In an outpouring of sentiment, hundreds turned out yesterday morning at the New Hope Christian Fellowship on Sand Island Access Road to pay their respects to a mild-mannered 17-year-old Farrington High School senior who died Oct. 4 when he was struck by a boat while free-diving in Maunalua Bay.

The standing room only crowd was estimated at well more than 750 — the number of programs printed up for the Celebration of the Life of Keahihoku Lum. When those ran out, church officials hastily moved to have more printed.

Dozens of folding chairs were added to the more than 350 regular church seats. Additional folks squeezed into every available space in which to stand at the back of the church, the foyer, and even out into the hall.

After the parking lot filled, three New Hope shuttle buses were brought in to deliver visitors to and from an overflow parking lot at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

There was little doubt that during his short life, easy-going Lum had had an impact on others.

New Hope executive pastor Elwin Ahu said Lum had touched most of those who were present. Keahi's life spoke to the notion of living life to the fullest in the present, instead of focusing too much on the past or what is yet to be.

"He had 17 years full of life," said Ahu. "He knew how to live. He knew how to have fun."

The entrance to the chapel was decorated with dozens of color photos and snapshot collages of Lum, whose warm, engaging smile was evident in virtually every shot.

The photo on the cover of the memorial service program was typical — Lum smiling and flashing a shaka sign, clad in his New Hope Oahu Safety Team uniform.

"You couldn't really ask for much more than Keahi," said Safety Team captain Naill Silva. "He was very good. He was always kind to everyone. He did volunteering with other ministries. He was heavily involved. He touches everyone he encounters.

"He was a little rascal at times — always in good humor."

Silva said Lum had been part of the church safety program since its inception a decade ago.

Louie Hillen, one of the shuttle drivers, said it was difficult to count the ministries and programs Lum was involved with.

"At a very young age Keahi came to volunteer for the parking ministry," Hillen said. "He was so young that one of the members of the team told him, 'You have to get permission from your mom to volunteer.'

"His mom gave him permission, and every single Saturday after that you'd see him directing traffic. He was very dedicated. We watched him grow up in the church. He had so much ahead of him."

Through it all, Lum found time to play football, ride dirt bikes, spend time with friends, indulge in his free-diving passion, make college plans and dream of one day being a chef.

HONORED IN SONG

Two dozen Farrington High School seniors performed a song with words written especially for the occasion:

"Keahi, you're gone; and I knew it was wrong deep inside my heart.

"Now I'm wondering why you had to leave us from the start."

"He was a cool-run guy," is how Halen Yacapin, 17, who studied culinary arts with Lum, summed up his friend. "When I heard he died, I just cried."

Micah Rabanal, also a Farrington classmate of Lum, called Lum "the most generous guy."

"He was a really well-balanced person. He knew the time to party. He knew the time to work. He knew the time to relax."

Yacapin, Rabanal and others expressed difficulty in accepting that Lum is gone.

New Hope pastor Richard Waialeale offered words of comfort.

"If Keahi was with us today, I know he would say, 'Aloha doesn't mean goodbye,' " said Waialeale. " 'It means until we meet again.' "

Lum was free-diving in Maunalua Bay off Hawai'i Kai on Oct. 4 when he was struck a boat. Another diver was also injured in the accident.

The operator of the boat took both divers to shore, where paramedics, firefighters and police awaited. The divers were taken to the hospital, where Lum was pronounced dead. The other diver was treated for injuries and later discharged.

An investigation of the incident is ongoing by the enforcement branch of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR spokeswoman Debra Ward said yesterday.