Maui police opened a murder investigation after the body of a severely beaten man was found Christmas Day on a beach in Kahului.

Police tentatively identified the body as that of a 57-year-old man, but were withholding the man’s name pending positive identification and notification of his family.

A woman found the body on the beach near Amala Place, east of the Maui wastewater treatment plant, about 2:35 p.m. Sunday, police said. Authorities confirmed the man was dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation found that the man sustained multiple and severe trauma to his head, officials said. There were no metal fragments in the wounds. An autopsy was scheduled for today.

Police ask that anyone with information on the incident call Maui Crime Stoppers at 242-6966 or Maui police at 244-6400.