PUHI — It’s been four years since the passing of Keanu “Pocho Prince” Saito, and his ‘ohana is honoring him again by giving back to students at Kaua‘i Community College.
His mother, Desaray Saito-Brown, said the Wai‘ale‘ale Project will be having an online Zoom session to welcome new students Wednesday, Aug 11.
“Keanu passed away on Aug. 27, 2017. He would have been 24 years old this year,” Saito-Brown said. “We will honor his memory in giving back to the Wai‘ale‘ale Project with 15 gift certificates and a few Walmart gift cards so students can get some supplies for college.”
Saito-Brown said the students of this program will be able to win prizes each week until Oct. 31, on Halloween, Keanu’s favorite holiday.
“I also prepared a short video for the students about Keanu, our ‘ohana and a message about making good choices (including) positive feelings, thoughts and emotions, domestic violence and mental-health resources to reach out to here on campus and in our community,” Saito-Brown said.
Saito-Brown said her son loved animals big and small as a child. Growing up, Keanu raised dogs, a pig, rabbits, chickens, fish and birds.
“Always taking care of them. He enjoyed the ocean and mountains. He also enjoyed swimming, paddling a canoe, and he was an excellent photographer too,” Saito-Brown said.
Keanu played high-school football and paddled for Kapa‘a High School. He was an all-star on a 2014-15 crew. After graduation in 2015, he attended KCC, taking up the Wai‘ale‘ale Project, where he was an aspiring photographer.
Brother Ali’i Brown recently graduated from the Wai‘ale’ale Project this year with his associated degree in liberal arts and, according to Saito-Brown, he will be continuing his education in communication on the mainland this fall.
Larry Brown, Keanu’s younger brother, is a seventh-grader at Kapa‘a Middle school.
“My message would be is it’s all about life’s choices,” Saito-Brown said. “Being a mother who has lost Keanu, my life and my heart will never be the same, but with the Lord’s strength, here I am with my choice to continue to go on in this beautiful world every day to make a difference in a positive way and help others who feel they have no hope in life when they are faced with losing a loved one or just want to give up on life. No one is perfect, and some choices are permanent.”
Saito-Brown would like Keanu’s life to be remembered for how he lived each day and how, even faced with his passing, the ‘ohana have unconditional love.
“To continue to believe in all the beautiful things this world has to offer and learn how to live without Keanu until we meet again,” Saito-Brown said.
