Girl lives thanks to
heroic grandpaHe saves her from an oncoming car,
only to die himself of injuries later
When 76-year-old Stanley Kaleilehua Kaina saw a car coming straight at him, he had one thought: save his 5-year-old granddaughter he was carrying.
“Cheyla (his granddaughter) saw the car first and gave early warning,” said Kealoha Aiona, Kaina’s daughter.
“My dad threw her to the side. He took the brunt of the hit by the car.”
The accident happened May 6 at the intersection of Waialae and 2nd avenues in Kaimuki. Kaina died 10 days later, police said. Kaina and his granddaughter were in a crosswalk, police said.
A bystander pumping gas then grabbed Cheyla Joice out of harm’s way, Aiona said.
The little girl gave the woman her aunt’s cell phone number. The woman then called the aunt and told her that her father was in an accident.
Joice suffered only a few scratches, however, she was in shock. She didn’t express herself at first, but eventually opened up and explained to her mother what had happened, said Aiona.
She and the rest of the family have slowly been going through the healing process, Aiona said.
Kaina was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center where his condition deteriorated, Aiona said.
Her father was unable to talk, but responded by squeezing hands, she said.
Family members told Kaina that his granddaughter was OK, and he became less agitated, she said.
“Papa,” as she called Kaina, helped care for her and her twin sister since the two were born, while their mother worked.
Police said the driver of the 1992 Ford Taurus was a 79-year-old man.
Kaina’s 11 children hold no animosity toward the driver, who stopped to render aid.
“We can’t lay blame on anyone’s door,” Aiona said, adding that the driver has suffered enough. “Even my father would say, ‘Accidents happen.’”
But she believes the crosswalk at the intersection is dangerous, and not clearly marked, though heavily trafficked.
Kaina’s daughter-in-law Cindy Kaina said she hopes elderly drivers are either tested or receive a doctor’s approval to drive.
“My father-in-law was a very strong man,” she said. “He beat cancer. He beat a lot of odds, then he dies from somebody banging him.”
Stanley Kaina was born and raised in Papakolea, and lived in Keaukaha on the Big Island for more than 40 years.
He was a retired journeyman welder for Theo H. Davies Co. and returned to Honolulu about 14 years ago, after his wife died, to ensure his two youngest daughters were cared for.
Kaina’s family was to hold a memorial service today at 3:30 p.m. at Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area, commonly called Sherwood Forest. Another service will be held in Hilo at Homelani Memorial Park.