A 66-year-old pedestrian killed May 15 in an apparent hit-and-run by multiple vehicles on Highway 130 near Orchidland Drive in Keaau was on his way home.

Read more UH hitting coach Nakama moving on; Magdaleno honored again

A 66-year-old pedestrian killed May 15 in an apparent hit-and-run by multiple vehicles on Highway 130 near Orchidland Drive in Keaau was on his way home.

Agrifina “Raffy” Marcos told the Tribune-Herald her husband, Daniel “Danny” Marcos, no longer drove because of his age and eyesight.

“He just got off the bus,” she told the Tribune-Herald, her voice wracked with emotion. “He had just returned from a party.”

Marcos, who was born in Banna, Ilocos Norte, Philippines was an activity coordinator at Hilo Benioff Medical Center’s Extended Care Facility.

He was well-known in the Big Island Filipino community, said his son, Djon “D.R.” Marcos, who opened a GoFundMe page to cover the family’s funeral expenses.

“People would always ask him to be the emcee for large Filipino gatherings, whether it was a celebration or a Miss Hawaii Filipina pageant. He was the most hard-working man I knew,” said Djon Marcos, who lives in Washington state. “He enjoyed serving people and overall was the life of a party.”

According to police, officers responded at 10:50 p.m. May 15 after receiving a report of a person lying in the roadway. Investigators determined that Marcos was struck by multiple vehicles, and all fled the scene.

Police think Marcos might have been attempting to cross the highway and wasn’t in a marked crosswalk at the time of the collision. He was found unresponsive at the scene and was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m.

Marcos was a past president of the Big Island Filipino Community Council, which on its Facebook page extended “our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family of Daniel Marcos.”

The council requested donations from its followers for the GoFundMe page, “Help put Daniel ‘Danny’ Marcos to rest. Jesus loves you!” As of early Wednesday evening, $13,545 of a $20,000 goal had been raised.

He and his wife, a former Mrs. Hawaii Filipina, were a power couple in the Filipino community, and news of Marcos’ death spread quickly via social media.

Read more Hawaii considers gasoline tax suspension as pump prices soar

“He was so loved by our kupuna, that many of them engaged and interacted in any activity or event, and that was their highlight of each day, everyday!!” posted Henny Ahu-Lorenzo. “You gonna be missed … but never forgotten Daniel.”

“Can’t believe it! He was a funny man all the time and love to entertain! RIL Daniel,” wrote Elmer N Cheryl Tabudlo.

“He was always doing yard work and landscaping everyday — not just for himself but for others who requested for his service,” Djon Marcos said. “He would do it all, whether if it were yard work or emceeing for others, without asking for anything in return because he genuinely loved doing those things.”

“He cared for people and was always helping people,” Agrifina Marcos added. She said that although her husband was from Ilocos Norte, he wasn’t related to Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is also an Ilocano.

Danny Marcos also was a man with strong Christian beliefs, and there are online images of him participating in New Hope mobile worship services with New Hope Hilo’s pastor, the Rev. Sheldon Lacsina.

Visitation for Marcos is set for 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, with a memorial service at 6 p.m.

Survivors, in addition to wife, Agrifina Marcos, and son, Djon (Shirlina) Marcos, include three grandchildren, plus siblings and in-laws.

Police have opened a negligent homicide investigation and continue to search for the drivers involved in the hit-and-run. In a statement, the Hawaii Police Department said that failure to render aid when a person is injured or killed in a traffic collision is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.

“Police continue to stress that many traffic fatalities are preventable and urge motorists to remain attentive, drive responsibly, and be mindful of pedestrians on Hawaii Island roadways,” police said.

Potential witnesses and are asked to contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza of East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit at (808) 961-2339 or at [email protected]. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

Read more Local sports briefs: Kealakehe seeking football head coach

Email John Burnett at [email protected].