A quiet neighborhood, a locked front door, and a discovery that left an entire community in disbelief.
- Strange Case Files
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The Manoa Family Tragedy: Inside Hawaii’s Most Shocking Murder-Suicide
A Sunday Morning in Manoa
On the morning of March 10, 2024, police were called to a home in the Manoa neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii.
The first call came in shortly after 8:30 a.m., reporting a possible argument and screaming inside the house. Officers responded and attempted to make contact, but when no one answered the door and there were no visible signs of forced entry, they left the scene.
Less than an hour later, a second 911 call came in.
This time, the call was made by a tenant who lived inside the same house.
The woman told dispatchers she had heard screaming earlier that morning and had barricaded herself inside her bedroom. She reported seeing blood seeping from under her bedroom door and said she was too afraid to leave the room.
After receiving the second call, police returned to the residence, entered through the back door, and made a discovery that would soon be described as one of the most devastating crimes in recent Hawaiian history.
Inside were the bodies of five family members.
The Victims
The victims were identified as:
Naoko Oda, 48
Sakurako Oda, 17
Orion Oda, 12
Nana Oda, 10
All four had died from multiple stab wounds.
Also found deceased in the home was Paris Oda, 46, the husband and father.
Police confirmed that Paris Oda had fatally stabbed his wife and children before taking his own life.
Police also confirmed that the couple had a fourth child, an older daughter who was not home at the time of the incident and was not physically harmed.
What Investigators Found
Authorities determined that there was no sign of forced entry and no evidence of an outside suspect. The incident was classified as a murder suicide.
A knife was recovered at the scene and identified as the weapon used in the killings.
The tenant who had called 911 was not physically harmed.
There were no prior reports of domestic violence connected to the family. Neighbors described them as quiet and private. Nothing outwardly suggested that such a tragedy was imminent.
Financial Pressure and Warning Signs
As investigators began piecing together the family’s recent history, a clearer picture emerged.
Police revealed that Paris Oda had been under severe financial stress in the months leading up to the killings. His chiropractic business had reportedly been struggling, and he had been trying to find additional sources of income.
Authorities confirmed that he had recently started driving for Uber in an effort to make extra money.
Investigators also revealed that he had sent messages to his wife weeks earlier expressing distress and a sense that the family needed to make a plan.
According to police, he had discussed financial problems with relatives and expressed feelings of being overwhelmed.
There was no indication that the family had sought help from law enforcement or mental health services before the incident.
A Community in Shock
The murders sent shockwaves through Manoa and the wider Honolulu community.
Schools attended by the children offered counseling services. Neighbors gathered in vigils outside the home. Local leaders described the tragedy as deeply unsettling, not only because of the loss of life, but because of how suddenly it appeared to occur.
Police described the case as one of the deadliest domestic crimes on Oahu in decades.
An Unanswered Question
Despite the details uncovered during the investigation, one question remains impossible to fully answer.
How does a family reach a point where the person meant to protect them becomes the one who ends their lives?
The Manoa case offers no simple explanation. There was no criminal history. No public warning. No clear escalation visible from the outside.
Only a quiet household, mounting pressure behind closed doors, and a final moment that left five people dead.
A Tragedy Without Resolution
The case was officially closed as a murder suicide. There were no trials. No suspects. No further investigation required.
But for the community left behind, the story did not end with a police report.
It ended with four lives taken, a father gone, and a haunting reminder that some of the most devastating crimes do not come with clear motives, villains, or answers.
Only absence.
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