Traffic victim called selfless friend, dad
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
By all accounts Dr. Stephen Tokunaga was a man whose actions spoke louder than words.
Tokunaga family photo Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Those actions include a variety of volunteer work, his commitment to dentistry and his patients, and his devotion to his wife and eight children.
Dr. Stephen Tokunaga, his wife, Modesta "Joji," and their children, from left: Kylie, 8; Bryce, 11; Taylor, 13; Kimi, 3; Remi, 6; Lani, 14; Camden, 10; and Niki, 9.
A cross on a crosswalk at Ulune and Pohue streets marks where Tokunaga was struck and killed Jan. 16 by a 1996 Honda driven by an 'Aiea man.
"He didn't have a whole lot to say," said childhood friend Dean Yamamoto. "He was a doer. If he felt like you needed anything, he would drop what he was doing for you. That was the kind of friend he was. He was a very selfless individual. Everyone that knew him loved him."
Tokunaga, 42, became O'ahu's seventh traffic fatality of the year after he was struck by a car while crossing the street at Ulune and Pohue streets at 7:40 a.m. Jan. 16.
Witnesses said he was struck by a 1996 Honda driven by an 'Aiea man. Police have made no arrests in the case, but an investigation is ongoing.
Tokunaga was pinned under the car until firefighters could lift it and pull him out. He was taken to Kapi'olani Medical Center-Pali Momi where he died.
Tokunaga's wife, Modesta "Joji" Gaerlan-Tokunaga, was driving to meet him on Ulune Street after she dropped off their youngest daughter at preschool. He had dropped off most of their children at school and parked the family van so the couple could ride together to take a class associated with a dental convention in town.
Gaerlan-Tokunaga had no idea that the ambulance that she pulled over to let pass was on its way to help her husband as he lay in the street.
"I talked to him a few minutes before the accident and he told me to call him as I got off the freeway," Gaerlan-Tokunaga said. "I got off the freeway, tried to call and he didn't answer. An ambulance passed me by and I parked the car."
Gaerlan-Tokunaga saw the accident scene and knew that her husband, who was trained in CPR, would be there helping if he could, so she walked over to find him.
"A guy told me somebody got hit by a car and I started hyperventilating," she said. "An officer gave me (my husband's) cell phone and I knew it was him."
Services for Dr. Stephen Tokunaga will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 2 at St. Elizabeth Church, 99-310 Moanalua Road, followed by a Mass and burial at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kane'ohe.
She watched him being loaded into the ambulance, then drove to Pali Momi.
Services
"Thank God he was able to hang on and I was at least able to be with him the last hour," she said. "There was so much head trauma that he never regained consciousness, but paramedic friends told me they could see him reacting as I was talking to him. I'm hoping he knew I was there with him.
"He was a wonderful person. Always thinking of others. He is in heaven, and I know he is up there waiting for me. I know he is not suffering right now and is in a safe place. That comforts me a lot."
Tokunaga was born in Hawai'i and raised in Kailua, graduating from Kailua High School in 1979. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Hawai'i and did his dentistry training at Georgetown University.
That is where he met his wife, a California native.
Both had come from small families and talked about having 10 children after they were married, Gaerlan-Tokunaga said. Together they opened a family dental office in Waipahu and moved to Waikele.
Tokunaga volunteered with the Hawaii Dental Association and visited two preschools twice a year to teach dental education. He helped give board examinations to new dentists and volunteered at his church and his children's schools and preschool.
He also volunteered his time with Head Start kids and families and the Special Olympics program.
Gaerlan-Tokunaga said the children, Kimi, 3; Remi, 6; Kylie, 8; Niki, 9; Camden, 10; Bryce, 11; Taylor, 13; and Lani, 14; are having some trouble understanding the situation.
"The older ones have a little bit of a hard time but they are helping me so much," Gaerlan-Tokunaga said. "The younger ones don't really understand. My youngest one doesn't want to be away from me now. She is like an extra leg now."
Friend and colleague Dr. Ed Cassella said Tokunaga treated everyone with respect and will be greatly missed.
"To have eight kids is about as giving as you can be," Cassella said. "They put those kids above their own needs and wants. That, to me, speaks volumes."
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
Correction: The address of St. Elizabeth Church was incorrect in a previous version of this story.
