In this episode of Beneath the Palms, we dive deep into the true story of Michael J. Miske Jr., Hawaii’s most notorious crime boss, who built a powerful criminal syndicate in Honolulu’s underworld.
From operating legitimate businesses to orchestrating a criminal empire involving drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and murder, Miske’s influence spanned decades—until a massive FBI investigation brought him down.
We’ll break down:
- How Miske rose to power in Hawaii’s criminal underworld
- The violent acts, financial crimes, and betrayals that fueled his empire
- The federal takedown that led to his conviction in 2024
- And his mysterious death behind bars shortly after sentencing
This episode is packed with first-hand accounts, court documents, and years of investigative journalism, unraveling the story of a man who ruled through fear—and whose legacy still casts a shadow over Hawaii’s criminal history.
🔗 Sources & References
Extensive research for this episode was gathered from:
- 📰 Hawaii News Now, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Civil Beat, KHON2, KITV4, and Hawaii Public Radio
- 🖋️ Investigative journalism by Nick Grube, Christina Jedra, Kevin Dayton (Civil Beat), and Rob Perez (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
- 📑 Official court records from the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, and U.S. District Court of Hawaii
- 📚 Historical analysis on organized crime in Hawaii
👉 For more in-depth reading, check out Civil Beat’s investigative archive and the Star-Advertiser’s Miske Enterprise coverage.
🎵 Music Credit
🎶 Intro & Outro Music: Obsession by Yoza🎧 Stream her music on all platforms → YozaMusic.com📸 Follow Yoza on Instagram → @YozaMusic
📲 Follow the Podcast for Updates & Discussions:
📸 Instagram: BeneathThePalmsPodcast
🔔 Listen Now on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#TrueCrime #MichaelMiske #HawaiiCrimeBoss #OrganizedCrime #FBIInvestigation #BeneathThePalms #HawaiiTrueCrime #HonoluluCrime #CrimePodcast #TrueCrimePodcast #MiskeCase #HawaiiOrganizedCrime #TrueCrimeAddict #HawaiiNews
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