About 250 mourners filled the Mystical Rose Oratory at the campus of Chaminade University and Saint Louis High School today to pay respects to Ned Nakoa Jr., the good Samaritan who was beaten to death in Waikiki while trying to help a tourist couple that was being robbed.

Hundreds more came during the visitation earlier in the day, testimony to the fact that Nakoa had touched countless lives during his 58 years.

"He was always such a giving person who never said anything bad about anybody," said Sylvia Acosta of Mililani, who came by to pay her respects. "He always had a joyful heart. Somebody you would just never, ever forget. He was so much fun."

Acosta had not seen Nakoa in five decades — since she was Sylvia Holi, and she and Nakoa were grade-school playmates in Waimalu. She said when she heard that Nakoa was the person who had intervened in the robbery, she thought, "Oh yeah, that would be Ned."

"He was a peacemaker," added Koie Freitas, who had known Nakoa for many years. "I never saw him angry."

At the service, Nakoa's brother, Michael Kalani Nakoa, read a letter from Gov. Linda Lingle expressing deep sympathy to the family for their loss, and recognizing Ned Nakoa's uncommon compassion.

At age 50, after years of working in the food and beverage industry, Nakoa returned to school. In 2003, he received his master's degree in business administration from Chaminade University.

This year he had moved to Seattle, Wash., to further his career. He had returned to Hawai'i to attend the May 17 wedding of his niece. It was during the wedding reception in Waikiki that Nakoa saw two men who police say were attacking a couple from Vancouver, British Columbia, and trying to steal the woman's purse.

Nakoa immediately stepped in to help the couple and was savagely beaten to death, police said.

Kelii Donovan Acasia, 19, and Benjamin Pada, 18, both of Wai'anae, were arrested. Acasia was charged with murder and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Pada was charged with assault and robbery, and is being held on $100,000 bail.