Illegal Racing Kills Moped Rider

[dirt racer]

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071029/NEWS09/710290355/1001/NEWS09

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Posted on: Monday, October 29, 2007

14-year-old Hawaii boy killed in moped crash

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

WAIALUA — A teenage boy was killed and his brother seriously injured yesterday when the mopeds they were illegally racing on Kaukonahua Road crashed into a guardrail during what was called a "Halloween moped cruise" from Papakolea to the North Shore, police said.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office identified the dead boy as Gjino Kanahele, 14. The name of his brother, 15, was not available last night.

The brothers were not licensed moped operators. State law says only licensed drivers older than 15 are permitted to operate mopeds on public streets.

The brothers were part of a group of about 60 moped riders, said Honolulu Police officer Willy Malina, from the Wahiawa station. Many of the riders were not wearing helmets, including the brothers, Malina said. Some moped riders may have been riding stolen mopeds, he said.

After the accident, all the other riders scattered, Malina said.

The 1:30 p.m. accident, which closed Kaukonahua Road for two hours while police investigated, was on what residents commonly call Snake Road because of the many S-curves, Malina said.

"Speed and inattention to the road caused the accident," he said. "The teenager tried to correct and was ejected off the moped. His brother, who was following behind, was unable to avoid the first moped and crashed."

Both boys were taken to Pali Momi Medical Center where the 14-year-old was pronounced dead and the 15-year-old was in serious condition, police reported.

Sgt. David Hernandez said police had been tracking the group the boys were riding with. Some of those in the group were riding souped-up mopeds that can go faster than 50 mph. Typically, mopeds don't go faster than 35 mph, Hernandez said.

Police said the group of riders started from Papakolea, in the Punchbowl area, and traveling via Kamehameha Highway, reached the Wahiawa area about noon.

Moped deaths have fluctuated, from one in 2004 to eight in 2005, according to figures from the state Department of Health and county police departments.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.

[dirt racer]

http://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071030/NEWS01/710300348

Posted on: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Family mourns Hawaii boy killed on moped
StoryChat: Comment on this story

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Daisy Nasau, an aunt of Gjino Kanahele, cradles his motocross trophies in front of the family's Papakolea home as Kanahele's uncle, Shane Yuen, looks on.

BRUCE ASATO | The Honolulu Advertiser
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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kanahele's family and friends gather at the scene of his fatal moped accident in Waialua, setting up a roadside memorial.

ELOISE AGUIAR | The Honolulu Advertiser
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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Poster paper was put up at Roosevelt High School for students to write condolences to Gjino Kanahele's family. Kanahele had attended Roosevelt but at the time of this death was attending Ho'okupono school.

BRUCE ASATO | The Honolulu Advertiser
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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Gjino Kanahele.
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PAPAKOLEA — Gjino Kanahele, who at 14 years old was too young to legally operate a moped on public streets when he lost control and was killed on a winding road Sunday, had been riding the vehicles for years, relatives and friends said.

"It wasn't that he always didn't wear his helmet," said his aunt, Daisy Nasau. "It wouldn't have prevented his death. He knew how to be safe. He was an experienced bike rider. He went out doing what he loved, what he liked."

Friends and family stopped yesterday to give their condolences and well wishes at the home of Kanahele's grandmother, where he lived on Na'ale Street in Papakolea. Halloween decorations fluttered in the breeze outside.

"Our community is really close," said Joshua Solatorio, who lives across the street. "Gjino was a really good kid. He was kolohe (a rascal)."

Some relatives had returned from a roadside memorial they erected on Kaukonahua Road in Waialua.

Kanahele and his brother, Taurus, 15, were part of a 60-member Halloween moped cruise Sunday from Papakolea to the North Shore, police said.

While on Kaukonahua Road about 1:30 p.m., Kanahele lost control, crashed into the guard rail and was thrown from his moped.

He was taken to Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi. His brother crashed into him and was injured, but was treated and released. He was at home yesterday with scratches and bruises, Nasau said.

Kaukonahua Road is nicknamed Snake Road because its two lanes have many curves.

Nasau and Solatorio were in a car driving from the Windward side to meet the moped riders somewhere in between for a picnic.

"Gjino was an experienced rider," Nasau said. "It was nothing for him to go on long rides like this."

Relatives said Kanahele would regularly go to Kahuku to ride at a dirt-bike track. Whether it was a bicycle or a moped, Kanahele spent most of his life around wheels, Nasau said.

"I was just two minutes behind him," said Shane Yuen, Kanahele's uncle, who was on a moped with the group. "Riding mopeds and bikes was nothing new to him."

