BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
A new white commercial pickup truck ended up in the ocean yesterday after an accident that left a former Kahuku High School football player critically injured.
Former Kahuku standout
struck during anti-‘ice’ rally
A 21-year-old Laie man holding an anti-crystal methamphetamine sign was critically injured after being struck twice by two vehicles on Kamehameha Highway in Kaaawa.
A witness at the scene identified the man as Daniel Mapu, a 1999 all-star football player who played safety at Kahuku High School.
"He's a very good young man," said Kahuku football coach Siuaki Livai. "Daniel was a great football player. He made all-star. He just got back from a (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) mission."
Mapu attended the University of Idaho before serving a mission for his church.
Livai said Mapu's family members are well known in the community. His younger brother is University of Tennessee football player Jonathan Mapu. His father, Simi Mapu, is a police officer who is widely known on the North Shore.
Police said the victim was initially hit by a blue van, and the impact caused him to be thrown into the other lane, resulting in a second vehicle, a white pickup truck, striking him.
The truck landed in the ocean, said Capt. Joel Walker, of the Kaaawa Fire Station.
He said Mapu was one of about 15 volunteers holding anti-"ice" signs.
Police were called to the scene at about 5:36 p.m. yesterday, and Mapu was transported in critical condition by helicopter to the Queen's Medical Center.
The shoulder of the two-lane highway where Mapu and other sign wavers stood is narrow, giving sign wavers little room to stand.
The accident occurred fronting 51-416 Kamehameha Highway near Puakenikeni Road.
Police shut down the highway in both directions from Swanzy Beach park to Puakenikeni Road for several hours while police investigated the accident. Traffic was rerouted onto Puakenikeni, to Hauhele Road and onto Polinalina Road and back onto the highway.
