Maria Paris Leva was 94 and a longtime Kihei resident when she was found dead on January 8, 2021, in an incident authorities described as an apparent murder-suicide. Police were first sent to a Kihei home that morning after a GPS pendant alarm triggered a welfare check. Later that day officers located two people in a vehicle off Maui Veterans Highway, both suffering apparent gunshot wounds; investigators later identified them as Maria and her husband, Arthur Leva. A .38-caliber revolver was recovered at the scene.

By mid-February 2021 police were still calling the deaths an apparent murder-suicide but did not publicly state who fired the weapon. There was no outside suspect sought and no arrest announced. Public remembrances emphasized Maria’s long partnership, travels, friendships and a graceful presence in the community. If anyone knew Maria or has information about what happened that January morning, please come forward.