The life of cab driver Charlys Ty Tang, who fled Cambodia three decades ago, abruptly ended May 1, his 41st birthday, when he was brutally beaten in a Waipahu strip mall parking lot.

However, Tang's “;legacy continues to live”; because several of his organs were donated, said Mari Kanemura, family services coordinator for the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii.

At the request of Tang's widow, Xiaoling Tang, Kanemura told several hundred mourners at Mililani Downtown Mortuary yesterday that it is only the second time that lungs have been successfully recovered in Hawaii for a lifesaving transplant.

The recipient is a 61-year-old man living in San Francisco. A specialist had to be flown in from San Francisco to oversee the operation and then accompanied the lungs on a regular commercial jet flight a day after Tang died. The timing was crucial, with only an eight-hour window between the lungs' removal and the transplantation.

Kanemura described Tang as a “;hero,”; noting a kidney went to a patient in Washington and another to a person here.

“;His liver was donated to a 37-year-old single mom who has a 15-year-old daughter,”; she said.

Several younger patients here could receive his heart valves, Kanemura added, after appropriate tests are completed.

Police said Tang had picked up two passengers near Kuhio and Seaside avenues in Waikiki at around 1:15 a.m.

At Waipahu's Times Super Market parking lot, they got into an argument with Tang over the fare.

Witnesses said the driver was knocked to the ground, kicked and punched several times. He was taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where he died.

Michael Robles, 18, of 2146 Damon St. was indicted yesterday by an Oahu grand jury on a charge of second-degree murder in the case. His bail was set at $250,000. His 17-year-old companion could be charged as an adult in Circuit Court.

    Taxi driver beating suspect indicted

 

 

A grand jury has indicted an 18-year-old teen suspected of beating a taxi driver to death. The suspect was on parole from the youth correctional facility at the time of the beating.

 

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In eulogies, friends and relatives spoke of Tang's struggles in Phnom Penh, followed by his flight to Thailand, where he was separated from his family, and finally his relocation to Hawaii in 1988.

In the islands, Tang taught himself English by jotting down new words and practicing what he heard with friends and neighbors on Beretania Street.

One of his neighbors, Thomas Riddle, described Tang as “;unforgettable,”; adding, “;I had the impression that although his life had not been easy at all, he had never been sad for one day or even for one moment.

“;It was great to be around such an optimistic guy. He had so many dreams and plans and all of them were good,”; Riddle said in an e-mail that was included in the funeral program. “;He seemed to know how his life would go — it would go well, everything would be fine! Just wait.”;

Tang started driving a cab five years ago so he could spend more time with his children.

His 13-year-old son, Jarvis, recalled outings with his father to the park, where he taught him how to ride a bike, or the beach, where his father showed how to swim. “;I really loved him and really miss him,”; Jarvis said.

Tang's daughter, Aprille, said her memories center on her father taking her to Chinatown on Saturdays. “;He cared about his children,”; said the 10-year-old, “;and I loved him.”;