In Third Circuit Court today, Monday, Nov. 21, Keolaokalani Kailianu pleaded guilty to felony counts of first-degree negligent homicide and failure to render aid in an accident involving death or serious injury for the moped death of UH Hilo student Ted Braxton. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to recommend to a judge that he serve 10 years in prison. Both felonies carry maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.
In court on Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Mitch Roth stated the facts that prosecutors would have proven should the case gone to trial: on the evening of May 28, approximately 10 p.m., Kailianu was drinking at Stephanie’s Lounge (750 Kinoole St.) before getting into an armored van while intoxicated and heading Puna bound on Kinoole. Ted Braxton, meanwhile, was on a moped heading Hamakua bound on Kinoole Street. At the intersection of Hualalai Street, Kailianu made a left-hand turn and struck the moped Braxton was driving. Braxton and the moped were trapped under the van and dragged for 100 feet before Braxton’s body was dislodged in the area of K’s Drive In. Kailianu then traveled another mile and a half to Banyan Drive, with the moped lodged underneath the van, the whole time sparks coming out the bottom of the van.
When he arrived at Banyan Drive, one of Kailianu’s friends saw him and kept him waiting until the police came. The friend had seen the sparks from under the vehicle and went to check on Kailianu.
Kailianu was taken to the hospital and it was determined through a blood test that his blood alcohol level was a .283, three and a half times the legal limit. He later was taken to the police station where he took a breath test and his blood alcohol level was .262.
Kailianu’s sentencing hearing is set for 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:33 am
The pain and the loss of my dear grandson goes on and on…
November 22nd, 2011 at 2:34 pm
There are real people and entire communities affected by this tragic act. People reading this article should think for a minute about these images. Ted – a young boy – reluctantly shoveling his neighbor’s snow. Ted – a teenager – dancing in the school musica. Ted’s sister – a reliable babysitter…his brother – a brainiac…his mother – a school librarian and doer of good…his father – a crazy college professor. There is a real family and a real community grieving on the other end of every story like this.
November 22nd, 2011 at 3:36 pm
@Lara & @Lynn
I never knew Ted, but I know your pain.
I am so truly sorry you must go thru this.
My most sincerest and heartfelt condolences.
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@Lynn….and what an amazing family those Braxton’s. Ted chose well when he came into this life. Ted’s death still makes no sense to me…it was just his time. I do feel one thing is true…his loving soul is still here…comforting those that need it…just as he was in his living walk on this planet. I miss him very much!
November 22nd, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Holy $%@*!
Blood alcohol level of .283 !!!
Has anyone ever heard of a higher measurement? How many drinks does it take to get to that level?
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:33 pm
I miss Ted. I pray the judge sees how intoxicated one must be to drag Ted and his scooter for many blocks with sparks flying and never even know it because he was THAT DRUNK. NO ONE should have to go thru what the Braxton’s and their friends are going thru. Put this man away so we can all be safer on the road. Did I miss something about his charges? I see no count of DUI..what gives? If this dude hadn’t have been so hammered, he wouldn’t have hit Ted. Never hear these stories about marijuana and driving..probably woulda stopped and offered Ted a ride!
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@Russell…..and he is a big guy…so I can imagine his level was even higher at the time he hit Teddy….
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Most people would be comatose at that blood alcohol level! Only someone who is physically accustomed to drinking that much on a regular basis could be conscious, much less able to walk and drive, with those kinds of numbers.
The bar that served him is very responsible too, in my opinion. For someone his size to be able to get to that in a bar requires someone pouring him many, many drinks.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I wonder if Mr. Kailianu has tried to make amends to the Braxton family by admitting his employer knew about his drinking problem. If there is no effort to get him to admit his emplloyer knew about his drinking problem, the parole board won’t have a vital piece of information in setting his minimum release date. and if he is not cooperating with the Braxton family’s lawyers about when he first got to the bar, and putting 2 and 2 together with his .283 bac… bar insurers and employer’s insurers can put the bite on the drinking and driving big time. at least in this case they can put the bite on big time.
prayers and condolences to the Braxton family.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:49 pm
I can only help that this man has some idea of what he did and how affected so many are. I want to hear from him. That blood alcohol level is insane. WHO could possibly imagine getting in a vehicle in that state, in a city, in an armored van, who served him that much, what friends let him leave like that. There is a cascade of failures that led to this. As a drinker, as a past bartender, as a designated driver, and as a deeply saddened friend of Ted’s I can’t understand how this happened.
November 23rd, 2011 at 3:55 am
Ted was such a cool guy. I really enjoyed taking him to the dollar movie theater, and watching Chronicles of Narnia
(we were both living outdoors, desperate for entertainment). I am very sorry. I think of your family, and I understand the pain you must be going through. My mother’s life was taken from her by another, and not a night, day, evening goes by without thinking of her, it. Love to you all. I’m so very sorry.
November 23rd, 2011 at 8:11 am
There seems to be a trend in Hawaii of letting DUI offenders off with light punishments. How many times have you read a news article that says something like, “It was the offender’s 3rd DUI, driving on a suspended license, etc.”? This man needs a stricter punishment than 10 years or less. I encourage anyone with an interest in preventing another Ted from being killed to write to the Prosecutor’s Office and showing up to court on Jan 17th. As a community we need to show that this is NOT acceptable and should NOT happen again!
November 23rd, 2011 at 9:20 am
mr. kailianu needs lots and LOTS of our prayers. may he get in touch with his heart and Source, he’s gonna need it. forgiveness to him for whatever detached him in the first place…
November 23rd, 2011 at 10:21 am
I used an online calculator. I can only guess at the weight and drinking time span, but a 200# man needs 15 shots in 2 hours to get to this level. 15 shots!
November 25th, 2011 at 9:08 am
The grief of Ted’s closest ohana is fresh and huge. It appears periodically for me especially driving in Hilo Ted was into “truth.” Not expedient lip service most of the time. Kind of a lifestyle. The driver and whoever helped him drink that night and for all these years(probably) were/are not so much into “truth.” May all of us be truthful with ourselves and others.
It’s a big hope that leads to less of this or any kind of extraordinary, unnecessary suffering. Forgiveness results in peace of mind, it seems. Not the peace of mind of one who conveniently has no conscience or is numb from habitual lying or drinking or whatevas. I can’t wish more pain for anyone involved in all of this, but I want a lot of improvement. How is that achieved? Miss you Ted.