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office said Kanahele died of multiple internal injuries from the moped crash.

Yesterday, the boy's football coach stopped by his home while the family had gone to Waialua to erect a memorial at the crash site.

"He was a big-hearted kid," said Shane McShane, coach of a team called the Hawaii Young Warriors. "Honestly, he was a troubled kid, but he was starting to turn his life around. He was like my son."

The Kanahele brothers had both attended Roosevelt High School, although at the time of his death, Gjino Kanahele had been at Ho'okupono, an alternative public school, said Tim Hill, Roosevelt's ninth- and 10th-grade counselor. The boys were well-known and well-liked, with an older brother and sister who had attended Roosevelt.

Roosevelt students put up poster paper on which students wrote condolences. The poster will be given to the boys' family.

Twenty to 25 students also attended a group counseling session yesterday morning in the library and others spoke individually to counselors, Hill said.

"A lot of their close friends have known them from small-kid time," he said. "In the community, they all see each other. It's a shock to them. A lot of them just talked to Gjino Saturday and then he passed away. They just saw him."

Hill said Taurus was "a mellow kid who's more to himself. I visited Gjino at Ho'okupono. Where Taurus is more to himself, Gjino was more outgoing. They were both into mopeds and stuff like that."

Roosevelt High School counselor Terry Malterre said students wrote messages to the family and to Gjino, telling him that they'll miss him.

"We talked to the students in small groups and had the talk about good memories of Gjino to find out what they were feeling and then we did a moment of silence in his memory," Malterre said.

Gjino also attended Stevenson Middle School, where several students who knew him were talking to counselors and staff about his death yesterday, said vice principal Christina Alfred.

"The two boys were very well-known in the community," Alfred said. "They had a lot of friends, a lot of neighborhood boys they would go around with."

Gjino was mechanically inclined and "liked to take things apart," Alfred said.

Tomorrow, Stevenson staff will focus on the accident through the school's adviser/advisee period, in which groups of 12 to 15 students talk to advisers about specific issues.

"The reality is sinking in that somebody they knew will not be there," Alfred said. "For them, it's like, 'Wow. This is real.'"

Neighbors of Kanahele said the community is rife with teens on mopeds. Some of the machines are loud, without mufflers, and are souped up to go faster, Solatorio said. "When it's late, at 2 a.m., it upsets the kupuna here. But most of us just accept it."

Resident Butch Ramos said teens ride their loud mopeds up and down the streets of Papakolea.

"Some of the kids are a hazard, pulling wheelies and doing tricks, standing on their bikes, or riding with one leg off the bike. It's a big problem in our community."

But Kanahele wasn't among those kids, Nasau said.

Underage moped riding is not considered a major problem by Honolulu police, said Capt. Frank Fujii, Honolulu Police Department spokesman.

"But we encourage people who see someone riding a moped they believe to be underage to call us — use 911," Fujii said. "It may save a life. Call us and report it, even if you see someone riding a moped in an unsafe manner. The real sad thing is some young adult got himself killed. It seems like it takes a death like this to take notice."
Staff Writer Dan Nakaso contributed to this report.

SAFETY TIPS

# Wear bright or reflective clothing. Wear a helmet, though that is not required by state law.

# Don't ride in another motorist's "blind spot."

# Obey the speed limits and never travel faster than your skill or conditions allow.

# Signal well before you make a turn or lane change. Your size and maneuverability can surprise other motorists. Consider using hand signals in addition to your electric turn signals.

# Don't let other motorists surprise you. Use extra caution at intersections, parking lot entrances and exits, and driveways.

# Keep both hands on the handlebars and both feet on the floorboard while riding.

# Never leave your moped unattended with the engine running.

# Reduce speed on bumpy roads. Avoid sharp bumps, holes and other road hazards that can cause loss of control.

# Be especially conscious of traffic from behind. Because of the likely speed difference between you and other traffic, use caution and check your mirrors every 5-7 seconds.

# Remember, mirrors allow only a partial view to your rear. Be aware of your blind spots and check them frequently.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association, Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center

HAWAI'I MOPED LAW

# Speed limit: 30 or 35 mph, depending on when the moped was built.

# Age: Only licensed drivers older than 15 1/2 may operate mopeds on public streets. Parents or guardians are responsible for minors riding a moped.

# Prohibitions: Moped riders may not carry passengers or tow others on bicycles, skateboards and other toys.

# Lights: Mopeds must use headlights and taillights if used 30 minutes or more after sunset or more than 30 minutes before sunrise.

Source: State Department of Transportation
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Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.

[mike_w]

Whoa, good kine friends.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:


Just dig out on him. :( :(