Witness provides Next month's memorial service for Toshio Kawano is already supposed to be special. It will mark the beginning of the 25th year of his death.
clue to ’77
bakery killing
The 2 men suspected in Toshio
Kawano's murder are in
prison on unrelated chargesBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comBut a recent break in the investigation of his slaying may give it added significance.
Honolulu police told family members they are pursuing charges against two suspects who were identified, thanks to information provided by a witness who stepped forward last year.
Both suspects are in prison serving time for unrelated convictions.
"It's good that they found out and they caught them," said Kawano's widow, Shinobu.
Kawano, 58, was killed in a gunfight with two would-be robbers in the Moiliili Bakery at 2737 S. King St. on Sept. 26, 1977.
Kawano and his wife were proprietors of the business, a liquor and sundries store, which kept the name after conversion from a bakery.
Against his wife's wishes, Kawano wore a gun in a holster around his waist because of previous robberies.
"I told him not to use it, just give the money," she said.
Police found him lying in the aisle of the store.
His gun was nearby, and his holster was still tucked under the waist of his pants. He had gunshot wounds in his abdomen, right arm and cheek.
He was taken to Queen's Medical Center where he was pronounced dead 212 hours after the 8:10 p.m. shooting.
Gordon Lee, then-police lieutenant in charge of the homicide detail, said that after he was shot, Kawano walked outside the store, went back inside, then slumped to a sitting position on the floor.
"He worked so hard. He really worked hard. It's bad he died like that," Shinobu Kawano said.