RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Koa Fernandez, facing camera at right, greeted people yesterday as they arrived at Borthwick Mortuary for services for his brother Kyle, who was killed in Afghanistan. Family and friends remembered Kyle Fernandez yesterday as a dedicated husband and father who urged others not to worry about him while he was in Central Asia.

‘So young but yet
so brave’

Family and friends pay
tribute to the life and
sacrifice of Kyle Fernandez

Kyle Fernandez: Died when his Humvee struck a bomb

Leis and a flag -- symbols of the islands he loved and the country he served -- draped Spc. Kyle Ka'eo Fernandez's coffin last night at services for the 26-year-old Pearl City soldier, killed last week in Afghanistan.

"Thank you for your courage, Ka'eo, and your supreme service," Kimo DuPont, Fernandez's uncle, told attendees in his eulogy for the Hawaii-based soldier. "Your work is done here, and what a fine job you did."

More than 250 people packed into Borthwick Mortuary's makai chapel last night for Fernandez's services, which included prayers, song and stories of the soldier's life.

Photos of Fernandez filled the front of the chapel, and a slide show depicted the life of the 1996 Aiea High School graduate who married his high school sweetheart and went into the military to provide a stable life for his wife and kids.

"They say the good go first," said Jay Sylva, Fernandez's cousin, while waiting to pay his respects. "He was just so young."

Fernandez was killed Oct. 14 in southern Afghanistan along with Sgt. Brian Hobbs, also based at Schofield Barracks, when the Humvee they were traveling in struck a homemade bomb. Three other Hawaii-based soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Family and friends remembered Fernandez yesterday as a dedicated husband and father who called himself the "Hawaiian Supa Man" and urged others not to worry about him while in Central Asia.

DuPont said Fernandez worked hard to get places and took his responsibilities at home and work seriously.

"This kid hustled," DuPont said. "The Energizer bunny had nothing on Ka'eo. He worked hard at whatever he did. ... He will be missed for a long time."

Fernandez enlisted in the Army three years ago and was deployed to Afghanistan in April. He was set to return for leave in December, and his deployment would have been complete in May.

At the service, Ikena DuPont sang a song he had written for his cousin.

"So young but yet so brave," DuPont sang, his voice sometimes breaking as he held back tears. "I wish I had half your courage."

Kim Edwards attended the service because her husband is with Fernandez's former unit in Afghanistan. She said the death has hit Fernandez's fellow soldiers hard.

"He was a wonderful person," she said. "It's just scary. ... It's too close to home."

The Rev. Eric Ebisu of Pearl City Community Church delivered a prayer at last night's services. Funeral services will be held again at 9 a.m. today at Borthwick Mortuary. Graveside services at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery start at 11 a.m.

Fernandez, who was born in Spokane, Wash., is survived by wife Celeste, son Keahi, daughter Kyla, parents Renald and Noe, sister Kehau, brother Koa and grandparents Renald and Helen Fernandez and Uilani DuPont.