So today I found out that my childhood friend died in a motorcycle accident this morning. I've been crying on and off since then. I mean I've known the kid since I was 10 and it just sucks to know I'll never run into him again when I go home.
I first met Kawika (the w is pronounced like a v) when his family moved next door to us shortly after we moved in. He had an older sister Jaime who was nice but too old to want to hang out with my sisters or I. It was so great to have another kid on the block, and we all used to run around together after school along with Jacob and (sometimes) Kayce Kirkengard (prob spelled that wrong).
Kawika had a special connection to Shannon who, at five, decided that he was her first crush. He would give her his extra Pokemon cards and they were constantly getting into trouble for bike riding through the unfinished construction of the other houses on the block. She used to follow him around everywhere and he was never annoyed by it, he was just a nice guy.
George once bit him. Kawika and I had been joking around while walking George and he hit me to which George turned around and jumped up and bit him in the leg. Kawika the next day had this huge bruise on his thigh and threatened to tell his dad about it (Dave wasn't really somebody you wanted to have mad at you) and I told him if he did I would tell his dad he hit me and then he would be in trouble for starting it. Needless to say neither of us told our parents about the incident.
Our families, living right next to each other, were somewhat close. We constantly had barbecues together and hung out. We spent NYE 2000 there, all of us children wondering what would happen at the strike of midnight on Y2K, sorely disappointed when life went on as usual.
Eventually Dave and Lana (Kawika's parents) decided to move and for a couple years we didn't hear from them, then one 4th of July they showed up to the block party and walked into our house like no time at all had passed. We had so much fun joking around with Kawika that night, it hadn't mattered that years had gone by, it was really as if we had seen him the day before. We talked about hanging out and exchanged cell numbers and talked for a while after that. Always somehow being busy when the other was free to hang out or send a party invite. Eventually I was out of Las Vegas again and lost touch.
Over the summer his family moved back into their old house. We were neighbors once again. I was excited to be able to go home for a visit some time and catch up but never got the opportunity. Shannon was home just last week and saw him. She says he's still cute and still has a crush on him.
The world truly lost an amazing person today. I may not have seen him for a while but he and his family have always been dear in my heart. It hurts so bad knowing that I'll never reconnect with him, knowing that he's with God instead of everyone who loved him. Death really sucks and I can't imagine how his family is feeling right now. My mom was with them right after they got the news and she said it was the worst pain she has ever seen. Out of respect to them I wont repeat what she saw but they are torn apart. I think anyone who knows him is.
My mom and sisters and I have been sharing stories about him and we have so many. I just wish I was with them now because it sucks being so far from home when a tragedy like this happens.
Kawika I hope that you are happy wherever you are now. You will be missed.
Love and Kisses,
KABO
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