The security guard involved in a traffic-related incident that occurred last week at Pohoiki Beach Park has been identified by his employer, RMT Enterprise Security, as 61-year-old Earl Ranker.
“Earl is very friendly and cares about people and is very lovable,” said RMT Enterprise Security owner Reynolds Kamakawiwo‘ole. “He worked there when Pohoiki was in prime condition. He knows a lot about the area when it comes to the site.”
Kamakawiwo‘ole said Ranker is married and has a daughter in the area, and that he would be meeting with Ranker’s family soon to receive an update about his current condition.
“Overall, he’s still critical in the ICU” (at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu), Kamakawiwo‘ole said. “They’re still watching him. He’s just trying to survive.”
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on April 4, and Ranker was found near the park entrance.
Hawaii Police Department detectives spoke with a witness who reported that after the incident occurred, a red pickup truck with either pipe packs or a metal dog cage was seen leaving the area without its headlights illuminated.
It is believed the truck hit another parked vehicle and Ranker.
Kamakawiwo‘ole finds the circumstances suspicious and hopes that the community comes forward to share more information.
“This didn’t feel like a mere accident. This felt like somebody knew what they were doing,” Kamakawiwo‘ole said. “Earl is 61 years old, he’s not a young kid. He’s very friendly. He backs off, so I don’t see him getting involved with anything, but somehow, in some fashion, something happened, and he was there, and they took him down.”
He added the incident should serve as a wakeup call for the area, which has struggled with security problems in the past.
“Pohoiki has always had a certain amount of problems there,” Kamakawiwo‘ole said. “You look into what they’re doing down there sometimes — drink or do drugs, whatever — they gotta wake up and respect how important that area really is, that a beautiful beach was made.”
Police are asking anyone who may have information related to the case to contact the police department’s Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit at (808) 961-2391 or the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.
“I lost a great man, and I’m hoping that he gets well, because I want to hear him say to me what happened,” said Kamakawiwo‘ole. “And we pray and are asking the public to pray for Earl, pray for him, and find who did this. We must learn how to love and respect each other, that’s what the answer is.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.