Share your condolences for Lisa Matsumoto

[LizKauai]

Thank you, Lisa, for all the joy and new worlds you brought to our children. You have left a wonderful legacy in your bright and witty works of love and imagination. We will miss you in this world but are consoled in the knowledge that the fruit falls from the tree when it is ripe in the estimation of the Creator.
Warmest aloha to your family and loved ones.

[Masako]

My condolences to the entire Matsumoto family. I attended some seminars with Lisa in the past and she has touched my life. I will always remember her beautiful voice singing "If we hold on together" and the wonderful plays she created and acted in. May God be with her family and close friends.

[ai Kea]

I was enrolled at UH taking a drama class for my degree requirement. As an extra credit, our professor gave us the option of being ushers at an upcoming play at Kennedy Theater. That was the debut of Lisa Matsumoto's Once Upon One Time. I couldn't stop laughing and I really really enjoyed the show. That was over 10 years ago and I have attended many of her plays.
It is a sad day indeed. She, along with the people who worked with her, brought laughter to so many people. Who would have thought of doing an all pidgin fairy tale? I never knew her personally but I know she was a very talented person.

[Frosh Camp]

To Lisa: Deepest and sincere thanks for every single smile, poignant tear, and especially the loud and long laughs!
To your Ohana: Thank you for lending her to us as a light to shine upon our lives.

[Noelani]

My daughter and I are so shocked and very sad to hear of Lisa's passing. Our prayers are with her family and colleagues of Ohia Productions who have brought us so much delight through their plays.
We are also praying urgently for the full recovery of the other woman who was injured in this tragic accident.

[Pii Miguel]

I was a cast member of Once Upon a Kapakahi Time a few years back. We've lost a treasure who opened the eyes of all those of my generation who have seen a Matsumoto play from Hanabada Days to On Buterfly Wings. Shes a masterful writer and inspirational person who drove all of us to be better than what we thought we were on and off stage. My love to her and her family. Aloha.

[ewa beach]

My condolences to her family. It is always hard when you lose a loved one for whatever reason. My support and heartfelt wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Cassie Olaivar and here family as well.

However even though we may not yet know why this happened. One this is for sure, it wasn't Cassie's fault. I'm actually quite perplexed with the media coverage. I admit that she died and the other young lady will most likely make a recovery but damn, I sure hope later evidence doesn't flip the coverage on top it's head. Why is she being held on a pedestal? Because she did some things that the community liked, wrote a bunch of children's books? Why does she deserve the over whelming coverage and public sympathy when the bottom line cause of this incident is her. I do understand that the Olaivar family wishes may have been for the media to respect their privacy and well, they definitively have larger concerns at the moment than who's too blame or if anybody in the community gives a damn about their daughter. I just personally am outraged that the media would, without knowing all the facts, run such one sided coverage... hell to the point that people in my family believe it was Olaivar who killed Matsumoto. I'm sorry. I actually have tears in my eyes. I hope this was just an accident but I just can't stand it when people make someone else's life seem more relevant than another person's life just because they may be more popular. Cassie Olaivar is the victim here. She was minding her own business and did nothing for this to have happened to her. The whole media converge including the honolulu advertiser's is just wrong and far, far too biased to once side of the story.

I didn't know either of the women. I never even heard of either of them before this. I understand that this is a condolences thread for Matsumoto but I'm sorry. This is wrong. Hell for all those saying why don't we wait for the investigation, well why don't all of you wait for the investigation as well. This is too soon and this is wrong. Out of respect for the "other" person in the "other" vehicle, who is the victim, this is just plain sad in more ways than one.

[Rachel Lee Soon]

I'm a recent graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and we got to work with Lisa when we did a production of "Once Upon One Time" a few years ago. We love her dearly, and she's family to us. What will our theatre community do without this beautiful woman?
God Bless and malama pono to everyone.
Ahuihou.

[G and M in Japan]

We only met once, but we know Lisa was a big influence on our son and daughter-in-law. Our prayers go out to all affected by this tragic accident. Our prayers also go out to those who lack compassion and hope you never have to feel the pain and loss of a dear friend.

[Honolulu]

ewa beach wrote:

My condolences to her family. It is always hard when you lose a loved one for whatever reason. My support and heartfelt wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Cassie Olaivar and here family as well.
However even though we may not yet know why this happened. One this is for sure, it wasn't Cassie's fault. I'm actually quite perplexed with the media coverage. I admit that she died and the other young lady will most likely make a recovery but damn, I sure hope later evidence doesn't flip the coverage on top it's head. Why is she being held on a pedestal? Because she did some things that the community liked, wrote a bunch of children's books? Why does she deserve the over whelming coverage and public sympathy when the bottom line cause of this incident is her. I do understand that the Olaivar family wishes may have been for the media to respect their privacy and well, they definitively have larger concerns at the moment than who's too blame or if anybody in the community gives a damn about their daughter. I just personally am outraged that the media would, without knowing all the facts, run such one sided coverage... hell to the point that people in my family believe it was Olaivar who killed Matsumoto. I'm sorry. I actually have tears in my eyes. I hope this was just an accident but I just can't stand it when people make someone else's life seem more relevant than another person's life just because they may be more popular. Cassie Olaivar is the victim here. She was minding her own business and did nothing for this to have happened to her. The whole media converge including the honolulu advertiser's is just wrong and far, far too biased to once side of the story.
I didn't know either of the women. I never even heard of either of them before this. I understand that this is a condolences thread for Matsumoto but I'm sorry. This is wrong. Hell for all those saying why don't we wait for the investigation, well why don't all of you wait for the investigation as well. This is too soon and this is wrong. Out of respect for the "other" person in the "other" vehicle, who is the victim, this is just plain sad in more ways than one.

