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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 16, 2003

Kahealani's nephew in state custody

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The 1-year-old son of the man charged with the murder of Halawa girl Kahealani Indreginal is in the custody of Child Protective Services after a complaint was filed against the child's mother.

Ezra Mamala-Tumbaga, son of Kahealani's half sister, Tanya Mamala-Tumbaga, was taken from his mother Monday. Police Capt. Alan Arita of the Criminal Investigation Division said yesterday that officials took the boy after a complaint was filed about endangering the welfare of a minor.

Arita would not disclose who filed the complaint or the accusations contained in the document. He also declined to say whom the complaint was filed against.

But Mamala-Tumbaga yesterday said she was told by police Monday that her son was being taken into custody for his safety. She said allegations have been made against her that she was a drug user.

"I don't use drugs, and I never did," Mamala-Tumbaga said. "(Police) said there were allegations that I used drugs. I asked them who said that, but they didn't want to say."

She and her mother, Lehua Indreginal, said they were upset at how police got them to bring Ezra to the police station Monday afternoon. According to Mamala-Tumbaga, a police detective said that threats had been made against her family and that she and her mother should bring their children in for fingerprinting.

Mamala-Tumbaga said that when they arrived, she was told by a detective that Ezra was being taken into custody for his own safety. She said she police assured her that Ezra would be held by police and not placed with Child Protective Services.

Mamala-Tumbaga, 18, said she received a call yesterday from a representative of the agency who told her Ezra was placed in a foster home. She said she met with the man, who asked her to sign a document to give the state custody of her child, but she said she refused.

Department of Human Services spokeswoman Susan Yamamoto said she could not release any information on the case.

Mamala-Tumbaga said she will fight for the custody of her son, who turned 1 on Dec. 30. A birthday lu'au scheduled for Saturday has been canceled.

The custody battle is the latest in a string of events that began Dec. 11 when 11-year-old Kahealani Indreginal was reported missing. A massive search by city, state and federal officials ended two days later when the body of the 'Aiea Elementary School sixth-grader was found near the 'Aiea Loop Trail.

Christopher C. Aki, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Kahealani's death. Aki is the father of Ezra and former boyfriend of Mamala-Tumbaga.

Police said Aki has confessed to acting alone in Kahealani's death. But he pleaded not guilty to the charge last month. His trial is set for the week of Feb. 24.