Kaleikoa family photo
Iwalani Kaleikoa in Nov. 1998, at the baptism of her< grandchild,
Kylie-Ann Bello. With her are her daughters, Margaret,
left, and Rebecca, holding Kylie-Ann.

Waianae Intermediate
worker died from
‘blunt chest injury’

A memorial fund has been set up to
help the victim's family with
funeral costs

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

A 44-year-old Makaha woman, struck by an elbow while trying to break up a fight Thursday at Waianae Intermediate School, died from a "blunt chest injury," the medical examiner's office said.

Witnesses told police that Iwalani Kaleikoa, a part-time breakfast and lunch supervisor, fell after being struck in the chest by an elbow from one of the two eighth-grade girls involved in the fight.

The girl, 14, reportedly broke away from Kaleikoa and was charging toward the other girl, who was being restrained.

The two girls have been placed on day-to-day "crisis suspension" while a police and school investigation continues.

The medical examiner's office is conducting further tests to determine why the blow proved fatal.

Police booked the girl whose elbow allegedly struck Kaleikoa for second-degree murder and later released her pending further investigation.

"It was an accident," said Alvin Nagasako, the Leeward District's interim deputy superintendent.

Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen said Waianae Intermediate School has established a memorial fund to assist the Kaleikoa family with funeral costs and other expenses.

Contributions should be sent to Iwalani Kaleikoa Memorial Fund, c/o Waianae Intermediate School, 85-626 Farrington Highway, Waianae 96792.