Posted on: Thursday, April 12, 2001

State finds no violations by hotel in chef's slaying

Advertiser Staff

The Sheraton Waikiki Hotel was not in violation of state safety and health laws when a chef was fatally stabbed by another employee last year, according to the state Occupational Safety and Health Division.

Executive chef Thomas Matsuda, 43, was killed in the hotel kitchen Dec. 1, 2000.

Tam Van Huynh, a cook working for Matsuda, has been charged with second-degree murder. Huynh, 39, was suspended from the hotel two years ago after an argument with a co-worker and was ordered to undergo counseling.

Huynh is accused of stabbing Matsuda in the stomach after an argument over a work schedule.

Sheraton Waikiki management had developed and implemented effective procedures to identify, evaluate and address workplace violence to mitigate employees' risk of harm and prevent recurrence, according to state OSHA findings.