KAILUA-KONA — The community has come together to support a family after the unexpected death of a Holualoa woman last month.
Trina Walker, 41, was killed in a three-car crash March 12 on Queen Kaahumanu Highway near Kiholo Bay Lookout. She leaves behind two children, ages 2 and 4.
“She was a good mom,” said neighbor BeJay Sweeney.
Sweeney’s family shares a driveway with Walker’s family. The 41-year-old lived in Holualoa with her boyfriend and their two kids.
Sweeney’s wife, Courtney, said the couple worked hard and kept to themselves.
“They had their happy, healthy life,” she said.
Walker’s loss has been felt by many, including those she used to work with out at the Mauna Lani, where she was employed at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. She was driving home from a shift the night the crash occurred.
Police said a 21-year-old Kailua-Kona man had been traveling south that night when at 10:39 p.m. he was involved in rear-end collision with a 2014 Volkswagen sedan driven by Walker, which had also been traveling south.
The collision caused Walker’s sedan to spin and cross into the northbound lane of the highway, where it was rear-ended by another car heading northbound driven by a 31-year-old Waimea man.
Walker was taken to the Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:57 a.m. the following morning.
“We’re definitely devastated by the loss of her,” said Terra Shumaker, manager of the restaurant.
Shumaker said Walker began working at the steakhouse late last year. She described the Holualoa woman as extremely hard working and motivated.
“Got what needed to be done with a great attitude,” she said of Walker.
Employees at the Mauna Lani restaurants have been collecting donations to give to Walker’s family. Shumaker said they collected cash and freezer meals and made up Easter baskets for the kids.
“We’re kinda like a little family and to lose someone so suddenly, we all felt it,” Shumaker said. “It really is inspiring to see how many people are coming together for the family. It really is beautiful.”
Shumaker and Walker’s neighbor also noted the employer of the woman’s boyfriend has also assisted with donations.
Since Walker’s death, Courtney Sweeney reached out to those on social media to get assistance for the family.
“They were good parents to their kids and they love their kids,” she said Wednesday.
Sweeney couldn’t imagine sitting by doing nothing after such a tragedy.
“I’m in a position to help so just help,” she said.
As a member of the Kona Moms group on Facebook, Sweeney said moms organized meal train dinners. On the family’s behalf, she has asked for donations of gift cards and diapers for the children.
She’s also organized a meet-up with the Kona Moms on Friday at Living Hope Church in Holualoa, off of Mamalahoa Highway, as a way to collect diapers and gift cards for Walker’s children.
Donation collection will go from 9 to 11 a.m. The donation drive is open to the community.
“This is why I love Kona so much,” BeJay Sweeney said. “It’s definitely community based.”