A Homegrown Drunk

On November 7, 1986 at four-thirty in the morning, a friend and I were returning home from bar-hopping all night in Lihue. I was drunk and stoned, and I missed a turn in Hanamaluu and drove off the road. My car flipped over several times, according to the police report, and came to rest near some trees. My best friend was thrown from the car, hit two trees, and was pronounced dead at the scene. I was taken to the hospital in shock but otherwise unhurt. I was released from emergency into the hands of the Kauai police who took me to the station, booked me for driving while intoxicated, and charged me with negligent homicide.