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Mourning a much-loved Maui High School teen

Eryn Yogi, 16, killed in Puunene truck crash

Eryn Yogi (from left) poses for a family photo on July 1 next to mother, Diane, sister, Tori, and father, Terence, at the Hilton Waikoloa in Kona. -- Yogi family photo

Hundreds of students throughout Maui County wore white clothes Thursday in remembrance of a 16-year-old Maui High School student killed in a truck crash last week in Puunene.

The student’s family members and classmates identified the victim as Eryn Yogi of Pukalani. They remembered her as a kind, loving friend who accepted everyone she met.

“She was my best friend,” classmate Shamae Madrano said Friday. “I was honestly in disbelief because she was someone who was always a part of my life. I would see her every school day . . . I didn’t want to believe it.”

The crash occurred around 1 p.m. Tuesday when a pickup truck hit a utility pole on Hansen Road just north of Pulehu Road, police said. Yogi was the rear-seat passenger in the red 2014 Nissan Frontier truck that was traveling north on Hansen Road when it failed to negotiate a left bend in the roadway and hit a utility pole on the northbound shoulder.

The driver was a Kahului boy and his front-seat passenger was a Kihei boy, police said.

ERYN YOGI, Beloved daughter, sister, friend

Yogi suffered life-threatening injuries, however police did not identify her or confirm her death Friday. Police also did not identify the two boys or provide any update on their status.

Maui High juniors and other students rallied behind their classmate by creating the social media hashtag #whiteforeryn and posted photos and videos to express their love.

Yogi’s boyfriend, Clayton Gamit-Nava, said he came up with the idea the day after the crash, and in a Snapchat video asked classmates to wear white for Yogi. He said the video “blew up everywhere,” and the next day over 300 students came to school wearing white along with students at Baldwin, King Kekaulike, Lahainaluna, Lanai and a couple schools on Oahu.

“It just came together,” Gamit-Nava said. “I just sent out the message to wear white for her if you knew her or she impacted your life in some way.

“There was a lot of sadness going around, but I also felt the strength and love we have for her.”

Maui High School students dress in white and pose for a photo Thursday afternoon in remembrance of junior classmate Eryn Yogi. -- Yogi family photo

Maui High Principal Jamie Yap sent a letter to parents about the recent passing of a student that “deeply affected our school community.” He said counselors were available to assist students and school personnel by contacting administrative staff.

Maui High students gathered in the library Thursday for a counseling session and shared memories and videos of Yogi. After school, many students went to the crash site to erect a cross and place letters, flowers, candy and other gifts.

“I felt so happy and overwhelmed,” Madrano said. “Even if they didn’t know Eryn, they still showed love and support. I just wish Eryn was physically able to be there.”

Yogi’s family members were in tears from the love and support shown by the students and videos posted online. The family visited the school on Thursday to see students wearing white for their daughter.

“We didn’t realize how much friends she had,” father Terence Yogi said. “It’s amazing. It’s touching. These kids just came out of nowhere and all lined up and every single one of them gave us a hug. It was unreal.”

The father of two said Yogi, his youngest, only knew one person when she arrived on campus in her freshman year. He said she attended Iao and lived Upcountry, so she made friends with many students from other schools.

“Every single one of them had such positive words on how she impacted them, and we never knew about it,” he said. “She never boasted. She always put herself aside to make the other person feel better. She could never stand negativity, and she befriended people who didn’t have much friends. She didn’t care what people thought. She accepted them for who they were.”

Yogi had dreams of going to college and becoming a psychologist, her father said. He said she had texted her mother the morning before the accident about attending a college workshop and joining some clubs to improve her resume.

“She works very hard,” the father said. “If she wants something, she’ll work for it. She did it all on her own to research schools and majors. She knew how much schooling she needed. And in a day it’s all gone.”

Yogi’s mother, Diane, said her “whole world revolved around” the youngest daughter. She said she would pick up and drop off her daughter at school and was helping her get her hours to qualify for her driver’s license.

“We fought, of course, but in the end I always gave in because she was just my baby,” the mother said. “Oh my God, I miss her so much.”

The family plans to visit Japan next summer on a ski trip and had an appointment to get their passports the day of the crash. They now hope to bring a small portion of her ashes on the trip.

Yogi’s older sister, Tori, said her sister was “extremely beautiful and such a caring person.” She said her sister “didn’t deserve what happened to her” and wishes she was still here.

“She was always here for me anytime I needed her,” the sister said. “She was so wise for her age. I always thought she was so much smarter than me, much more independent and so much stronger. She had her bad days but showed so much love. Like all around for everyone no matter who it was.”

Yogi’s father said police were continuing to investigate the crash and were limited in what information they could share. He said he did not know the two boys in the car.

“We have our rough patches,” he said. “We have a lot of support from family and friends coming over. We’re trying to deal with it in the best way possible. We’re just waiting for answers from the Police Department.

“The police are being really supportive, and they release information when they can, but they’re limited in what they can tell us.”

The father said speed appeared to be a factor after seeing the damage to the truck and injuries to his daughter. He said he wanted to know why the truck was going so fast after a rainstorm.

“What was the rush?” he asked. “That’s the biggest question I want to ask. What was the reason you were driving that speed on a rainy day on slick roads?”

The father said he always taught his daughters to be “very cautious” and obey the rules of the road. He said he sees potential accidents on the road every day and many of them involve young people.

“I think all parents need to constantly remind their child about the safety and hazards that there are on the roads,” he said. “You’re not going to get there any faster. I think that’s something every parent should preach every day. Because if they don’t hear it every day, they’re going to forget.”

As of Friday, the Yogi family had not set a date for Eryn’s funeral because of an autopsy, but they plan to finalize arrangements Monday. The family plans to have a public funeral so Eryn’s classmates and others may attend.

“I know she was so loved, and I know a lot of people want to come and see her one last time,” Yogi’s mother said.

* Chris Sugidono can be reached at csugidono@mauinews.com.

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