Paul Kaeo was charged with second-degree murder yesterday in the beating death of the boyfriend of his estranged wife Friday night in Ma'ili.

Kaeo, 44, was being held on $1 million bail and was scheduled to make his initial court appearance this morning.

Calvin Baker — the brother of Kaeo's estranged wife, Debbie Kaeo — told homicide detectives that Paul Kaeo was upset over the relationship between Debbie Kaeo and the victim, Charles Kahumoku Jr., 49, according to a police affidavit released last night.

Baker told police that Paul Kaeo had said he would kill Kahumoku if he ever saw him with Debbie, according to the affidavit.

Debbie was visiting Baker and Kaeo at Kaeo's home on Hakeakea Street to cook food for a family outing the following day when Kahumoku arrived in his truck around 9:20 p.m. to pick her up, according to the affidavit. Debbie walked toward the truck when Kaeo suddenly pushed her down for the first of three times and headed for the truck, according to the affidavit.

Baker told police that he saw Kaeo standing in the open driver's side of the truck holding a metal bar in both hands, making jabbing motions. Baker then took the 2-foot-long bar from Kaeo.

Kahumoku was taken to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center with severe injuries to his face, neck and chest and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 10:25 p.m.