Loretta Luavasa was a mother of four working at the Kapolei 7-Eleven to support her family.

Mikaele Ah Kam came to Hawai'i from Samoa in 1999 and worked construction to support his three kids.

Luavasa, 47, of Wai'anae, and Ah Kam, 41, of Wahiawa, were killed Sunday when the car they were in veered across Kamehameha Highway and slammed into a cement pillar in Pearl City, police said. Police said speed was a factor in the crash.

Luavasa was driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant and police said both Luavasa and Ah Kam, died at the scene of the crash shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday.

Family members of both expressed sorrow at their deaths yesterday.

"She was one good lady, a terrific mom," said Kyle Luavasa, the youngest of Loretta Luavasa's four sons, ages 16 to 25. "She liked shopping for us and driving around and exploring."

Loretta Luavasa was born and raised in Nanakuli, her son said.

Mikaele Ah Kam came to Hawai'i from Samoa in 1999, his girlfriend Charlotte Rosecrans said.

Ah Kam was a "happy-go-lucky guy" who was a loving father to his two sons and daughter, she said. The couple enjoyed going to the beach and spending time "hanging out" with family and friends.

"The baby (the couple's 4-year-old) doesn't really understand but it's going to be OK," Rosecrans said. "He loved his friends and family."

Ah Kam had worked as a construction worker since coming to Hawai'i.

Luavasa's car was traveling west on Kamehameha Highway when it veered to the left and spun out of control just east of Pu'u Momi Street.

Police said the car crossed the grassy median, hit a street sign and continued into oncoming traffic lanes.

The car jumped the sidewalk, hit a light pole, vaulted into an upper-parking lot wall before dropping into the lower parking lot at the Pearl City Business Plaza. The car slammed into a natural gas line before it hit a cement pillar.

Luavasa and Ah Kam were pinned in the car.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.