Traffic records show driver in crash that killed young child, mom has history of speeding

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A driver was arrested for negligent homicide after plowing into a parked car in Waianae late Saturday, killing a 7-year-old girl and her mother.

Relatives identified the two who died as Leah Hanakahi and her mom, Kelsey Palisbo.

Her 17-year-old daughter, Shaylee Hanakahi was also critically injured.

The crash happened about 10:30 p.m. on Haleakala Avenue.

Police said 27-year-old Joseph Peters-Holokahi, was speeding on the roadway when he lost control and hit the parked vehicle, where the girl and woman were occupants.

The 17-year-old was just outside the vehicle when she was struck.

Stuart Hanakahi, father of the two children in the crash, was at the scene Sunday and pleaded for people not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

“Everybody campaigns about drinking and driving through Christmas, Thanksgiving,” said Hanakahi. “But drinking and driving doesn’t just happen in just those seasons. It always happens.

“It has to stop. When is going to stop? It stops with you.”

Peters-Holokahi was arrested on two counts of negligent homicide and DUI. The double-fatal crash happened right in front of the victims’ family home.

Yolanda Kea-Kaawa said the driver tried to run away but her nephews chased him down and held him until police arrived.

“Do the human thing, step up and say I did wrong,” Kea-Kaawa said of the suspect.

Peters-Holokahi has a long record when it comes to speeding.

Court records show that in 2020 he was tagged for going 105 miles an hour in a 45 mph zone. Months later he was tagged again for speeding and the year before he hit a parked vehicle.

There were many other citations over the years.

He paid hefty fines but apparently didn’t slow down.

“It’s mind-blowing how fast he’s been going in the past,” said Ed Werner whose son, Kaulana, died in his arms in 2016 after being hit by a drunk driver who left the scene.

The Werners are also related to the victims of this latest west side crash.

Werner was behind a law that extends prison terms for hit-and-run drivers, but he wants more punishment for those convicted of DUI and speeding too.

“This was preventable,” Werner said.

While speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, police said, it’s unknown if drugs were also involved.

Police said the traffic fatalities are the 10th and 11th on Oahu so far this year. That compares to seven at the same time in 2021.

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