HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Leeward Oahu family is mourning the loss of a 19-year-old woman who was hit and killed Tuesday morning while crossing Farrington Highway near Pua Avenue on her way to work.
Her death is the second fatal crash in the area in just a week.
A recent graduate of Nanakuli High School, 19-year-old Tehya Mahelona was an aspiring pilot.
“She was so intentional with everything that she did and her relationships and friendships and she was so confident in herself,” said her mother, Amanda Mahelona. “Like her coming to work at four o’clock in the morning, catching the bus out here to get to work before her boss said she would always come early, half an hour, even if it was five o’clock, she’d be here early.”
Tehya’s father was in Texas, on his way home, when he got the call.
“On my way to the airport, that’s when I got the tragic news of my daughter passing, that she didn’t make it, and I just broke. As a parent, we shouldn’t be burying our children,” said Kelii Mahelona.
Just a few blocks away and a few days earlier, near Helelua Street, 38-year-old Korri Kamaka was killed in a hit-and-run while riding his electric motorcycle.
For State Representative Darius Kila, who is also Tehya’s cousin, the heartbreak is personal and so is the frustration.
“It’s never personal until it becomes personal. And talk about folks feeling like everything we do is an encroachment or entrenchment. But it doesn’t matter, because no matter what we try to do, we are on track for a deadly year,” said Rep. Kila. “I think if I could just urge the public, when they’re offering their condolences, the condolences mean nothing if people aren’t willing to meet it with action.”
Oahu has now seen 72 traffic fatalities so far this year. Speeding, impairment and pedestrian crashes remain leading factors.
“I just hope this brings total awareness to just the community, to our people out here, just to be safe and drive safe and care, and look out for one another,” said Kelii Mahelona.
“If there’s anything I can take away, I wish people would be more like Tehya. Don’t rush on the roads. If you have to get to work early, be like Tehya, be responsible, make that extra effort like she did,” said her mother, Amanda.
For now, the family finds comfort in community and a growing memorial where Tehya was killed.
No arrests yet as police are still investigating both crashes.
A sign-waving event is being held at the crash site tomorrow morning, starting at 7 a.m., calling for awareness on Oahu’s roads, which, for Tehya’s family, can’t come soon enough.