Family and friends continued to gather Wednesday at a small Palolo Valley neighborhood store to mourn the death of 44-year-old Keni “Rimoni” Pologa, father of 10 and a beloved and respected figure in the community who helped youth and others.
Pologa, who tried to intervene during a robbery at New Valley Store, was shot and killed there Saturday night.
“We’re still grieving for him,” said Nina Pologa, his sister. “Every day our kids go up to the spot where he died. Our family, we and even his friends, go there every day to bring flowers and stay there.”
Police on Tuesday night arrested a 43-year-old Liliha man, who has a history of drug and weapons convictions, on suspicion of second-degree murder and first-degree robbery, but released him Wednesday afternoon without charges in the murder and robbery case.
Police said a man entered the store Saturday and demanded money from an employee, but Pologa intervened and the man fired several rounds, striking Pologa in the torso. The man then fled on a moped.
Family and friends explained there had been previous robbery attempts at the store, so Pologa tried to help the store’s new owners by providing security. His presence helped deter attempts, relatives said.
A memorial dedicated to Pologa at the closed doors of New Valley Store continued to grow Wednesday as friends and family placed lei and bouquets of flowers, hung photos of him, tied scarves, and left bottles of brandy and beer.
Nina Pologa said the owner said he would keep the store closed for the remainder of the week out of respect for her brother.
His son Kenny’s message to his dad, written on his football jersey, reads in part: “Now that your gone, I’m so sorry and hurt. Ever since the day u was put to rest, I’ve been wishing to be there to stop u from goin into the store. Why’d u have to be a hero? You should’ve just called the cops. You still would be here. But that’s okay. Now everyone knows who you truly are. (A good man.) Don’t worry pops. Your death will not be forgotten.”
Nina Pologa said her brother would put his life on the line for everyone.
He did a lot for his large family, his friends, but especially for the youth of all ethnicities in the community.
“In the Palolo community, he always advised the kids to stay in school,” Nina Pologa said. “He looks out for the kids on the street. They look up to him.”
By all accounts, Pologa worked hard to support his 10 children, his elderly mother and other family members. He helped many of his more than 40 nieces and nephews and other youths by offering them work at Titan Industries, where he was supervisor of demolition and hazardous waste.
Mike Keith, owner of Titan Industries, which provides a variety of commercial and residential services, said: “He was one of our main guys, always there to help people. If anybody needed help, he was the first one there. Whenever we needed overtime, he was always there, somebody we could count on.”
Nephew Elia Mamea, 28, said: “Rimoni is kindhearted. He helps out a lot for the community, too. He has done so much to protect the young generation of Palolo community to stay out of trouble, even his nephews and nieces, and to have a better life.
“He shows me his example of being a humble person.”
Pologa, born in Samoa, was the youngest of his mother’s 10 children and arrived in Hawaii when he was 6, his sister said. He has six younger half-siblings from his father’s second marriage.
His children from an ex-girlfriend and his wife, who lives in Arizona, range in age from about 4 to 22 years old, Nina Pologa said.
Nina Pologa said family members, who belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have focused on supporting his children and one another.
“We are strong with our church teaching, and that’s what our family foundation is built on.”
Their thoughts have never been about punishing the person who murdered Pologa.
“We always have forgiveness in our hearts,” Pologa said. “It’s not going to bring his life back.”
Brother Lipiia Pologa, 51, was at the Palolo market Wednesday to remember his brother, but also to maintain calm.
“Especially his friends, the anger they have, I’m here to calm them,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want anyone else to see the same outcome as his brother.
He said he will remember his youngest brother for the respect he showed for his elder siblings.
“Even if he knows we wrong, he’s the youngest and he just respect whatever we say,” he said, his eyes filling with tears.
Sister Nina said: “People know him by his work and what he did for other people. He made us proud of him, and people truly understand what he did for the people. He would put his life for anybody.”
Services will be held at 7 p.m. July 17 at the Kalihi location of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1723 Beckley St.
