Hana mourns girl killed in accident at beach
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
Schoolmates of a 7-year-old girl fatally injured Saturday in a children's sand tunnel cave-in at Maui's Hamoa Beach remembered little Zaney Ann Kalama-Baker yesterday with tears and song and chant in an assembly at Hana High and Elementary School.
Memorial fund set up • A fund has been established to assist the family of Zaney Ann Kalama-Baker with medical and funeral expenses. Gifts may be made to Zaney's Memorial Fund by making checks payable to St. Mary's Catholic Church, P.O. Box 219, Hana, Maui, HI 96713.
"You fly with angels," young Camille Coates sang of the second-grader, as about 400 students gathered with faculty and friends in the school's gymnasium to pay their respects and share their sorrow.
The girl's family, some of whom were present for the emotional gathering in Hana, said they had been "helped to cope with this tragic and unfortunate accident through the outpouring of love and support from friends and the public."
In a statement released in Honolulu, where the second-grader died at Kapi'olani Medical Center on Monday, the family expressed thanks to "everyone who has extended concern and best wishes for Zaney."
In the statement, released through medical center spokeswoman Pat Oda, the family revealed that they could not let the child go immediately even though they knew she could not recover.
"Although her brain activity had earlier stopped, Zaney had been kept on life support to allow the family to spend more time with her, sharing their love and memories," the statement said.
"The family has also made the decision to donate Zaney's organs in the hope that other children with medical needs can be saved through her gift of life," they said.
A tunnel that the girl and other children had dug at Hamoa Beach in Hana collapsed Saturday evening while she was inside, Maui fire officials said.
The girl was taken to Hana Medical Center and later transferred by air ambulance to Kap'iolani.
Hana Fire Capt. Paul Mallo said ocean conditions at Hamoa Beach appeared normal Saturday, and that the spot where Zaney had been buried under three feet of sand was about 10 feet from the water's edge.
Although the tunnel reportedly collapsed when a wave washed over it, Mallo said conditions were already very dangerous.
"The fact that you dig a tunnel that deep in the sand has to tell a person who's alert that the water content in the sand is quite heavy," he said. "Parents have got to be aware that a collapse is more than imminent." He also said the two ends of the tunnel were parallel to the shoreline, so "water would have poured in both sides."
Zaney was the youngest of five children.
The school assembly in Hana began at 1:40 p.m., toward the end of the school day. Members of Kukulu Kumuhana, a school partnership organization, opened the program with a pule, or Hawaiian prayer.
Student Kimo Helekahi sang a song he had composed for the occasion, and after Coates' solo the entire assembly joined hands and sang "Hawai'i Aloha."
"The congregation was very respectful, and sang beautifully," led by head custodian Patrick Cosma, a musician, and other staff members, said Susan Byrne-Wickey, vice principal at the school.
There were a lot of tears, she said.
Byrne-Wickey said that because Hana is such a close-knit community, yesterday's assembly probably would be the first of a number of observances at the school and in the Hana area in memory of Zaney.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.
