Wailuku woman sentenced to jail in dirt bike death

where he was pronounced dead.

According to his obituary published in the Hawaii Catholic Herald, Kaahanui belonged to a six-member community of his Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on topside Molokai and was a religious brother for 48 years.

In court Friday, Miranda said it was the first time she had driven the bike, and she was surprised when she tried to stop the bike, and it wouldn’t stop.

Judge Loo noted that the owner said he had told Miranda that the bike didn’t have brakes.

Although Miranda told police she hadn’t consumed drugs or alcohol, tests showed otherwise, Loo said.

She said Miranda set in motion the chain of events that led to Kaahanui’s death.

“He was just walking,” Loo said. “But for your actions that day, he would probably still be alive.”

Miranda, who has already served nearly a year of the jail term, said she wanted to attend a long-term drug treatment program on Oahu.

She has been accepted into that program, said Deputy Public Defender Danielle Sears.

Judge Loo said Miranda could ask that the remainder of her jail term be temporarily suspended if she decides to participate in the program. Miranda also could opt to remain in jail until there is space for her in another treatment program on Oahu, or she could serve the remainder of the jail term, Loo said.

As part of her probation, Miranda was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to write a letter apologizing to Kaahanui’s family.

Her driver’s license was revoked for three years.

Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.