WAILUKU, Maui - Friends, educators and co-workers this week fondly remembered three young men who died from a single-car crash on Kahekili Highway on Sept. 30.

A funeral was held Friday at St. Anthony Church for 20-year-old Na'ilimakuwai'oleokekulamehame- haokaluna'iu'iuokeahua "Na'i" Kana; his 17-year-old brother, Kalamakuokana'auao "Tuku" Kana, both of Waihee; and their cousin, 20-year-old Tyson Latham of Wailuku.

Services were held yesterday in the Keanae YMCA gym. Burial followed at the St. Gabriel's Church Cemetery.

"I don't know what words to express our heartfelt sympathy to such a loving family," said Kapono'ai Molitau, co-kumu hula of Na Hanona Kulike 'O Pi'ilani, where the Kana brothers' younger sister was a student.

Molitau said the brothers sometimes picked up their sister from hula practice.

"They were very respectful kids," he said. "They would always make sure they would say aloha. If they're anything like their parents or anything like their sister, they're very respectful gentlemen and very loving.

"It's just too soon. They were just getting started in their adult life."

Latham, who was working at the county Aquatics Division as a summer lifeguard when he died, was also remembered as respectful, kindhearted and fun, said Fran Yamamoto, an official with the Aquatics Division.

She said co-workers said Latham had been talking about going to college.

"They just remember him to be just a great guy to work with," Yamamoto said.

Police have said speed is suspected as a factor in the crash, which occurred on the highway north of Wilipohaku Street in Waihee.

The 2004 Mazda sedan was being driven by Na'i Kana and was traveling north when he lost control of the car. The vehicle crossed the centerline before returning to the northbound lane and continuing off the highway, hitting an embankment, where it overturned and came to rest against a tree, police said.

A makeshift memorial with lei, ti leaves and candles has been placed at the crash site on Kahekili Highway.

Police said Na'i Kana died at the scene. Latham, the front-seat passenger, died at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at Maui Memorial Medical Center. Tuku Kana died Oct. 4, also at Maui Memorial.

Na'i Kana was a Kamehameha Schools graduate and was working at Akaku: Maui Community Television, where he edited the Maui Daily weekly news program. He had a young daughter.

His brother, Tuku, also known as "Kalamaku," was a senior in the Hawaiian language immersion program at King Kekaulike High School.

Susan Scofield, principal at King Kekaulike High School, said Kalamaku had many friends and built solid relationships with those at school.

"We are all very sad he didn't have that opportunity to fulfill his dreams," she said. "It's pretty sad when a young person goes so early."

The crash occurred before students left for their fall break, and Scofield said school counselors, behavioral health specialists, and Maui Police Department chaplains and crisis workers came to the campus the next morning to help students and provide counseling sessions. Counselors remained available to students through the end of the week, she said. Tuku Kana was still alive in critical condition at the time.

"At that point there was a lot of hope he would recover," she said.

Scofield said she appreciated the support extended to the school, especially by police.

"They are really angels to us," she said.

Both Na'i and Tuku Kana started their Hawaiian language immersion education at Punana Leo O Maui preschool.

Na'i continued in the Hawaiian immersion program until his freshman year of high school, when he was accepted into Kamehameha Schools Maui.

Henohea Kane, lead teacher for Kula Kaiapuni 'o Kekaulike, the Hawaiian language immersion program at King Kekaulike High School, knew both brothers from the time they were young children.

The program is like a family, she said. "To lose two Kaiapuni students whose mother was a Kaiapuni teacher for many, many years is really difficult," she said by e-mail.

"What I remember most about Na'i is his heart that showed in his personality and in his smile," Kane said. "Na'ilima was warm, sweet and very respectful. He was definitely someone who could light up a room when he walked in. Always smiling, always considerate of others, I always saw his mother in his 'ano (personality) every time I was around him, such a nurturing kanaka Hawai'i (Hawaiian man)."

She said Kalamaku, a student at Kula Kaiapuni 'o Kekaulike, was set to graduate in May.

"Kalamaku enjoyed life, he was a very talented singer, such a beautiful and soulful voice!" she said.

Hulali Canha, a classmate and friend of Na'i, remembered his involvement in many school activities at Kamehameha Schools Maui. He played volleyball as a freshman and sophomore, served as sophomore class representative, junior class president and senior class vice president.

Na'i enjoyed working in media, graphic design and video production and helped with the school newspaper and production team, Canha said.

"Everything he did, he did with a passion," she said. "He had so much fun doing what he did while making lifelong friends and memories along the way. His easygoing, fun-loving energy and his smile were contagious."

Friends also said the brothers had a passion for Hawaiian culture and enjoyed working in the loi, or taro patch.

Yamamoto said Latham had just started working as a summer lifeguard in September and worked at various pools on Maui.

"He left a wonderful impression on the public as well as his co-workers," she said.