Hanamā‘ulu man dies in motorcycle traffic incident on West Side of Kaua‘i

A 44-year-old man suffered fatal injuries following a traffic incident involving a motorcycle Thursday night, in Kekaha on the West Side of Hawai‘i.

According to preliminary police reports, on July 4 at approximately 6:30 p.m., a motorcycle traveling eastbound on Kaumuali‘i Highway collided with a 2021 Dodge SUV carrying three occupants. The SUV was traveling westbound on Kaumuali‘i Highway and was attempting to make a left turn onto Tartar Drive.

The operator of the motorcycle, 44-year-old Reef Oana of Hanamā‘ulu, suffered fatal injuries in the collision. One of the occupants of the SUV was treated at the scene by medics for non-life-threatening injuries.

Kaumuali‘i Highway was closed in both directions for approximately two and a half hours while the Kauaʽi Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation.

Speed appears to be a suspected factor in the crash, however, the investigation remains ongoing.

This is Kaua‘i’s fifth traffic fatality of 2024 and remains under investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call Officer Henshaw at 808-241-1616. Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information by calling Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi at 808-246-8300, submitting a tip at cskauai.org, or through the Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi P3 Tips Mobile App.