Family Stories
For more than 30 years, Legacy of Life Hawai'i has been blessed to work with thousands of donor families and transplant recipients across the islands. Many of them have shared their personal stories here to inspire others to register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. These stories celebrate the individual lives of donor heroes and the healing power of donation. Life is worth giving!
Steven Ginoza
Organ Donor
To his family and friends, Steven was an outgoing and active 28-year old, a beloved son and brother, a gift. To the transplant recipients whose lives he saved, he is a hero.
A civil engineer at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Steven was a kind and generous man who gave back in my ways. Steven continued on with his giving spirit by becoming an organ donor after a tragic accident took his life. Steven's gift touched the lives of four people when they became recipients of his heart, kidneys and his liver.
Lokelani M.Y. Kruse
Organ & Tissue Donor
Lokelani had a sparkle in her eyes and a beautiful smile. She was a precious daughter and a cherished older sister. She loved to play volleyball and practice both ballet and tap dancing. Lokelani had many friends and a big heart.
When an auto accident took Lokelani's life in 1998, she saved the lives of two people through organ donation, and through cornea donation, she restored sight to two others. Lokelani touched many lives in her short lifetime; her gift is touching the lives of others.
Randall Crisanto Guadiz, Sr.
Organ Donor
To his family and friends, Randall Guadiz was a fun, loving and caring 41-year-old. A beloved husband, father of three beautiful children, son and brother, Randall was also a gift to the two transplant recipients whose lives he saved. He is a hero in their eyes. Randall's life was cut short in a motorcycle accident in July 2012. Because of Randall's generous kidney donation, two others received a second chance at life. He will always be cherished and dearly missed by his family and friends.
Corey Tumpap
Organ Donor
Cory Tumpap was a hero although he will never know it.
Cory was a 15 year-old high school student from Wailuku on Maui. He was an athlete, artist, lover of video games and paintball. He had many friends and a full life ahead of him when he died suddenly from an asthma attack. Cory made the decision to be an organ donor when he signed up for his driver’s permit. He saved the lives of four people in Hawaii because of his generous donation.
Abraham Reinhardt
Organ Donor
Abraham Reinhardt of Maui was just finishing up an all-star football career at Dixie State University in Utah, when he passed away suddenly from hypotremia, a rare condition. A graduate of Baldwin High School in Wailuku on Maui, Abraham was beloved by many and is remembered as a true hero. As an organ donor, he saved the lives of five others.
Jonathan Pons
Eye & Tissue Donor
Jonathan Pons had a sweet heart and a gentle soul. Born in Marseille, France, Jonathan moved to Oahu with his mother when he was a young child to be close to 'Ohana. Jonathan had big dreams and knew he had to set goals for himself in order to achieve those dreams. After high school, he left Hawaii to attend the United Technical Institute in Arizona where he worked hard to accomplish his dream of becoming a certified automotive and diesel mechanic.
Bronson 'Duke' Nainoa De Rego
Eye & Organ Donor
Bronson from the island of Hawai‘i became an organ donor after a senseless tragedy took his life. Duke or “Dukie” as he was called by family and friends, was the youngest of seven children. He enjoyed life to the fullest, was always happy and smiling, and loved helping others.
A freshman at Honoka‘a High School, he played junior varsity football and looked forward to trying out for the junior varsity baseball team. He is remembered as the true hero of his family. Duke’s gift of kidneys and liver saved the lives of three people, and his donated cornea gave sight to two others.
In the midst of great personal tragedy, Duke’s parents were able to look beyond their sadness and bless other people with Duke’s gift of organ and eye donation.
Kekoa Nelson
Organ & Tissue Donor
Kekoa loved life. His big smile and his big bright eyes will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him. He was a very likable child, a great storyteller and a charmer.
His favorite pastime was hanging out with his friends, his brother Kawika and his dad. He loved the ocean, riding his bike and rollerblading. Kekoa was a gifted child who excelled in math and loved his friends and family. He dreamed big dreams of one day being an astronomer. Kekoa’s life was cut short, but he blessed the lives of others he never knew through his precious gift of kidneys, lungs, and heart valves.
Sarah Rosenberg
Organ, Eye & Tissue Donor
Sarah was a 17-year-old student at Kealakehe High School, where she was student body president and active in water polo, swimming, cross-country, and track. Her giving nature was an inspiration to others, and the spirit of her generosity continued after her sudden death in 2005.
In an essay she had written for her National Honor Society scholarship, Sarah wrote: “I am the one to whom much was given. Much may be expected of me, and I may be obliged to give back. But I don’t see giving as an obligation or an expectation. Giving back is a part of my nature.”
Because of Sarah’s generous donation, four people who would have otherwise died were given a second chance. Her donation also provided two people with the gift of sight, and an ailing youngster with a heart valve which has saved that child from future heart complications.