A Hilo man accused of fatally stabbing his maternal grandparents in 2023 will remain in the Hawaii State Hospital — at least for now.

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A Hilo man accused of fatally stabbing his maternal grandparents in 2023 will remain in the Hawaii State Hospital — at least for now.

Joshua Ho, accused of killing Jeffrey and Carla Takamine — both 68 and the owners of Big Island Delights — appeared Thursday before Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese in Kona via video from the mental hospital in Kaneohe, Oahu.

Ho’s attorney, Ann Datta, told the judge her client has been confined to the hospital since Feb. 7, 2023, and has no objection to the hospital’s request for a 90-day continuance. A letter received by the court on Aug. 20 regarding Ho is sealed.

DeWeese maintained Ho’s status as unfit to stand trial and set a review hearing about his fitness to proceed on Dec. 17.

Ho, who was 21 when the tragic incident occurred, reportedly suffers from schizophrenia. He was living in the family’s Panaewa home, where the early morning attack on the Takamines took place.

DeWeese is presiding over Ho’s case because both Hilo Circuit Court judges, Peter Kubota and Henry Nakamoto, recused themselves from the proceedings.

Ho is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and a single count of attempted second-degree murder.

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The first-degree murder charge, which is relatively rare in Hawaii, is because there were multiple homicide victims. The charge, upon conviction, carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder carry a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole.

According to court documents, Cheryl Ho, the mother of the suspect and daughter of the slain couple, called police to the family’s Makalika Street home at 6:53 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2023, reporting that Joshua Ho was experiencing a schizophrenic episode and had a knife.

When police arrived, Kaulana Ho, Joshua Ho’s older brother, and Guy Ho, the father, were restraining Joshua Ho, according to the documents.

A blood-stained kitchen knife with an 8-inch blade, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered at the scene.

The victim in the attempted murder charge is Kaulana Ho, who suffered stab wounds to his head and ribs, reportedly in his attempt to disarm his younger brother of the knife.

Kaulana Ho was treated for his injuries at the Hilo Medical Center emergency room and released.

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Email John Burnett at [email protected].