Days after an alleged drunken driver was involved in a crash that killed his 17-month-old daughter and left his wife with critical injuries, Kona resident Wayne Braden vowed to not let another person lose their life to a drunken driver.

Sitting outside The Queen's Medical Center, where his wife, 24-year-old Mayvelyn, was being treated for her injuries, Braden yesterday struggled to keep his composure as he talked about his late daughter, Aliyah.

"She was a climber," Braden said. "She loved bananas and would eat through the rind of an orange to get to the pulp. She didn't like avocados or tomatoes.

"She had fat little legs and was feisty like her mom."

Braden said his wife, Mayvelyn, was about 12 miles from home on her way to the Fun Factory at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with her daughter to meet friends for a play date when the collision occurred.

Police arrested Valereen P. Kaleohano-Knittle, 49, on suspicion of manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. She was released without charges pending further investigation.

Kaleohano-Knittle was convicted in 1988 for driving under the influence.

Big Island police also are asking a witness who identified himself only as "Lambert" and any other potential witnesses to call Officer Marvin Troutman at 326-4646, ext. 229, or call the police department non-emergency line at 935-3311.

From 2001 to 2006, Hawai'i County had three times as many traffic fatalities as O'ahu, said Carol McNamee, founder of the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawai'i founder. About 60 percent of the traffic fatalities were alcohol-related on the Big Island, McNamee said. By comparison, 50 percent of O'ahu's traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.

"Education combined with enforcement and strengthened laws working in tandem is what we need to do there," McNamee said. "Setting up more frequent check points and publicizing them would help. Those are all great deterrents. The Big Island is so huge, they probably need more manpower."

McNamee said MADD recently reopened a Hilo office and hopes that funds will enable the organization to expand its outreach.

Mayvelyn Braden is a department manager at the Kona Wal-Mart store, while Wayne Braden works the graveyard shift as a security guard at the Sheraton Keauhou Resort.

"Wayne was very proud and very much a caretaker of his daughter," Art Braden, Wayne Braden's brother, told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, the Hilo newspaper. "He worked a midnight shift and Mayvelyn worked a day shift. So these two worked kind of a tag team with the kid instead of putting her in day care."

Art Braden said his brother and sister-in-law met through their church, with her aunt introducing them.

Wayne Braden said his wife is doing well and is currently listed in fair condition. She is aware that Aliyah was killed, he said. At the time of the accident, he said, she was wearing a seatbelt and his daughter was strapped into a car seat.

"She has survivor's guilt right now," Braden said. "My wife is a mother.

Braden said he has called MADD and pledged his efforts to curtail drunken driving. "I plan to make changes so no one else has to die by a drunk driver," he said.