Isle musician brought comfort to visitors mourning loved ones

Leaia Siosefa "Sefa" Tuai was an accomplished guitarist and singer, and played alongside Waikiki’s top musicians over the years.

But Tuai’s legacy may have been the comfort he gave to the grieving.

Among his many gigs, Tuai, 45, worked with the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, playing to families holding memorial services for loved ones here before sending their bodies elsewhere, said VASH President Jessica Lani Rich.

"Even though something negative happened to our visitors, when Sefa showed up and played his music, he was so heartfelt that at that moment in time, it would take a lot of their pain away," Rich said. "And now we’re in pain because he’s gone."

Tuai’s body was found below the Pali Lookout after dawn Sunday. He had been missing since Thursday, and his car was found at the lookout’s parking lot late Saturday. Police have opened an unattended-death case and, pending autopsy results, have said they do not expect foul play.

The Department of the Medical Examiner said Monday afternoon that Tuai died from traumatic injuries caused by a fall from a height. The manner of death has not been disclosed pending further investigation.

Rich said that at VASH memorials for visitors, Tuai would play the Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and Eric Clapton’s "Tears in Heaven," leaving many loved ones with watery eyes but also a sense of serenity and comfort.

Often, Tuai himself would be moved to tears while performing those songs, Rich said.

"He was like a big teddy bear," she said.

Tuai played music for a private memorial about six weeks ago in honor of 16-year-old Kristen Fonseca of California, who died after a watercraft crash at Keehi Lagoon in August. Fonseca’s father was so moved by Tuai’s music that he singled him out for appreciation when he sent a thank-you note to VASH after the memorial, Rich said.

"He loved seeing people smile when he was done performing," she said. "Even though they were in mourning, he could put smiles on their faces just with his music. He did not like to see people suffer, and he had a calling for that."

Tuai also played at a number of other, happier VASH events such as the celebration that took place for a man who unexpectedly survived a bout with flesh-eating bacteria.

Born in New Zealand and raised on the North Shore, Tuai attended Kahuku High School and first began playing music as a teenager at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

After a stint in the Marine Corps, he returned to Hawaii and worked at several restaurants and bars before becoming a full-time professional musician after going on tour in Japan.

On his YouTube site, Tuai described himself as "just a musician in Hawaii … sharing videos."

His list of favorite music videos ran the gamut of genres, from an acoustic performance by country guitarist Roy Clark to South Korean rapper PSY’s wildly popular "Gangnam Style."

His last posted favorite video, put up Nov. 25, was of Stevie Wonder doing his own version of Sting’s "Fragile," a melancholy ballad about the delicate nature of life.