth.

Isabella’s sister told police that the girl was frequently kept in the cage.

In the news conference, HPD Deputy Chief Lisa Mann thanked all those who came out to search for Isabella. “Her story and her smile brought an island together,” she said.

“We remain committed to our quest for the truth and justice.”

This story will be updated.

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