Wai'anae High School graduate Royal Kaukani was brutally gunned down Tuesday afternoon in 'Ewa less than three weeks after the school's reading strategies coach, Asa Yamashita, was savagely stabbed to death in broad daylight at the nearby Ewa Town Center.

Yesterday, the Wai'anae community attempted to deal with the reality of what seemed like the senseless loss of two women who were an inspiration to others.

For many, the effort seemed beyond comprehension.

"I'm not clear how to understand this," said Rae Fabrao, principal of Wai'anae Intermediate School, who knew both women. "We're not even done grieving over Asa within the community, and then to have something like this happen. There are no words to even express it. We've lost two people who made contributions to the community.

"It's going to be a tough hurdle to get over. I guess, in time, we will."

Fabrao learned of Kaukani's death Tuesday night in Florida, where she was attending the Student Television National High School convention in Orlando. Fabrao, who had been Kaukani's volleyball coach in intermediate and high school, described Kaukani as the team's leader, someone who was always ready to assist her teammates.

Candy Suiso, program director for Wai'anae High's media education program, was also at the Orlando convention. Suiso worried about how much tragic news area folks can bear.

"This just rocked our world," Suiso said. "I don't know how our community is going to handle this one. It will be a test of our character, strength and our faith. I don't know what else I can say."

Kathy Yamamoto, Kaukani's high school class adviser, said the slaying of her former student coming on the heels of Yamashita's vicious killing was almost too much to take.

"I don't know what's going on," she said. "I'm in denial. It makes me sick to my stomach, actually."

Yamamoto remembered Kaukani as a friend to other students, "an overall awesome kid" who was exceptionally friendly, popular and well regarded by her teachers. She also recalled how close Kaukani was to her six sisters.

"She was always smiling," said Yamamoto, one of several people yesterday to use those exact words in describing the 2001 Wai'anae High graduate.

SHRINE ERECTED

A memorial placed near where Kaukani was shot multiple times Tuesday around 2:20 p.m. on Kaukolu Way gave testimony to the fact. Included among the flower bouquets, stuffed animals, and expressions of love, was an 11-by-14-inch frame containing 11 color photographs of Kaukani. In every picture, she was smiling broadly.

Approximately 24 hours after the attack, during a light rain, members of Kaukani's family silently emerged from a house on Kaukolu Place some 75 yards from the scene of the crime, and walked to the memorial. There, they delicately placed plastic wrap around the picture frame to protect the images from the raindrops.

They left without saying a word. Later, after the rain had ended, they returned to unwrap the frame so the smiles could be seen by all who passed. They also carried a one-sheet statement drafted by Kaukani's sisters that they handed out to members of the media.

"For those who knew Royal ... you knew how special she was," it began. "For those who didn't, (we) hope by the end this statement you will."

The message went on to highlight Kaukani's personality and spirit.

"She was full of life and always lived life to the fullest. She gave all she had every time she could, whether anyone asked or not. ... For some reason she thought she could save the world. She believed every broken thing could be fixed somehow, some way."

She was the third youngest of seven sisters — "yes, no boys, all girls" — it said. And it spoke of her talent for volleyball, her survival skills and her scholastic accomplishments. It mentioned her popularity with co-workers, friends and family members who all looked to her for wisdom and guidance.

NEAR OTHER KILLINGS

Kaukani, 25, was killed one block from 91-1635 Kaukolu St., where Domingo Dikito shot and killed his wife, Della, and then himself, last April 26, and less than a mile from the Ewa Town Center, where Yamashita, 43, was stabbed to death on Feb. 27.

Authorities arrested and charged Tittleman Fauatea, 25, with the unprovoked attack and murder of Yamashita.

Tuesday night, police arrested fugitive Toi Albert Nofoa, 31, Kaukani's former boyfriend, after a man fitting his description was seen fleeing the Kaukolu area on a motorcycle following the shooting.

Now, those in the Wai'anae community are left to grapple with what's been done.

Paul Flores, a 2000 Wai'anae High grad and close friend of Kaukani, admitted he and others who knew Kaukani and Yamashita feel anger about what's happened. Eventually, he said, the community will come to grips with so much tragedy, even though it won't be easy.

"Like everything else," he said, "we have to deal with it in one way or another."