Mitchel Miyashiro Sentenced to 20 Years for Fatal Hit-and-Run

Driver Sentenced in 2023 Hit-and-Run That Killed McKinley High Student

A Honolulu man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday for a 2023 hit-and-run crash that killed a 16-year-old McKinley High School student, Hawaii News Now reported. Mitchel Miyashiro, 49, received two consecutive 10-year prison sentences for first-degree negligent homicide and collision involving death or serious bodily injury, with credit for time already served. He also received one-year concurrent sentences for collision involving bodily injury and driving without a valid license.

The crash, which occurred on Feb. 15, 2023, claimed the life of Sara Yara and injured her 17-year-old friend as they crossed a marked crosswalk on their way to school. Miyashiro, traveling between 39 and 47 mph in a 25 mph zone, ran a red light on Kapiolani Boulevard near Kamakee Street before fleeing the scene. He later falsely reported his truck had been stolen.

A Family Forges a Path of Forgiveness

In a courtroom, Sara’s family addressed Miyashiro. Her twin sister, Phoebe, who witnessed the entire incident, spoke of choosing love and kindness. “As my sister would say and do, I’m going to choose love and kindness,” Phoebe said. “I would like to point out that I’m so grateful that there are no other casualties and no one had to experience the pain and grief that I had to feel.”

The driver who killed 16-year-old Sara Yara in a 2023 hit-and-run near McKinley High School was sentenced to 20 years in prison today. During an emotional hearing, the victim's grieving family expressed forgiveness toward 49-year-old Mitchell Miyashiro as he apologized for the pic.twitter.com/zWPPuc0v4d

— https://x.com/HawaiiNewsNow/status/2118206981978677360

Despite the profound loss, the family extended forgiveness. “What I want you to know today, that I forgive you,” Sara’s father, Dan Yara, told Miyashiro. “I do not hold hatred in my heart towards you. I choose to release that burden because God’s words tell us in Colossians 3:13, ‘bear with each other and forgive one another.’”

Miyashiro himself expressed remorse, stating, “Every day, I wish I could go back in time and make different decisions, but I cannot and I will live with the knowledge that my actions and decision-making caused Sarah’s death and Stephanie’s injury.”

Man sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection to Kapiolani Blvd. hit-and-run death of Sara Yara

A History of Unsafe Driving Cited by the Judge

First Circuit Court Judge Trish K. Morikawa justified the length of the sentence by citing Miyashiro’s extensive history of traffic violations. “I frankly, having been a District Court judge, have never seen a traffic abstract so large,” Morikawa said, noting 48 speeding judgments, 20 moving violations, and approximately 10 prior convictions for driving without a license.

The judge stated that Miyashiro “had years to change his behavior and conform his conduct to the norms of society, but refused.” She emphasized that the consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public, adding, “His actions have caused and continue to put the lives of other innocent individuals, pedestrians and drivers at risk.”

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Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm echoed the judge’s sentiments. “Miyashiro not only caused the death of a young girl, but fled the scene rather than stopping to help the victims,” Alm said. “No sentence can bring Sara back or erase the pain her family has endured, but today’s sentence holds Miyashiro accountable for his actions.”