Domestic disputes resulting in deaths, including two murder-suicides, have accounted for half of eight homicide cases investigated by Honolulu police during the first five months of 2008.

The latest case involves the shooting deaths of a man, 60, and his wife, 45, which the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office on Tuesday classified as a murder-suicide. An autopsy determined the woman was the homicide victim who died from a gunshot wound to the head. The man, who also died from a head shot, committed suicide.

The medical examiner did not identify the couple pending confirmation of identities. But neighbors of the Halawa Heights Road apartment where the couple lived for about a month, said they were Eliseo and Marissa Dumlao.

Monday night's deaths follow the April 25 murder-suicide in 'Ewa in which Domingo "Bunny" Dikito, 39, shot his wife Della, 38, and then himself.

The other domestic violence homicides this year are the Jan. 9 stabbing of Jenny T. Hartsock, 39, by her husband, 40-year-old Roy William Hartsock, and the Jan. 16 beating death of 30-year-old Janel Tupuola on Maluniu Avenue in Kailua by Alapeti Siuanu Tunoa Jr., 30.

Salvatore S. Lanzilotti, special assistant to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa chancellor and interim dean of health programs at Kapi'olani Community College, has been a regular participant in silent marches held for domestic violence victims.

In a telephone interview from New York, Lanzilotti said he is not surprised by the homicide numbers, given the fact that people are tense with America at war and the economy in recession, but believes men are the key to stopping domestic violence.

"We need to be transmitting to our sons and other men that there are other ways to resolve conflicts than violence," Lanzilotti said. "Violence is a choice and we need to make it clear violence is not an acceptable choice.

"Men have to stand up and say this is not appropriate behavior and it will not be tolerated," Lanzilotti added.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.