GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Some 100 members of the Waianae community were joined by civic leaders and clergy last night for a march against violence along Farrington Highway to Waianae Market. The march was prompted by recent violence in the area, such as the beating death of Roger Haudenshild and the arson fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Waianae.
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Waianae unites over tragedies
Marchers set out to show support after a death and fire
A LITTLE more than 100 community members marched a mile along Farrington Highway after dusk, taking a stand against the recent violence in Waianae in which one man was beaten to death and a church was intentionally burned.
"What happened was so senseless," said Ilona Crabbe, 51, referring to the death of Roger Haudenshild. "I think enough is enough.
"We have to take our community back for our children," said Crabbe, the mother of an 11-year-old girl. "I don't want her growing up in a violent environment."
The Rev. Kaleo Patterson, one of the organizers of the march and president of the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center, called the march a success and a way to bring the community together.
Haudenshild was beaten by three men in a road rage incident Sept. 1 at Waianae Market. A gymnasium and offices at the Waianae chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were set on fire Sept. 12. It will cost $2.5 million to rebuild the structure.
"We have a lot of people who were feeling a sense of deep pain" after the eruption of violence, Patterson said. "It has been a while since the community came together."
At the end of the march, the participants, who belong to several different churches and social organizations, and residents joined hands and voices, singing "Hawaii Aloha."
Others felt the need to show that Waianae residents are peace-loving and peaceable and do not appreciate the stereotyping. Some said police need to show a greater presence in the community.
Lani Kuakini, 46, a classmate of Haudenshild, wore a T-shirt with his picture and held a sign with his photo. She said she was stunned at the news of his death since she had just seen him at a class reunion. "He was there and happy."
"He died right out here in this parking lot," which is a busy place at all hours, she said.
She noted how the community has united, but said, "I don't see no law enforcement officers walking with us."
Aggie Pililaau was saddened by both the killing and fire since she grew up with Haudenshild's mother and her son grew up with Haudenshild, and she had early ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"It feels good to be doing this -- to do something," she said. "It sort of has a cleansing effect, like what we Hawaiians call a hooponopono."
Haudenshild's fifth-grade teacher at Makaha Elementary School marched with Pililaau, recalling Haudenshild as being "loving, always there for others, a good, kind boy who really tried hard."
"Because of the crowd, it's evident this is helping," said Bernie Ibanez, a classmate of Haudenshild. "It's really sad this had to happen."
She said Haudenshild was a kind person who would visit all the classmates, and even kept in touch and visited their parents as he did in intermediate school.