As darkness fell over Chinatown, more than 500 Honolulu Police Department officers and other law enforcement people from around the state formed a sea of blue along Maunakea Street tonight as they waited to pay last respects to officer Eric Charles Fontes.

Fontes, 45, died Sept. 13 when he was struck by a pickup truck beside Farrington Highway near Ko Olina while assisting another officer during a routine traffic stop.

About 1,000 people attended the funeral service at Borthwick Mortuary for the officer described repeatedly as deeply spiritual and an inspiration.