A woman who died Sunday after a New Year’s Eve fireworks mishap was identified Monday as 38-year-old Liona Spencer of Kapolei.
Her partner, Keoki Medeiros, 36, was also injured and remained hospitalized Monday. The couple have a 16-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son.
Honolulu police detectives are continuing to investigate the fatal fireworks accident. Fire officials said the two suffered from “flash-related burn injuries.”
Relatives of Medeiros said he remains under intensive care but is doing fine, said environmentalist Carroll Cox, who was asked to convey a statement that identified the couple.
“She was known for cracking jokes, being reliable under pressure, and being a caring and kind person,” the statement from the “Grace Ohana” said. “Although she died due to a tragic accident, she did so after … living a vibrant life full of amazing moments. … She will be greatly missed.”
The incident happened in front of Pinky Tows at 91-229 Komohana St. in Kapolei, where Medeiros works.
Spencer, who was also known as “Ona,” was operations manager for next-door Paradise Lua, according to Nanakuli resident Patty Teruya, who described herself as a family friend.
Both companies are owned by George Grace III, who is Medeiros’ uncle.
Teruya called Spencer’s death tragic. “She was so young, beautiful and bubbly,” she said.
“She practically ran Paradise Lua,” Teruya said, adding that she helped provide portable toilets and restroom trailers for various West Oahu charity functions, and was also involved in other ways with nonprofits in the region.
The Honolulu Fire Department said it received a call for a medical emergency at the Komohana Street address at 12:08 a.m. Sunday, and arrived to find bystanders performing CPR on Spencer.
Honolulu police said she died a little after 1 a.m.
Spencer and Medeiros had been together since high school and were planning to get married this year, said Teruya, who is also a member of the Nanakuli/Maili Neighborhood Board.
The statement read:
“This is a difficult time for us as Liona was not only an integral part of our companies but our family as well. She was an incredibly kind, fun-loving and dependable member of the Grace Ohana.
“Liona, along with her longtime partner, Keoki Medeiros, worked for the family business. She graduated from Waipahu High School and attended Heald College for a career in the travel industry. She came to work for us in the late 90s and helped to develop and grow our companies from the ground up. During that time, she and Keoki raised two wonderful children while being involved in every aspect of the business … from the simplest tasks to the greatest whether it was answering phones or running a full-scale operation. As a daughter, sister, mother and partner, family meant everything to her.”
Police opened an investigation as an illegal fireworks case, but no arrests or citations had been issued Monday.
With the exception of firecrackers, a 2010 city ordinance made the use of fireworks — from sparklers to aerials — illegal on Oahu.
Outside of formal fireworks displays, only firecrackers are allowed for public use on specific holidays, including New Year’s Eve. A permit is required to purchase firecrackers and for this New Year’s holiday were only available through Dec. 21 at a cost of $25 each for up to 5,000 firecrackers.
Staff writer Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.
