Honeymooner from Japan killed in Hawaii motorbike crash

Just a little FYI ... there was another fatal motorcycle crash last night here on Oahu. And he wasn't wearing his helmet ...

**Yet, how are you so sure that the lack of helmets was responsible for the death? How quickly are you to judge?

The piece quotes that they crashed into a guardrail, so who is to say she didnt die of internal abdominal bleeding or a broken neck?

Thank you pseudo-coroners. Instead of properly investigating the reason behind her death - lets rely on a tabloid piece and point our oh-so veracious fingers!**

How do you know that the lack of helmets wasn't responsible for the death? How quickly are you to judge?

Helmets save lives. In this case, is may have saved one. You're right, we don't know but the fact that it was mentioned in the article allows us to assume that perhaps if they had helmets, one wouldn't be dead. How quick you are to look for an argument. Fact is, plenty of bike deaths could be saved by helmets. Not wearing on is silly - and in some cases, deadly.

It makes you think...what should have been the happiest time of their life is now their worst. Life is so fragile and short.

Whatever the case or cause... its sad story.

No helmets?? Foolish couple.

Quite unfortunate. I don't think Hawaii should change their laws, but the Harley rental companies (i don't think they were renting a scooter) should be more cautious for their customers and advise them in renting helmets, and rent them out for free. Also I hope that they do inspect their bikes regularly. A tire burst can end lives very quickly crash helmet or not.

Coming from one of those silly states that doesn't have a helmet law, I appreciated the choice. Japan doesn't require eye protection on a motorcycle, which I find ridiculous. Helmets can also save lives in car accidents, but I don't see anyone lobbying for that.

smithinjapanFEB. 19, 2012 - 06:37PM JST Learned the hard way that they were idiots, I guess. All the same, RIP. Hope the husband recovers and has learned his lesson.

And you must be God's spokesman ? :) For Christ's sake this young newlywed couple can't get anything worse than what's just happened to them. The guy has just lost his wife.

Were they wearing helmets or not, that's too late now. The wife is dead and the husband is in critical condition. Maybe he won't make it too! Don't be too quick to judge others. Karma is a B and everyone ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, mixed with a bit of stupidity sometimes. No one is perfect. RIP newlyweds

Yes, US and Japan need stricter safety laws......but really, why? If people have a choice to protect themselves or risk death, why do they choose the latter? If there was more common sense, we would need less laws like helmet laws, home alone laws, etc.

This is the 2nd fatal motorcycle crash in Oahu since I've been here (only 2.5 months) ... The laws in Hawaii are ridiculous, but I do see people wearing their helmets occasionally. It is a personal choice, but one I will never understand. Very sad that this happened, but why why why would you ride a motorcycle on a highway, without a helmet?

DentShop: "Yet, how are you so sure that the lack of helmets was responsible for the death? How quickly are you to judge?"

So go ahead and prove to us it was NOT because she moronically decided not to wear a helmet. Better yet, advertise how you think it's okay not to protect yourself because you might die anyway. Aw, but let me guess... YOU would always wear a helmet b-b-b-b-ut that's maybe not why this woman died, right?

True, some die regardless of wearing helmets or not (and we won't get into motorcycle death stats vs. car), but the fact remains that helmets are precautionary and the woman might still be alive if she and her idiot husband had thought about their lives instead of having a cheap thrill and then crashing into a guardrail.

Poor guy... going to have to live the rest of his life knowing that if only he and his wife had put on helmets she may still be alive and they may still have a future. As it is, she has none and this man has no future with her. Next time wear a helmet, lad.

Plenty of people die in motorcycle accidents who are wearing helmets. It's a very important safety measure, but it is not some magical forcefield. Some people die in motorcycle accidents from head injuries while wearing a good helmet. It's an inherently dangerous activity, helmet or not. That said, I would absolutely wear a helmet to somewhat mitigate the risk.

HI does not have a helmet law and most motorcycle riders do not wear helmets. People may also ride in the beds of pick-up trucks. HI police enforce seatbelt laws and even have advertisements on TV insisting on seatbelt usage, which is a very good thing of course. It's also a bit silly considering that sitting in the bed of a truck is perfectly legal and quite common.

LH10: "ppl judge so quick..."

It is sad, isn't it? As for judging quick -- yes, it's pretty easy to judge, not assume or infer, they were plain stupid for not wearing helmets. Do you not think so? Were they less stupid because one of them is dead?

i agree with u mr/ms DentShop ^^ ppl judge so quick...

omg this is so sad T.T RIP darling 'cry' hey i don't wear a helmet.^,^..all u haters.

Helmets are like condoms. Everyone knows they should wear one, but if it is not law they won't. There is no way I would get on a motorcycle without a helmet! The same can be said for condoms, but I don't wear them riding motorcycles. :D

so sad...honeymoon couple..celebrating their marriage and life.. RIP hope the guy recovers..but he will have to live with the memory and regret of not protecting himself and his wife by wearing helmets

This is sad, sad, sad. Yes, they should have been wearing Helmets and protective gear. The only thing we can say at this point is "if only." If there are no helmet laws in Hawaii there ought to be.

