WAI'ANAE — A crowd estimated at more than 1,000 people packed the Wai'anae High School cafeteria last night for a candlelight vigil for Asa Yamashita, the school's reading strategies coach and former English teacher who was stabbed to death Friday.

Friends, teachers, current and former students and even total strangers spilled out of the standing-room-only cafeteria, some listening to the celebration of Yamashita's life from outside, standing next to the building's windows.

"We just want people to know that Asa was more than a nice person," said curriculum support employee Kat Muranaka, one of Yamashita's closest friends at the school. Muranaka was among those who spoke at the vigil to say Yamashita was part of the entire school family.

"And, when you lose a member of your family, you as a family need to come together and support each other," Muranaka said.

Police said Yamashita, 43, was stabbed in what appears to be a random attack at the Ewa Town Center about 1:30 p.m. Friday as she was sitting on a concrete bench eating saimin. She died less than an hour later at Hawaii Medical Center West.

She is survived by her husband Bryan, a teacher at Nanakuli High School, and daughters Katie and Tori.

Bryan Yamashita attended the vigil with his daughters. He thanked the gathering for their care and concern and said people can honor his wife's memory by reading a book, or doing something to make a positive change.

"I know it's really hard and that you are all hurting," Yamashita said. "But I'm here to tell you tonight, please, don't be angry. You've got to let it go because it's not going to bring her back."

The vigil began at 7 p.m. At 8:15 the cafeteria lights were dimmed and people lit candles while the Faith Hill song "There You'll Be" played. A video tribute to Asa Yamashita, produced by the school's Searider Productions, was shown, followed by a short video clip of Asa Yamashita talking about her passion for teaching.

When the program was over, people lingered to talk, hug and light candles at the base of the school's flag pole. Bryan Yamashita said he would stay to talk to everyone he could.

Asa Yamashita had touched many in the community, and last night there were both tears and laughter among the many who attended.

Justine Campos, 20, graduated from the Wai'anae High in 2006 and now attends the University of Hawai'i. Like many, she said she learned to love reading from Yamashita as a freshman English student in 2002.

"She was so much fun," said Campos. "She made boring subjects very interesting.

Campos said that even in her later grades, when she no longer had Yamashita as a teacher, "She went around campus picking on everyone — making sure they were still reading. She never let up. ... She inspired me to write. Her story breaks my heart every time I see it."

DEDICATED 'WORKAHOLIC'

Mae Oshiro, a 10th-grade English and literacy teacher, another of Yamashita's closest friends, described her as someone utterly dedicated to motivating teachers to motivate students to want to read.

Yamashita could accomplish more in one day than others could in two, she said. Yet, she was always pleasant, and never too busy to assist anyone who walked through her door.

"She was a workaholic," said Oshiro. "But she did have that other side of her. She was fun."

Standing only 4 feet 9, Yamashita could be joyful and intimidating at the same time. People might underestimate her at first because of her diminutive size, said Oshiro. Yet, later they would stand in awe of her.

One irony Oshiro thinks might have touched and pleased Yamashita is how tragedy has brought people closer together. Oshiro said she tried to console Yamashita's husband, Bryan, only to have him end up consoling her.

Several teachers came to console Oshiro, only to have her end up consoling them. Everybody's trying to console everyone, she said.

Police arrested Tittleman Fauatea, 25, not far from where Yamashita was stabbed near the corner of Fort Weaver and Geiger Roads moments after they responded to 911 calls. Fauatea did not resist. Police later charged him with second-degree murder.

Police retrieved a knife thought to be the murder weapon on Geiger Road, directly across the street from the shopping center. Police believe Fauatea bought the knife at Longs Drugs at the shopping center shortly before the stabbing.

Neither police nor those who know Yamashita have been able to find any connection between Yamashita and Fauatea.

Fauatea's preliminary hearing in District Court is scheduled for today.