Family mourns Hawaii boy killed on moped

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.

[nohea]

REST IN PEACE GJINO AKA "LITTLE HAMMA" KANAHELE. YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

[John P]

The Parents should be arrested for letting their son ride a moped on the open road. That's why there is an age requirement. With age comes wisdom even at that age. They say a helmet would not of made a difference. If they did'nt let him ride in the first place he would still be alive today. I grieve for the family stupid enough to let their underage son ride on the streets of Honolulu. I hope this young one did not die in vein. As a lesson to all parents out there do not let your child do anything illigal in all aspects of growing up and living life to the fullest. If its illigal, its illigal. End
of story!!!

[hoku]

I am sad a young boy lost his life, a life full of promise. I agree with John P, I blame the parents, not the boy. They talk like they are proud of him riding a moped on the street. Bottom line, he was breaking the law. But at 14 he was too young to make the right choices in life. His parents should have been guiding him to make the right choices, not encouraging him to break the law. And what great friends he had, most of them digging out and just leaving him there. Probably because they were all on stolen mopeds....

Maybe this will be a wake up call to the other boys and his life will not have been lost in vain.

[Keoki P]

Stupid is what stupid does. Blame the parent(s). God bless the kid.

[Concerend Teen]

While it is so upsetting that young Kanahele died doing something that he seemingly loved, one must ask What were the parents thinking??! I mean they knowingly are letting him break the law. It doesn't matter if he is an experienced bike rider. The thing that you need as a 15 year old is judgement and the ability to know that "I am on a winding dangerous road so I should pay attention."
It is the same reason that teens are not allowed to drive motor vehicles until 15.5 (with a permit). It is a judgement issue.
One can only hope that more parents will become more competent at the news of this tragic case.

[Hash]

God bless Darwin, or is that too ironic?

[don p]

Having worked in a hospital emergency room for many years, it is sad to me that the lessons of hundreds and hundreds of tragic injuries and deaths are not learned. This is a very sad story for all involved.

[Willie]

Hash wrote:

God bless Darwin, or is that too ironic?

Too late, the people who could have prevented this already bred and produced Gjino Kanahele.

[BTPaumalu]

I am so sorry for the family. My deepest sympathy.

[chris]

some seriously insensitive comments here. you guys should be ashamed.

[Kaipo]

My heart goes out to the family. Regardless of his illegal moped riding it is not nice to kick a family when they are down! Have some class people. I realize that these parents shouldv'e, couldv'e and wouldv'e but there are better ways to discuss these sensitive issues. God forbid if an accident happened to your Ohana and others came along to bash you and yours!
LIVE ALOHA HAWAII

[pocho]

I'm at a loss, my condolences deepest sympathy to the Kanahele family.

if I read the article correctly, Gjino lived with his grandmother and there's no mention of the parents at all.

No parental guidance if you asked me from reading this. Driving a moped under aged for years, Aunt says, its not like Gjino never wears a helmet(this time he didn't) and the helmet wouldn't have saved his life(unreal to say something like this). Two no no's don't make a right!

My hats off to the Advertisers reporter who compiled this article. In a hidden way, he/she told the mass readers what happens when there's no adult guidance for the child. As the family let him do what he wanted to do.

[Willie]

chris wrote:

some seriously insensitive comments here. you guys should be ashamed.

To be sensitive would also mean ignoring the truth...yes it is sad whenever a young life is lost, the truth is though it is really his parents fault he died.

[Masako]

Rest in peace Gjino. I will always remember you as the kolohe boy with the sweet smile.

[Cheryl C]

I am so sad to see the family and friends of the late Gjino standing on the dangerous side of the road where he crashed while riding his moped with his uncle, brother and friends. His aunt stated that a helmet would not have prevented his death, how does she know?

[concerned in MO]

Wow people dat is not cool to be treating the family like dat. Yes I am sure that they are kickin themselves and going through everything in there head The what ifs.... But you know u never know whats gonna happen anywhere or anytime... no matter what. My love goes out to the family in this hard time. while I hope that others will try to watch what you say cause you never know what might happen in your life.

[hoku]

Cheryl C wrote:

I am so sad to see the family and friends of the late Gjino standing on the dangerous side of the road where he crashed while riding his moped with his uncle, brother and friends.

Cheryl C brought another point to my attention. In the picture, the family and friends are standing in the road, some with backs to traffic. OMG PLEASE don't do that, look what happened to mourners on the windward side last year... They were OFF the road and someone still cleaned them out, just hours after a fatal crash. It only takes 1-2 seconds for a car to veer toward you and you won't have a chance to react. If you are going to visit the scene at least stay on the other side of the guard rail! Don't add to the tragedy.

[Hawaii Parent]

Everyone has a right to an opinion. All opinions here are valid. Regardless of all the 'wrongs' in this story, a life was still lost. Could it have been prevented? Maybe, but only God knows that. All we know is that it was his time. Lets learn from this and move on.
Rest in Peace Gjino!

[AZ Hawaiian]

So let me try to understand the irony: if I go surfing and I'm in Jr high or high school, which most surfer kids do, and I wipe-out and get caught in the coral and make, then that's my parent's fault? Hmmm. Oh yeah, that's right, I forgot to wear a helmet when surfing... "Aloha, Gjino...maybe everybody jealous because you are in a better place. Take Care, Hawaiian.... a hui hou."

[sho nuff]

sad that a life was lost. that guard rail is there whether he's 14 or 37. but rules are rules.