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An Argentinian man, who had relocated to Hawaii for work, tragically lost his life after being brutally assaulted on one of the state’s most iconic beaches.
The victim, 50-year-old Christian Alejandro Coronel, a father of three, was residing at the Waikiki Beach Hostel when he was unexpectedly attacked by a stranger on November 8.
Following the incident, Coronel’s family, including his two daughters, son, and ex-wife Maria Quiroga, traveled to Hawaii the day after the attack to be by his side.
Coronel succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead on the evening of November 12, as confirmed by his eldest daughter, 29-year-old Micaela Coronel, during an interview with the Star Advertiser.
The suspect, 43-year-old Ishmael Piula Luavasa, was apprehended shortly after the assault. Initially charged with attempted murder on November 12, the charge was elevated to second-degree murder by Honolulu police once Coronel passed away.
Luavasa is currently being held without bail. If convicted, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Coronel had moved to Waikiki less than a month earlier to start work as a window glazier and hoped to bring his children to join him once he was settled.
He grew up in poverty in Argentina and began working at the age of eight. Despite his difficult beginnings, he later built a home from the ground up for his family in Washington and continued to send financial aid back to his family even after leaving his home country.
Christian Coronel, 50, was killed in an unprovoked attack while working in Waikiki, Hawaii
Ishmael Piula Luavasa, 43, was arrested in connection to the attack
He, his wife, and Micaela became U.S. citizens. His younger children, Ariana, 24, and Sebastian, 16, were born in the States. Micaela and Ariana said they were proud of the life he gave them.
Quiroga said Coronel was rebuilding his life after their divorce and wanted to give his children ‘a better life.’
She added, ‘It’s devastating someone took that away. He was loving and had a huge heart.’
Micaela Coronel said the family stayed by his side until he was taken for organ donation surgery.
Hospital staff lined the halls for an honor walk, playing his favorite song, Lady Gaga’s ‘Alejandro.’
‘Alejandro was his middle name and I guess he was going by it as his first name in Hawaii. Everybody told us that he was playing that song all day every day,’ she told Star Advertiser.
The family received support throughout their stay from the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii (VASH). Jessica Lani Rich, CEO of VASH, and longtime volunteer Bob Gentry provided the family with lodging, lodging transportation, and access to grief support services.
‘It gave them tremendous comfort that he was giving someone else another chance at life,’ said Rich, who was with the family during their father’s honor walk.
Coronel’s two daughters, son, and ex-wife, Maria Quiroga, flew to Hawaii the day after the attack
Coronel had moved to Waikiki less than a month earlier to start work as a window glazier
Quiroga said the family faces a long road ahead, including returning his ashes home and seeking justice.
‘We also have a whole couple of years of waiting for trial and court,’ Quiroga said. ‘We are not going to let go of this. We want to see justice made for him and for us.’
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with expenses.