Family of Hawaii Woman Killed in 2012 Crash Sues Bar

The family of a woman who died in a crash with a man suspected of driving while intoxicated is suing a Kaneohe bar, claiming the establishment improperly served him alcohol.

The crash on June 30, 2012, killed Rene Nihipali of Honolulu. Investigators said a sport utility vehicle crossed the center line of Kamehameha Highway in Kaaawa, Hawaii, and struck her pickup head-on.

Her widower and two daughters last week sued Kralk Enterprises, which operates Club Komo Mai, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

The lawsuit also names the other driver, Sione Glenn Tilini.

The lawsuit says bar staff should have detected that Tilini was intoxicated when he was served alcohol. The lawsuit claims liquor served to Tilini was a direct cause of the crash. Two passengers in Tilini’s SUV also were injured.

Tilini was a Marine stationed in Kaneohe in June 2012. He was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and negligent homicide. He is free on $15,000 bond. A trial is pending.

Kralk Enterprises and its owner, Ann Kaauamo, could not be reached for comment.

The Honolulu Liquor Commission has in the past considered revoking the bar’s liquor license.

An altercation at Club Komo Mai in 2011 ended with the fatal shooting of Joel Botelho, 27. Makuola Collins was sentenced to life in prison for Botelho’s murder.

Steven Wilcox, 19, was stabbed to death in the bar parking lot in June 2008. The commission later that year fined the bar $2,000 and put it on six months’ probation for serving liquor to Wilcox.

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