File image taken in Waipi’o Valley by Visionary Video

WAIPI’O VALLEY – Hawaii County Police have opened a murder investigation in connection with the body that was discovered last Thursday in Waipio Valley. The victim has been identified as 49-year-old Thaine Ulysses Lucifer Price of Honokaʻa.

At 5:56 p.m. on March 3, police responded to Waipio Valley after receiving a report of an unresponsive man in a small stream. Responding officers found the body of Price partially submerged in the stream.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing the investigation. Police ask anyone with information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact either Detective Todd Pataray at 961-2382 or todd.pataray@hawaiicounty.gov, or Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or robert.almeida@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.