How Could You? Hall of Shame-Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
A 2023 case has come to light.

From Honolulu, Hawaii, adoptive mother and Oahu social worker, “Sina Pili, 39, was arrested on a grand jury bench warrant Friday after she was indicted on charges of manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a minor and persistent nonsupport” for the death of her 11-year-old adoptive daughter, Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You.

“Authorities said they were first alerted to the situation on Dec. 22, 2023. First responders were called to a home in Laie where they found 11-year-old Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You lying unresponsive with bruises to various parts of her body, including her face.

The 11-year-old was taken to Kahuku Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The Honolulu medical examiner’s office deferred the initial cause and manner of death pending further testing and review of medical records.

This week, Honolulu Police Department Lt. Deena Thoemmes updated the investigation into the girl’s death.

“Further investigation revealed that on the day that Azaeliyah died, Sina Pili slapped and punched Azaeliyah multiple times for approximately 30 minutes,” Thoemmes said.

Police said that a forensic pathologist determined the cause of Azaeliyah’s death to be multiple injuries from child abuse and ruled her manner of death to be homicide.

Thoemmes said Azaeliyah suffered extensive bruising, multiple abrasions to her body, wounds to the nose consistent with being bitten, rib fractures and a dark-colored lung indicative of pneumonia.

“Days before her death, Azalea had told her adoptive parents that she was sick. The autopsy did reveal that she tested positive for COVID, influenza A, and that she had pneumonia,” Thoemmes said.

According to Thoemmes, the family has four more adoptive children, ages 12, 9, 8, and 7. After Azaeliyah’s death, they were taken into protective custody.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii confirmed Pili taught a class as an adjunct instructor. As soon as the university became aware of her arrest, her contract was terminated, the university said.

Pili is currently in Honolulu Police Department custody and will be arraigned on March 13 [2025]

Manslaughter is considered a felony and carries a prison term of 20 years without the possibility of suspension or probation.”
Woman slapped, punched her adoptive daughter for 30 minutes before she died, police say
[WTAP 3/8/25 by Jordan Gartner]

“She pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a minor before Judge Ronald Johnson ordered her held without bail.”

“Azaeliyah died on Dec. 22, 2023. A police investigation found that Pili had punched and slapped the girl for 30 minutes on the day of her death. An autopsy conducted two days after her death would later reveal that Azaeliyah had deep bruises, fractured ribs, a hemorrhage on the top of her head and indications of strangulation. The forensic pathologist also noted the girl had a bite mark on her nose.”

“One of five children in the home, Azaeliyah was adopted two months before her death. In the arraignment Thursday, the judge raised concern about potential obstruction of justice and intimidation if Pili were allowed contact with the witnesses, who are minors, presumably referring to the other children, at least three of whom are under the age of 12.

Court records indicate there is currently a no-contact order in place to prevent Pili from communicating with the children if she were out on bail.

Pili’s four other children are also adopted, including at least one with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. She addressed the challenges of raising a kid with the disorder in a 2021 interview with Hawaiʻi Public Radio’s The Conversation.

Pili has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Hawaiʻi, and she is getting her Ph.D. in the social welfare program at UH, studying prenatal alcohol exposure.[Are you kidding me?] She was an adjunct professor in social work at BYU-Hawaii, where she taught one course. Her bio was removed from the university’s online directory the night of her arrest, and spokesperson Brooke Peterson said her contract was terminated as soon as administrators became aware of her arrest.”

“Pili was also active in the Mormon church in the area.” [OH! Now I see!]

“On the morning of Azaeliyah’s death, Pili sent the girl to run and walk to the temple across the street, despite the fact that the girl was ill.[Unbelievable!] The autopsy revealed that Azaeliyah had Covid-19, influenza and pneumonia at the time of her death, according to Honolulu police. ”

“Public records indicate that Sina Pili owns her Lāʻie house with husband Davis Pili. Davis Pili appeared in Civil Beat’s public employee salary database as a correctional officer from 2012 to 2020 and as a court bailiff for the state Judiciary in 2022 and 2024.

Records show that starting in 2020 Sina and Davis Pili ran a business together called Hui Hanai Pono Consulting LLC. It’s unclear what the business did. A state grant application in 2022 included a biography for Sina Pili, calling her the founder of Hui Hanai Pono.

She was a work furlough case manager and a pretrial officer for the Department of Public Safety, and Civil Beat’s salary database lists her as a social worker for the public safety department from 2013 to 2016.”

Oʻahu Social Worker Accused In Daughter’s Death Continued To Work With Kids
[Honolulu Civil Beat 3/13/25 by Caitlin Thompson and Megan Tagami]

Hawaii, get your act together! Stop hiring doofuses that beat their adoptive children!

REFORM Puzzle Piece

All social workers should have the same standards as EVERYONE else!!!!