With the death of four teenagers who had ties to Kahuku High & Intermediate School fresh in people's minds, the crowd at last night's Kahuku-Kailua football game paused for a moment of silence before the opening kickoff to remember the youths.

The teenagers were killed in separate crashes 19 hours apart on Aug. 19 at the same spot near the Kokololio Bridge in Hau'ula. The teens were Benson Kauvaka, a student; Alithia Ah Nee, a former student; Summer Lynn Mau, an alumna; and Pepe Naupoto, a visitor in the community.

In a brief address to the crowd, school principal Lisa DeLong encouraged people to appreciate loved ones and forge new friendships. "Take time to show your loved ones that you care," DeLong said.

Footballs fans said the recognition was appropriate and necessary.

"Everybody has it on their mind and to just start without mentioning it might seem like we had forgotten," said Sharon Beaver, 43.

Joe Whitford, the school's athletic director, said some of the players were at the scene of the second accident and were barely missed. They struggled to get through the week, Whitford said.

"It was a sobering thing for the kids," he said. "But football is a good healing for us."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.