'Peter Boy' Kema: Parents charged with son's murder 19 years after he went missing

Peter Kema Jr vanished in 1997, aged six

Peter Kema Sr. and Jaylin Kema, parents of missing Hawaii boy Peter Kema, known as "Peter Boy," in 1998 (AP)

The parents of a murdered six-year-old boy have been charged with his death, 19 years after he was declared missing.

Peter Kema Sr and Jaylin Kema have been arrested by Hawaii police and charged by a grand jury with second-degree murder.

Their son, "Peter Boy" Kema, disappeared from his Hawaii home in 1997 and while his body was never found, police had concluded he was murdered.

Peter Boy was not reported missing until January 1998, months after he was last seen alive.

His parents have denied wrongdoing.

In 2015, his younger sister Lina Acol called on her mother to "say something", Hawaii News Now reports.

She said: "Just come out already. It's time to come out.

"We all want to know what happened."

'Peter Boy' Kema went missing from his Hawaii home in 1997 and his body was never found (AP)

The parents of Peter Boy had long been suspects but prosecutors say they had not had enough evidence until now.

Hawaii County deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville said the charges had been "a long time coming".

Peter Kema Sr., right, appears Friday, April 29, 2016, for arraignment in Hilo Circuit Court in Hilo, Hawaii (AP)

He added: "Peter Boy, this Sunday, would have been 25 years old.

"We'd like to thank the members of the community ... civilians that came forward over the years and helped move this case forward.

"Even the community didn't forget."