Kahaluu man charged in fatal 2025 Kaneohe hit-and-run

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A 56-year-old Kahaluu man has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run in Kaneohe last year.

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Andrew Brown, 65, was killed by a drunk driver as he was walking home along Kahekili Highway in the early morning of June 25, 2025.

Exactly a year later, Brandon Valant was arrested by sheriffs on a bench warrant. He pleaded not guilty to felony charges, including driving the vehicle that hit and killed Brown and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly failed to stop the vehicle to help or report the collision to police, according to court documents.

Valant is also charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant and driving after his license was revoked for another DUI case.

Brown’s sister, Anela Brown-Lee, says she’s hopeful Valant will be held accountable.

“Justice will be served. There’s no doubt, evidence, we have all evidence to prove the location of this person, just everything that we need to move forward,” she said.

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Brown-Lee has been fighting for her brother, who she says was left to die on the road by a man she knew and had a record of at least a dozen traffic violations dating back to 1995.

“There’s really nothing that I can do to bring him back, but at the same time, I’m angry because he left him there to die,” she said. “He needs to go to jail. He’s killed my brother. How does somebody get away with that?”

Brown-Lee says her family is still struggling with the loss.

“I start crying. You know I miss him every day. Yeah, I have a really hard time still, very hard,” she said. “I got to drive on that road daily, and I have to see that, you know.”

While the arrest brings some comfort, Brown-Lee says more needs to be done to prevent road deaths, such as stricter enforcement and penalties — causes close to the Werners and other families who lost loved ones.

To raise awareness, Brown’s family, Honolulu police and Mothers Against Drunk Driving will host a sign-waving and rally on Kahekili Highway, north of Ahaolelo Road, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are invited.

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“Forever in our hearts, never forgotten,” Brown-Lee said.

Valant is out on $75,000 bail and is due back in court on July 29.