PROVO — E lei kau, e lei ho'oilo i ke aloha.
An ancient Hawaiian saying, it translates as, "love is worn like a wreath through the summers and winters" or simply, "love is everlasting."
For Diana Hunt, eternal love is all she has left to hold onto since Christopher, her husband and sweetheart from Hawaii, was killed Saturday in an accident in Provo Canyon.
"They were only together for a few months, but she is still devastated," said Dawn Walker, Christopher's sister.
Though the young couple met several years ago while preparing to serve full-time Latter-day Saint missions to Japan, their sole communication soon became letters and the occasional phone call.
They both lived on islands, but a vast amount of water separated Diana, a Samoan living in Australia, from Christopher, an American fully immersed in the culture of his native Hawaii.
"He loved the people, the nature and the animals," Walker said. "He was a person that enjoyed life."
A visit to Australia in May bridged the couple's two worlds, and they were soon married. They then relocated to Hawaii, where a misunderstanding with the immigration department quickly required Diana to return to Australia until her visa papers could be processed.
While letters and phone calls resumed, 23-year-old Christopher continued studying at Brigham Young University to become a veterinarian. In his spare time, he was involved with the school's Multicultural Office, which organizes an annual luau that showcases native dances from several Polynesian cultures.
This year, Christopher would have danced the Samoan Salsa in loving tribute to his wife. Now, the luau will be dedicated to Christopher's memory.
"We were so sad to hear the news," said Lupe Piena, who works with BYU's Multicultural Office. "I really believe that Chris had no guile. He had one of the purest hearts that I've known."
Christopher attended a Saturday morning dance practice with Piena before heading up the canyon for a day of snowboarding with his 24-year-old brother, Jeremy, also a BYU student.
Around 9:30 a.m., however, their compact car hit some ice and began to fishtail out of control at 60 mph. Within seconds, the car crossed over the median and into oncoming traffic.
A pickup truck traveling westbound collided with the Hunts' car, killing Christopher on impact.
Jeremy, who was driving the car, suffered a lacerated liver, a punctured lung and broken ribs. He was flown to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center where he remained in serious condition Tuesday, but was expected to improve.
Utah Highway Patrol spokeswoman Tammy Palmer said that excessive speed and snowy conditions were to blame for the accident. The Hunts, however, aren't pointing any fingers. Instead, they are rallying together as a family and trying to cope with the loss of Christopher.
Walker said Diana is struggling the most with the news. She was able to fly in from Australia and — despite serious interrogation by immigration officials in Los Angeles — has been granted a six-month visa.
But her visit is bittersweet.
"I'm sure that Chris' heart is broken watching his little wife be so sad," Walker said, "but ultimately he is very happy."
E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com