‘He was Mr. Aloha’: Community mourns Maui teen killed in weekend car crash

WAIEHU, MAUI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A makeshift memorial is growing in Waiehu, where 17-year-old Kahiau Hill was killed early Sunday in a car crash.

Hill had just graduated from Lahainaluna High School last weekend.

Those who knew him described him as kind, outgoing and full of life.

“He was Mr. Aloha. Super loud, talked to anybody,” said added that said Hill left a lasting impression on him and knows he left a huge impact on the lives of many others.

“I just instantly cried and I cried and cried. Just because I knew how special he was to me,” Aiwohi said.

Maui police say Hill was the passenger in a Toyota 4Runner driven by an unidentified 16-year-old male from Wailuku. At about 4 a.m., the vehicle was speeding northwest on Kahekili Highway when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Akakuu Street, police said.

The SUV hit a curb before rolling over and coming to rest on an embankment. Both Hill and the driver were ejected from the vehicle.

“Immediately we started praying over the boys,” said resident Cy Hamasaki.

The crash woke Hamasaki up. He called 911 and ran outside with some of his neighbors and they all joined in prayer together.

“There was movement. There was some breathing. At that same time, there were a couple other people that were showing up and praying and believing and praying over the kids,” Hamasaki said.

Both Hill and the driver were brought to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where Hill later died. MPD said the driver’s injuries were non-life threatening.

Investigators say both teens were not wearing seatbelts.

Childhood friend Israel Maka says Hill had a huge heart and was friends with everyone he met.

“He was such a good kid. I don’t hang out with much people. But he was one of them who I hung out with. He was always so kind. He always made me feel welcomed no matter what,” Maka said.

While a toxicology report is pending, it is believed alcohol played a role in the incident. A vehicle homicide investigation is ongoing.

A GoFundMe account has been started to help Hill’s family.

This is Maui County’s fifth traffic fatality of 2021.

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