Sorry I totally disagree with you here in many ways.
Many of the people who were touched by her would
completely disagree with you as well.
To be honest, I dont know why she was driving the
wrong way and until an complete investigation is done I and we should not make any comments on this
as we dont have the evidence to back it up.

Matsumoto did a lot for the community and helped
a lot of people.Although I dont know her personally, I do know the quality of her work and it is excellent. This is why there is such a media
coverage when this happened. Both women were victims in this case not just the other injured woman as well.It was unfortunate that this happened at all.

Many people including me will totally disagree with your viewpoint. And No I and many people do
not consider this coverage as wrong at all.This
deserves full coverage as this is a major event.
We just lost a well respected member of this community and if the other victim also dies as well then it will even be a greater tragedy for
both families. Matsumoto impacted a large amount
of people in Hawaii and even on the Mainland as well so naturally there is such a media coverage
on her because of this.

Please do your homework and try to get to know
the people involved before you make a comment on this. I personally will not make comments like
this unless Im familiar with the person and the
situation.

Your comments here make you look very ignorant and
foolish to others that know Matsumoto and her
contributions here.

I do offer my condolences to both families in this
tragedy especially to the Matsumoto family.

You will never be forgotten by the people of Hawaii.

[nevamind]

My prayers go out to all families. No one deserves to die. My heart goes out to all families. Let us not forget the two other victims. Especially, the Waipahu woman God Bless you and your family. What a tragedy.

[dmkvhs]

The premature loss of any life is always unfortunate and my condolences go out to those that grieve over the death of Ms. Matsumoto. However, I wish that those that grieve and share their condolences here would also take the time to think about the other "innocent" victim in this incident and pray for her fast and full recovery.

[Katie Leiva]

I did not know Lisa well but I admired her work. When I saw "Dragonfly Wings" I was certain I'd see it again at a Disney park or on Broadway someday.(We still might!) Lisa was a treasure and her untimely death is tragic. My condolences to her loved ones.

My heart also goes out to the other driver. No matter how this all happened - it is tragic and I pray for all involved.

[Fred]

Condolences for Lisa and family.

[john]

Finally it is somebody driving in the wrong direction on a highway. It ususally happens because of altered mental capability. It is inappropriate to fill the front page with praises of this person. The lady who was seriously injured and the man who was injured trying to avoid a collision were following the law. And they are only mentioned in your paper in passing. This should not be the coverage, however well known the person involved is.

[AHE]

My Condolences go out to the matsumoto family.She was amazing women.and pray's go out to the one in hospital to that she will have a speedy recover.also for that person writing in her condolence about her.I'm sorry but maybe it was a mistake people make mistake.I'm sure you have ran a stop sign or red light,light before.you were wrong there.Not everyone is perfect.you don't have to trash this lady for this it was accident ok hello.I don't think she intended to drive on wrong side of the road.leave this family alone.why even write some thing like that at all that is a disgrace.god know's what happen that's all that matter's.He will take care of it.mahalo

[Pedro H]

I got to meet Lisa on several occasions, and she was a girl full of life. She was very gracious and hardworking, and overall remained humble even through her success. This is such a terrible tragedy. My condolences to her family.

[Stephen G]

I have had the good fortune to have known Lisa personally. She was truly all and then some of the positive comments listed above.
I also know that Lisa would be beside herself with grief for the harm she has caused another. Had she lived, she would have gladly given her life if it would have saved another.
To those that would detract her, Lisa lived more in her 43 years than most of us will do in a lifetime, yet she had so much more to give. The tragedy for us that knew her is that in spite of all she did, and who she positively touched, she may be remembered for this one unfortunate accident.
I wish a speedy recovery for Cassie and her loved ones, I know Lisa would have done the same.
And to the Matsumoto ohana, "Believe in da magic". She did, and would want us to carry on.

[Ann]

So sorry for her friends and family. She wrote some neat things, not only enjoyed by kids but adults. The Ala Moana Center show is still going on? I think it was cancelled last night.

But, what caused her to be driving on the wrong side of the road? This was a 'human caused' accident. Why? I hope the police can piece together the 'clues' to find out what happened.

My sympathy above all goes to the woman in the car she hit. Hopefully this woman will survive this terrible 'accident'.

[Malia Schlesser]

My daughter Leilani reads her books and we love the Christmas of Aloha staged at Ala Moana. Why does life play such tricks, taking away such an admirable woman 2 weeks before Christmas is comprehensible and against all logic. However we have no choice so our duty is now to carry on her legacy, her zest for life and never loose our children's heart. Lisa will be celebrating Christmas in heaven and our thoughts will be with her.