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Tuesday, May 29, 2001




CRAIG T. KOJIMA / STAR-BULLETIN
A sign in memory of Dana Ambrose warned yesterday against
drunken driving. Randy Rarick, right, commemorated
her birthday with the sign.



Signs mourn tragic
death of Ambrose



By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

Randy Rarick posted signs warning of drinking and driving at School Street and Pali Highway, where his stepson's girlfriend, Dana Ambrose, died, in memory of her birthday yesterday.

The executive director of the Triple Crown of Surfing also placed long stems of birds of paradise and ginger near a concrete pillar. Rarick said the flowers symbolized Ambrose's personality.

Randy Rarick, whose stepson, Willy Asprey, dated Ambrose for two years, said: "She was a vibrant, young, happy girl. The loss of a beautiful young girl could've been avoided."

Ambrose would have celebrated her 20th birthday yesterday. The signs read, "Don't Drink and Drive."

Ambrose died Oct. 7 at the intersection when off-duty officer Clyde Arakawa's car broadsided her car. Arakawa refused a field sobriety test but was later charged with manslaughter.

Arakawa, who has since retired from the Honolulu Police Department and moved to Oregon, has filed a counterclaim against Ambrose's family for damage to his car. A hearing on Arakawa's motion was scheduled for today.

Rarick said his stepson planned to marry Ambrose. "It's been tough for him," he said. "It was unfortunate."

Ambrose moved to Hawaii from California in 1999. She attended Leeward Community College and worked at the Brew Moon Restaurant & Micro Brewery at Ward Centre and at North Shore Swimwear. She received a scholarship and was accepted into the University of Hawaii before the accident occurred.

Signs will be posted randomly throughout the island to urge drivers to take responsibility for their actions.

"Hopefully, it will make people think," Rarick said.



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