Two of the five young Maui residents who died Sunday in a two-car crash in Kula were budding chefs.
Steven R. Shaw, 20, of Lahaina and Ambrose Momoa, 20, of Waiehu, passengers in one of the cars, were enrolled in the culinary program at the University of Hawaii at Maui, said professor Ben Marquez, one of their teachers.
"They were two great students. It’s disheartening to see this happen. … It’s a big loss," Marquez said.
Marquez helped Shaw get an internship at a Roy’s restaurant. The new Roy’s in Kaanapali decided to hire Shaw after his graduation, Marquez said.
He said Momoa was close to graduating from the culinary program with an associate’s degree.
Others killed in the accident Sunday morning were Annastachia Cruz-Kalua, 19, and Karl Barrack, 20, both of Pukalani; and Remington Taylor Redwell, 20, of Lahaina.
The 21-year-old driver, also a Pukalani resident, who was the only person in the Dodge Neon wearing a seat belt, was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center after suffering serious injuries.
Maui police said the three Pukalani residents in the other car, a Suzuki Aerio, did not sustain life-threatening injuries.
The Neon was traveling north on Kula Highway at high speed when it began to spin counterclockwise, crossed over the double solid yellow lines and collided with the southbound Aerio about 140 feet north of Noholoa Place, police said.
The Neon was sheered in half, police said.
Redwell and Shaw were good friends who had grown up together in Lahaina, friends said.
"Remi was a great dude. He was very kind," friend Alvin Brazley said.
Lahaina business owner John Flores said Redwell and Shaw were familiar faces in his store.
"They always had smiles. They were kind of getting it together, going to school," Flores said.
"Everybody is just really, really sad," he said. "They were so young."
Kula resident Sally Keanini said the latest accident is one of four in that area in the last 20 years, including one that involved two fatalities. Maui police were unable Monday to confirm the number of accidents.
Keanini said motorists and motorcyclists are going too fast and losing control at the curves in Kula Highway.
She said she’s seen a vehicle flip over after striking a guardrail and another hit a bank in the road.
"I don’t know why these people no stop what they’re doing," she said.
Maui Police Lt. Wayne Ibarra said police who are continuing to investigate the crash suspect alcohol and speed may have contributed to the accident.