I've made lots of mistakes, but none that I died from, nor got people killed, thankfully. That is the result of not doing such stupid things as not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle, drinking and driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or the myriad of other stories we hear about people dying because they simply didn't want to take basic precautions. A person is dead because two people were too stupid to bother to take their safety into account over a bit of fun. The husband deserves to know, for the rest of his life, that this all may have been avoided had they taken that little precaution. May not have looked quite as cool, and may have felt a bit uncomfortable (less than being in the hospital or dead is my guess, but hey), but it may have saved his new bride's life.

That said you seem to think I'm not saddened by the loss of life. I am. But the fact remains they more or less brought it on themselves.

No rental of bikes or scooters should be allowed without a helmet being mandatory. This is also the fault of the state.

bookowls: "My guess is they were simply following local laws and other rider style. While I can't agree that not wearing a helmet is okay, I think it's a given that the husband doesn't need you to point the finger!"

Obviously he does need a finger pointed at him. Bring him to me and I'll gladly point that out to him. Does he 'need' it, as in he's not suffered enough? No. Does he deserve it? yes. It doesn't say in the story, but my guess is he was driving and she was riding on the back -- so he unintentionally murdered her. I don't care if you find that harsh and/or insulting, if they had worn helmets she would possibly still be alive and their honeymoon not so tragic.

They have helmet laws, but they differ by state and on the size of the motorcycle/scooter, as well as where you are driving. Hawaii DOES have helmet laws, but they are not extensive and only cover people up to 17.

Still amazes me that some states still don't have helmet laws. These two learned the hard way the reality of the situation. I remember a few years back Gary Busey cracked his head open on pavement after being one of the biggest opponents of such laws. Idiocy plain and simple.

If I remember correctly, HI still allows people to ride in the back of a truck bed also. I know some may see it as encroaching on a "Nanny State" but they really need to do something about this. Even if that means that before you rent a motorcycle, and you don't have a HI driver's license you must wear a helment. Same goes for those people on scooters in Wai Kiki.

RIP to the family but come on, helmets people!

Yet, how are you so sure that the lack of helmets was responsible for the death? How quickly are you to judge?

The piece quotes that they crashed into a guardrail, so who is to say she didnt die of internal abdominal bleeding or a broken neck?

Thank you pseudo-coroners. Instead of properly investigating the reason behind her death - lets rely on a tabloid piece and point our oh-so veracious fingers!

Man that sucks!! Go all the way to have a terrible accident. RIP and aloha no joke since aloha also can mean sayonara.

RIP to the family but come on, helmets people!

Still amazes me that some states still don't have helmet laws. These two learned the hard way the reality of the situation. I remember a few years back Gary Busey cracked his head open on pavement after being one of the biggest opponents of such laws. Idiocy plain and simple.

Kam H-way goes around much of Oahu with Farrington H-way taking up the rest. Kaawa is a nice little town and is somewhat windy area and a problem when it rains, especially because that area has many winding narrow roads with many slippery areas, often caused by small streams or by running water after the rain. It also has a lot of small traffic jams since the drivers in the area have only a few areas that allow overtaking and passing. It is the same road that takes the big buses to Polynesian Cultural center, so traffic can be heavy.

But most of all that area is one of the most beautiful spots on Oahu. It is not far from the famed Jurassic park movie location and the Lost series locations.

Sad that the accident did happen. My condolences to the family. I wish and pray for the husband's healthy recovery.

Typical comment from smithinjapan - you really should tone down your insults of people, whether they are in the right or not. My guess is they were simply following local laws and other rider style. While I can't agree that not wearing a helmet is okay, I think it's a given that the husband doesn't need you to point the finger!

I work as a wedding minister here part-time, and a young couple I did a service for recently were going to Hawaii for their Honeymoon…I pray they are safe. Moderator, will you update us on their hometown/living area in Japan if and when you get that info? Thank you.

Sad. The grief the family is feeling is unimaginable. Anybody hear about the cause of the accident?

"A supervisor with the Department of Emergency Medical Services says the newlyweds were not wearing helmets."

Learned the hard way that they were idiots, I guess. All the same, RIP. Hope the husband recovers and has learned his lesson.

helmets people.

At the very least, when riding a motorcycle, wear a helmet. Don't wear protection and you're just an idiot tempting death. While I have no sympathy for mistakes like this, RIP, and may people learn from your mistake.

Always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.

Kam HWY is a dangerous road, especially with the strong wind in the winter. Even the most experience riders get knocked off their bikes.

been my observation sine i started riding motorcycles that the only people that take protective gear seriously in japan are people that ride motorcycles in a professional manner(sport and delivery), middle aged men, and those on seriously powerful sportbikes. most everyone once else in japan wears a helmet not suited for riding a bicycle. they wear it poorly. they ride in shorts, sandals, tee shirts. while tragic their death/injuries could have been significantly reduced or eliminated by wearing full face helmets, leathers, gloves, boots.

RIP dead honeymooner, too bad your groom didnt wear a skid lid and make you wear one too.

shoulda coulda woulda been wearing helmutz. rip

That's a dangerous stretch of road, even for cars. Too bad Hawaii refuses to pass a helmet law.

What a sad thing for the families, who accompanied them to Hawaii... :-(

What a heartbreaker for the families.

R.I.P dead newlywed.

No helmets! They sure tried to live dangerously. Oh well, too late now ...