Kameron Steinhoff was a basketball star who was honored with many accolades, including State Basketball Player of the Year during his senior year of high school. He guided his school to the state championship that same season. Known as the "Hawaiian Superman," Kameron was fearless. On May 17, 2011, while a junior at Hawaii Pacific University, 21-year-old Kameron fell while skateboarding and suffered a fatal brain injury. He was a generous spirit even in death, and had registered with the local DMV to be an organ donor, a demonstration of his generous spirit.

Kameron's Story

Kameron Shigaeo Lanaki Steinhoff was a "really good person," and that's what his family wants everyone to remember, said his mother, Kathleen. He was a very tall, humble guy who loved people, especially his family, and basketball.

Kameron worked hard to be good at everything he took on and applied the same commitment to excellence at school as he did on the basketball court. In 2008, his senior year of high school, Kameron was named Hawaii State Basketball Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of the Year, and Star Bulletin Player of the Year. Delighting all the crowds that watched him play, Kameron guided his school to the state championship that same season.

Young, spirited and grounded in love, Kameron embraced life. Nicknamed the "Hawaiian Superman" with a tattoo to match, Kameron was fearless, even in play. While skateboarding with friends, Kameron fell and suffered a serious brain injury. He passed away on May 17, 2011. He was a junior at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) studying psychology and had turned 21 two weeks earlier.

"Kameron was an outstanding person in many ways. He was a great basketball player but equally important he was a great student at HPU," recalled HPU Men's Basketball Coach Darren Vorderbruegge. "Most importantly, he was a tremendous teammate and friend to everyone who knew him. He was a quiet leader, except when he got on the court. There he wasn't quiet. Everything came out, and he was tremendously competitive and fiery."

Kameron demonstrated his generous spirit even in death. Just days after his 21st birthday, he lost his driver's license. His mother suggested he go down to the Department of Motor Vehicles to purchase another one. That's when he registered to be an organ donor. Upon his passing, his family didn't know what to do when asked if they would donate his organs. "We decided to take a look at his driver's license and found that Kameron had designated himself as an organ donor on his license so he could help others to have a second chance at life," said Kathleen.

In April 2013, Kathleen spoke on behalf of organ donation at a Donate Life celebration at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. As she stood at the lectern, some in the crowd could see a monarch butterfly flitting around behind her. Kameron's family knows he's still around watching over them, having given others a second chance at life.