School honors H-1 crash victim
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
NIU VALLEY — Elizabeth Kekoa died more than two years ago, but her memory burns as bright as ever at Holy Trinity School.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Next Sunday, the school will dedicate its modest library in her name.
Holy Trinity School principal Monica DesJarlais prepares the campus library for next Sunday's blessing and dedication.
Kekoa's picture and some cutouts of angels have gone up around the library in recent weeks, a prelude to the dedication. Kekoa believed in the power of angels, said Monica DesJarlais, the principal at Holy Trinity.
And Kekoa herself is remembered as an angel by the school community, the parish and friends, who say she gave to others without thought of self.
"It's not a new library, but we wanted to keep her name alive," DesJarlais said.
Such heavy sentiment has led to the upcoming blessing and dedication of a plaque bearing Kekoa's name. After the 9 a.m. Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church next Sunday, there will be a procession to the school, where the ceremonies will take place. Afterward, new books will be available for purchase in Kekoa's name for donation to the library.
Kekoa, a former teacher and administrative assistant at Holy Trinity, was a passenger in a Ford Aerostar van driven by her husband, Wally, when it was struck by a car on H-1 Freeway in Kaimuki on Aug. 26, 2001.
The car was speeding, police have said — allegedly racing — when it struck the couple's van. Kekoa died less than an hour after the accident. She was 58 years old.
Police arrested the driver of the car, Nicholas Tudisco, who was 18 at the time, but he has not been charged.
"We have the case and we're reviewing it," said Jim Fulton, spokesman for the city prosecutor's office. "It's not unusual for traffic fatalities to take a long time. The investigation requires that you do a proper job."
Kekoa would have been 60 on Oct. 21, DesJarlais said. The school wanted to do something sooner in her honor, but many were still working through their grief.
"The pain of her being gone was just too hard for us all during the first year," said DesJarlais. "The second year we were all angry that nothing had been done as far as the prosecution.
"We're all looking for closure and that won't come until someone is held accountable for her death."
Kekoa's friend of 35 years, Verne Pane, doesn't need a trial to accept the loss of her friend. She misses her, but feels her presence — like an angel — all the time. Pane said the library dedication would make Kekoa happy to be remembered.
"Lizzie (Kekoa) would have thought the school was making a big deal about her death," Pane said. "I'm happy the school is doing this in her honor. She did everything for the children with her heart and her soul.
"And now, we feel her all around us. She's our own personal angel."
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
