‘This could have been prevented,’ hundreds mourn death of Courtney Raymond-Arakaki

DIAMOND HEAD, Hawaii (KHON2) — Three weeks ago, Courtney Raymond-Arakaki, 34, was killed after a neighbor reportedly rammed a front-loader into the home she and others were at, and began shooting.

The incident happened during a party where family members were in the carport. Raymond-Arakaki, Cherell Keamo and Jessyca Amasiu were killed.

Police said Hiram Silva got off the front loader and killed the three women with an unregistered firearm before Rishard Keamo-Carnate stopped him with his registered handgun. Prosecutors said they will not charge Keamo-Carnate and said it is a case of self-defense or defense of others.

On Sunday, hundreds of people wore Arakaki’s favorite color as they said goodbye to a life gone too soon.

“She lived such a full life, and she had so much more life to live and that’s what we mourn,” said her aunt Renee Arakaki.

Loved ones said Raymond-Arakaki and Wyman Keamo were together for six years.

“The Sunday before the incident was their six-year anniversary,” explained family friend George Akana. “She was everything to Wyman, she was his soul mate, she was everything he worked so hard for.”

“I really miss her a lot, she is one of a kind, you cannot find that kind of person like her, she’s our heart,” said Wyman’s sister Zillah Keamo-Salsido.

“I hope her life, and the role she played in this will have some kind of positive outcome for not just her family and the Keamo’s but also the greater community, and bring some kind of awareness or some kind of action,” Renee Arakaki added.

Patti Kahanamoku Teruya is the former Waianae-Nanakuli neighborhood board chair and said she has received many complaints about activities at the neighboring Silva property.

“This could have been prevented,” she said. “A lot of things in Waianae can be prevented, if it was taken seriously with the numerous complaints of what was going on with the illegal structure, the illegal parties in 2021 during Covid, we wouldn’t be here today, we could have saved lives.”

She said the Keamo family is concerned because the structure at the neighboring home is still there.

“It is an illegal structure on agricultural land, so it should be taken down immediately and not be used,” she added.

Many community members and leaders helped with the funeral and celebration of life; whether it was donating food, time, parking or support.

“This whole situation could have been avoided had the government done their job appropriately and listened to the complaints that were filed and followed through with them,” said Rep. Diamond Garcia (R) Varona Village, Ewa and Kapolei.

“I’m hoping from this situation that city and state officials will actually enforce the law, and hold lessees accountable, if you’re on ag land you should be doing ag, and not turning a profit for yourself on state land,” he added.

After the incident, police chief Joe Logan said the previous incidents at the property were under review.

Many people said they wanted to show how peaceful the celebration of life was on Sunday, and how easy it is to go through the proper channels, get the proper permits, permission and insurance to host a safe event.

“This wasn’t a Waianae thing, this was a result of having guns in the wrong hands,” Akana added. “We know both families and if the warning signs were there, they probably should have addressed it sooner.”

“Today starts the healing process, this is how we do it responsibly, and it can be done. I never want to see this happen again,” he concluded.