Ala Moana crash called a 'senseless way to go'

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

The two men who were killed when their speeding Honda crossed the centerline of Ala Moana Boulevard and smashed into a sport utility vehicle early Sunday morning were both drunk, according to the city medical examiner's office.

Ryan Kono planned to attend community college to pursue a degree in auto mechanics.

Andrew Ngan attended Kapi'olani Community College, where he was pursuing a degree in nursing.

The two were on their way home from the Water Front Cafe after a night of clubbing, according to relatives and friends.

According to Earl Kono, Ryan's uncle, Kono was driving the Honda.

"He's drunk, he's behind the wheel, that's bad, that is bad for everybody," Earl Kono said. "His friends shouldn't have let him drive. Anybody with alcohol in their system becomes a different person."

"I think it was a stupid and senseless way for them to go," said Albert Ngan, 24, when told that his younger brother had been drunk.

Neither man was wearing a seat belt, and both were ejected from the vehicle, according to Lt. Bennett Martin, head of the vehicular homicide unit.

Witnesses told police another car, also speeding, was traveling in front of the Honda before it crashed, Martin said. Police have not determined how fast the Honda was going.

Three men in the SUV were injured, police said. As of Sunday night, one was in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center, and the others were listed in good condition. The hospital could not release any other information last night because of federal privacy laws.

At the crash site yesterday, multicolored balloons and pictures of the victims festooned the stoplight and adjacent street light at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Keawe Street.

The sidewalk surrounding the two poles was awash with messages scribbled in permanent pen. Collages showing the victims in happier times blanketed the spots left uncovered by the multitude of flowers, cards and juice cans that have accumulated at the site.

Two chili spaghetti plates from Zippy's sat untouched.

Andrew Ngan, a 2000 graduate of Saint Louis School, attended Kapi'olani Community College, where he was pursuing a degree in nursing.

"He was a very quiet student who didn't bring any attention to himself," said Lulu Lulu, director of campus life at Saint Louis School. "A very good student."

Ngan's cousin, Alexander Kamm, said Ngan built his Honda as a "show car." He said Ngan followed the racing scene but was not an active participant.

Ngan lived with Kamm off and on because Ngan's parents, who are travel agents, were often abroad on business.

Cars fascinated both victims, who met through friends in the car club community. Both Ngan and Kono belonged to car clubs in high school.

Kono was a member of Team S.I.R., and Ngan was a member of Racesauce.

"We couldn't say goodbye or even shake their hands," said Christine Kim, a 2002 McKinley graduate who was at the crash site yesterday and knew Kono for six years.

Kono attended McKinley High School before dropping out two years ago. Friends said he recently earned his GED.

Both Kim and Crystal Cadiente, a 2003 Mckinley graduate, remembered Kono as the class clown, always ready to make people laugh.

"He was the boy who had no shame," Kim said.

Kono planned to attend community college to pursue a degree in auto mechanics.

Kono achieved acclaim early on as a yo-yo prodigy. He was co-captain and one of the original 13 kids who founded Team High Performance in 1997. He traveled throughout the United States and Japan, competing and teaching. In 1999, his group won a world championship.

Earl Kono last night said that he went to the scene of the collision Monday night and met friends of his nephew and Ngan. He admonished them for speeding and urged them to think about their two dead friends before drinking and driving.

"Maybe it's a blessing Ryan and Andrew had to go," Kono said as a way to underscore the message so others might not be killed. "Parents are not supposed to bury their kids. Ryan was a good kid."

A visitation for Kono will be held at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.

Funeral services will be held immediately afterward, at 8:30 p.m. Kono is survived by his parents, Teri Kono and Nicolina Priolo, grandparents Kenneth Kono, Hilda Kono and Adriana Priolo, and great-grandmother Alice M. Kono.

Services for Ngan have not been announced.

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.