A wooden utility pole in Kalihi adorned with photos of Thomas Laikupu, a teddy bear, flowers and balloons is a touching roadside memorial to "Papa Kupu," who enjoyed life and is not forgotten.

Laikupu, 75, was run down while crossing the street near his apartment at 607 N. King St. shortly after midnight Aug. 25 by a motorist who didn't stop to help the injured man. He died at The Queen's Medical Center, the fifth hit-and-run fatality on O'ahu this year.

Police recovered at the scene the right-front light assembly of a light-colored 1991-94 Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth or possibly GMC minivan, presumed to be the vehicle that hit Laikupu. The vehicle should also have damage to its grill, hood and windshield, police said.

CrimeStoppers has issued two bulletins seeking the public's help in locating the van and identifying the driver, but as of yesterday vehicular homicide investigators had made no arrests.

Honolulu police have investigated 17 failure-to-render-aid or hit-and-run cases this year, not all of them resulting in a fatality or critical injury, said department spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii. There were 27 cases in 2005 and 12 in 2004, Fujii said.

Sgt. Michael Brede, a veteran HPD vehicular homicide investigator, said hit-and-run investigations require a lot of footwork, and police will follow up on all tips from the public.

"Once we've exhausted all leads, it comes down to the public giving us information we can follow up on," Brede said. "The public gives us eyes at every corner; they're invaluable to us. I'd like to think most people would do the right thing and come forward."

Laikupu's family, meanwhile, is without closure and struggles to accept the loss of their loved one.

"We're still in mourning," said Audrey Abraham, Laikupu's niece. "I'm still in shock, just trying to cope with the loss. He was a happy-go-lucky man who loved kids."

Laikupu was a retired operating engineer with Local No. 3, and left behind a son, a hanai daughter and seven grandchildren.

Abraham is more deeply hurt than angry at what happened.

"I think you would expect a person to stop and give aid," she said.

Relatives, many of whom are on the Neighbor Islands, are planning his service and a scattering of ashes at sea.

The other hit-and-run fatalities on O'ahu this year are: Ramika Roy, 63, who was killed Jan. 14 shortly before 5 a.m. on Farrington Highway near Ma'aloa Street in Nanakuli; Betty Santiago, 86, struck in a crosswalk on Nimitz Highway near Kmart in Iwilei on Jan. 17; bicyclist Martin Bux, 44, who was struck by a pickup truck at 1:20 a.m. on May 22 on Farrington Highway near Akowai Road in Nanakuli; and moped operator Juan Carvallo, 27, who was involved in a collision June 8 on Kamehameha Highway near Helemano.

On the Big Island, pedestrian Erwin Lauronal, 19, was killed in a hit-and-run on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway on May 4.

Jatios Jatios, 21, is charged with second-degree negligent homicide and failure to render aid in the Santiago case. Jury trial is scheduled to start the week of Oct. 16, according to Jim Fulton of the prosecuting attorney's office.

Jatios, who is free on $40,000 bail, turned himself in to police on Jan. 20.

He has prior traffic offenses that include speeding, driving under the influence, and having no auto insurance.

Failure to render aid in cases involving death or serious bodily injury carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine.

Hit-and-run accidents leave lasting scars and expenses on victim families.

Dayton Wago, 14, was 3 years old when a motorcyclist ran over him on Jan. 28, 1996, in front of his Bell Street home in Waimanalo.

Dayton has a metal plate in his skull as a result of his injury.

"I'm still, like, scared when I hear a motorcycle," said Dayton, a Kailua High School freshman who is a volleyball player.

His father, Vance, died in July without knowing who injured his son that Super Bowl Sunday, leaving the family with huge medical expenses.

"It makes me mad that (the motorcyclist) just left me there," Dayton said. "It's not right. Maybe I could forgive if he had stopped and helped. It's caused us a lot of pain. But I feel fortunate to be alive."

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.