The mother of an 'Ewa Beach toddler who died Tuesday from "assaultive head trauma" was arrested yesterday and faces second-degree murder charges, police said.

Makerita Puni was being held in the Honolulu police headquarters cellblock last night. Her son, 22-month-old Dante Puni, died Tuesday at The Queen's Medical Center.

Paramedics responded to a Kaikala Street home Monday at 12:43 p.m. and found the unconscious child's father performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on him.

Police were not available last night to talk about the case.

A listing on Homegrown Hawaii.com, a Web site for linking up with high school friends, says Makerita Puni was a 1999 graduate of Wai'anae High School.

It also says she is a stay-at-home mother.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating the death of 1-year-old Kamalani Inciong-Smith, who died about 6 a.m Monday at the Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children. Her cause of death was listed as "abusive head trauma."

The homicides are the first on O'ahu this year involving children younger than 5, the Ho-nolulu medical examiner said. Last year, there were three such deaths.

Hawai'i psychologists have said child-abuse cases historically spike during the holidays, especially if a family is going through financial troubles or other stress.

In some years, Hawai'i has seen as many as 15 child-abuse deaths in children under 5, officials said. But fewer deaths were reported in the past two years.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.