KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Island musician Keikilani Lindsey was seriously injured in a car crash on June 28, and is currently still in critical condition at a mainland hospital.
Lindsey and his sons, Leo and Kaneala, who together make up the band Meleuhane, were driving through Wyoming on their way to Oregon for a show when they drove into inclement weather. The trailer attached to the back of their car came unhitched, and the car flipped six times, ejecting Lindsey from the vehicle. Lindsey sustained multiple severe injuries and internal bleeding, and was flown to a hospital in Loveland, Colorado. During the flight, he went into cardiac arrest.
Lindsey’s cousin, Karen Rose, said Lindsey is on a ventilator and doctors are monitoring the swelling of his brain.
“He’s not out of the woods yet,” Rose said. “He has had some improved lung function. He’s still on a ventilator that’s helping him breathe.
“Right now, are biggest concern is the brain trauma that he suffered. We don’t know the extent of any injuries to his brain yet because it’s still swollen. And it could be a few weeks before we actually learn what’s going to happen with that.”
Lindsey’s two sons who were in the crash with him had minor injuries and were kept overnight in a Wyoming hospital before being released.
While Lindsey recovers in the hospital on the mainland, Rose has set up a GoFundMe page for donations. As of Tuesday night, the GoFundMe page had raised $40,585.
“We started the GoFundMe page to assist with the expenses that are going to occur, not only medically, but living expenses as well,” Rose said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a long road to recovery. The community has been really nice and supportive.”
On Monday, Rose updated the GoFundMe page to say Lindsey had received an MRI, and his eyes were beginning to show signs of dilation. The results of the MRI were not known by press time.
“We’re really worried, and we’re very concerned, and we’re just moving on from there, one day at a time,” Rose said.
Along with the GoFundMe page, a benefit concert featuring musician John Cruz will take place at Gertrude’s Jazz Bar in Kailua-Kona from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, July 13. Tickets are $35, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards Lindsey’s medical bills.
Rose set up the benefit concert with Marlina Lee, owner of Gertrude’s, two days after the crash. Lee has known Lindsey for years, as him and his family have performed at Gertrude’s many times in the past.
“This is a legendary family that has been supportive of the community for as long as I can remember,” Lee said. “The fact that now they need community support is why everybody’s already coming together and doing what they can. They’ve been such a support system for community, and it’s really nice that the community can come together and return that love.
“There’s so many people praying for him and supporting him and the family, so I feel very hopeful.”
The GoFundMe page for the Keikilani Lindsey Emergency Medical Fund can be found at www.gofundme.com/keikilani-emergency-medical-fund. For more information on the Keikilani Lindsey Benefit Concert, visit gertrudesjazzbar.com.