A 29-year-old Honolulu man is expected to be charged today in connection with the murder of Iris Rodrigues-Kaikana, a teen whose nude body was found in a Kalihi alleyway nearly two weeks ago.

Corbit K. Ahn, who is listed on Hawai'i mixed martial arts Web sites as a freelance kickboxer, was arrested about 11 p.m. Friday at his apartment on Matlock Avenue in lower Makiki. Court records show Ahn has two prior convictions — one for assault and another for unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Relatives of Rodrigues-Kaikana said the arrest is a welcome break in the case, and yesterday thanked the community for coming forward with dozens of tips.

But Steven Rodrigues, Rodrigues-Kaikana's father, also said the development leaves him with more questions than answers.

"To tell you the truth ... I'm trying to figure out what is the motive," he said. "I don't even know this guy."

Rodrigues-Kaikana, an 18-year-old McKinley High School graduate, was found dead Aug. 24 in a pedestrian alley adjacent to the Kamehameha Homes housing project, where she lived part-time. The medical examiner's office has said she had been strangled.

The teenager's father said he last talked to Rodrigues-Kaikana about 7:30 p.m. the day before her body was found. She told him that she was heading to a friend's house at Kamehameha Homes to download music to her iPod.

She later called her sister to say she would be spending the night at the housing complex.

Rodrigues-Kaikana's death has shocked and angered the community, spurring several people to put up rewards — totaling more than $10,000 — for information that would lead to an arrest.

CrimeStoppers also asked for the public's help in the case.

Police said Ahn is expected to be charged with second-degree murder today.

The Honolulu Police Department's Specialized Services Divisions took part in Ahn's arrest. He was arrested without incident.

A woman in Ahn's Matlock Avenue apartment unit in Makiki declined comment yesterday.

Meanwhile, neighbor John Lopez expressed shock at the arrest. He said Ahn always struck him as an outgoing, friendly person. He said he often saw Ahn washing his car in the apartment's parking lot and Ahn would always wave and smile.

"He seems like a nice guy," Lopez said. "It's hard for me to believe."

Lopez also said Ahn has small children.

Darren Weaver, Rodrigues-Kaikana's cousin, said yesterday that he didn't know whether Rodrigues-Kaikana and Ahn were acquainted.

Weaver said Ahn had made it known he was a mixed martial arts fighter. Weaver suspects that's part of the reason why few people came forward with tips for police in the days after Rodrigues-Kaikana was found dead.

"The people and the community are probably scared of him," Weaver said.

Weaver also thanked those who came forward and the scores of people who expressed support for the family.

"This is the beginning of closure right now," he said. "I just hope this is the person so the community can be safe."