'EWA — Family members of murder victim Royal Kaukani broke their silence last night and spoke of a young, energetic woman with an ever-present smile.

Kaukani's six sisters made the short walk from her home on Kaukolu Place to a roadside memorial on Kaukolu Way, where Kaukani was shot as she sat in her car Tuesday afternoon. The women — Royal was the third youngest of seven sisters — carried with them a photo collage of their 25-year-old sister and noted that she was smiling in every picture.

The sisters — Marcella Kaukani, Gardenia Kaukani, Esther De Francia, Nadine Kuikahi, Rosanna Peralta and Samantha Kaukani — said little as they continued to cope with the loss of their loved one. But what they did say painted a picture of a proud woman who lived life to its fullest.

She was always the center of attention, they said, and her smile would follow every move anyone made. She was, they agreed, an entertainer in her own right.

"Everything about her, the way she looked, the way she smiled, the way she acted, she's our Beyonce," oldest sister De Francia said, comparing Royal to the popular singer.

De Francia said her family is dealing with Royal's death as best as possible.

"We're good. We're OK. We're getting by. We're strong," she said.

The sisters also reminisced about a certain way that Royal walked that made everyone notice only her.

Asked if they could duplicate the walk, they all said, "No."

"If she was here," said one sister, "you wouldn't see none of us."

De Francia said her family last night also wanted to thank the public for all the prayers and well wishes since Royal was killed.

"There's a lot of support coming from everywhere," she said. "We just wanted to say thank you and express our gratitude for everything that's happening with the community."

Raymond Donato grew up with the Kaukani family in Wai'anae and last night he accompanied the sisters to the memorial. He said the Kaukanis are a "close family" and that Royal Kaukani was a "beautiful girl" who just wanted to make people happy.

The Wai'anae High School graduate was gunned down Tuesday afternoon as she sat in her Hummer sport utility vehicle about 50 yards from her Kaukolu Place home. Kaukani was taken to Hawai'i Medical Center West in critical condition and transferred to The Queen's Medical Center where she died Tuesday night.

The city medical examiner said Kaukani died of a gunshot wound to her head.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Kalihi man accused of shooting Kaukani to death was charged last night with her murder.

Toi A. Nofoa was charged with first-degree and second-degree murder, and two firearms charges. His bail was set at $4 million and he is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges today in District Court.

A conviction for first-degree murder would carry a mandatory prison term of life without the possibility of parole, which is the state's harshest penalty.

Nofoa was captured at a home in Waimanalo Tuesday night. He initially was arrested on two contempt of court warrants totaling $76,000 after he failed to appear at a court hearing on March 5.

Police later booked him in connection with Kaukani's death.

The shooting brought to an end a tumultuous relationship in which Kaukani accused Nofoa on several occasions of abusing her and repeatedly threatening to kill her.

The two had dated and lived together, but in 2006 Kaukani told police that Nofoa threw her down a flight of stairs. In June 2008, Kaukani filed for a protective order after Nofoa allegedly punched her, giving her a bloody nose and lip.

Three months later, Nofoa was accused of kidnapping Kaukani at gunpoint after she got off work in Ko Olina, threatening her, and driving Kaukani to Hale'iwa, where she managed to escape. While Kaukani was seeking another temporary restraining order, police were issuing a CrimeStoppers bulletin for Nofoa's arrest.

A day later, Nofoa was arrested and then charged with kidnapping and terroristic threatening. He was released after posting $75,000 bail.

Although he was facing felony charges, the couple reconciled in January 2009 and Kaukani asked a judge to rescind the protective order. She told the judge that she and Nofoa planned to get married.

Within a month, however, the alleged abuse resumed. Kaukani told police that she met Nofoa at his brother's 'Aiea home, where he allegedly choked her until she was unconscious and also cut her with a knife. Kaukani told police that Nofoa allowed her to leave after she regained consciousness.

When Nofoa failed to appear in court on the kidnapping and terroristic threatening charges on March 5, a judge revoked his bail and issued a warrant for his arrest. But Nofoa managed to elude police until seven hours after Kaukani was shot to death.