Crippled man’s
family files suit

Daniel Mapu was hit
by two drivers while
sign-waving

The family of a 23-year-old former Kahuku High School football standout filed a lawsuit yesterday in Circuit Court against two drivers who severely injured him in Kaaawa while he was sign-waving in a rally against crystal methamphetamine.

Daniel Jackson Mapu was struck twice on Kamehameha Highway on Aug. 25, 2003. He suffered permanent bodily injuries as well as severe and permanent brain injury. He can move his left extremities but cannot talk or walk.

"He's not able to care for himself," said his attorney, Joseph Ahuna Jr. "He has to be taken care of 24/7."

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Tolifili Kafalava, Tropical Islandwide Landscaping, Nafetalai Finau, Ana Finau, Tevita V. Pupua and Flooring Services Inc. Other defendants named in the lawsuit include the vehicle owners and the companies the drivers work for.

According to the suit, Mapu was participating in an anti-"ice" sign-waving rally between 51-416 and 51-406 Kamehameha Highway. A white GMC truck operated by Kafalava crossed the line at the edge of the road on the makai side and headed toward a crowd of people.

Rally participants scattered when Mapu was struck. According to the lawsuit, Kafalava fell asleep at the wheel and did not have a valid Hawaii driver's license. He was driving a truck with Tropical Islandwide Landscaping on its exterior.

The impact threw Mapu into the southbound lane, where a Dodge Grand Caravan operated by Pupua also struck Mapu.

The lawsuit said that despite Pupua observing rally participants scatter because of the oncoming GMC truck, "Pupua continued to operate his van at an unsafe speed and did not slow down, pull off to the side of the road, stop or follow any safe driving practices and procedures required by law and by the conditions presented."

Pupua pulled over to the side of the road and stopped after he struck Mapu.

Relatives blamed the drivers for negligence, including reckless and careless operation of a motor vehicle and inattention.

Mapu's parents, Maryann and Simi Mapu, and other relatives are caring for him at their Hauula home.

Before the crashes, Mapu was attending Brigham Young University-Hawaii. He had recently returned to Hawaii after spending two years in Chicago doing missionary work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.