For the third time, this dad is walking around Oahu to cope with his grief — and save lives

He's also making the trek in honor of his daughter who died by suicide in 2019.
Published: Mar. 28, 2024 at 10:55 AM HST|Updated: May. 3, 2024 at 7:23 AM HST
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For one Hawaii parent, what started as a way to cope with grief became an opportunity to raise awareness about youth suicide.

Now he’s inviting others to join the effort.

Chad Starr lost his daughter Sienna to suicide in 2019. She was just 12-years-old.

To deal with his grief, he started walking — and kept walking — all the way around Oahu.

His coping mechanism got attention and became a way for this grieving dad to raise awareness about youth suicide and the importance of mental health, for all ages.

So far, Starr has walked the perimeter of Oahu two times, all 132 miles of it. He’s walked the perimeter of Maui, too.

Now, he’s making the trek around Oahu again — and he’s hoping others will join him along the way.

Starr says the walks allow him to honor Sienna’s life.

“She was such a great child. Always laughing, super talented. She was a gymnast, very artistic,” Starr reminisced.

During his previous walks, hundreds of people joined him along the way.

This year, he’s partnering with Hawaii nonprofit FightStory, which was created by MMA champ Angela Lee Pucci after she lost her younger sister Victoria to suicide in December 2022.

Starr said he felt that reaching out was the right thing.

“It seems to be challenging to find people that want to help others … so when you find someone that… lost someone close to them to suicide and they want to turn that into something good, I appreciate those people because I know how hard it is” Starr explained.

After losing Sienna, Starr says he makes sure to check-ins with his two kids Chance and Isabella daily.

He hopes that once parents learn why he’s doing the walk, they’ll start a conversation with their child about anything they’re struggling with.

He also hopes more people will be inspired to reach out to a stranger.

“I’ve seen how powerful that is and how powerful it can be,” he said.

Because it can be life-saving.

If you or a loved one are struggling, reach the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988.

“I’ve had my own struggles, mental health struggles, I’ve had attempts and I just think it’s powerful to see that someone truly cares.”

The walk is set for May 3 — And it’s not just an ordinary day.

“May 3rd is Sienna’s birthday… last year a friend brought some cupcakes and we sang Happy Birthday to Sienna so I would love to do that again this year.”

He’s inviting the public to come out, join the walk and talk story with him. It begins around 8 a.m. at the Honolulu Zoo in Waikiki.

Starr created a tracker for anyone who wants to join in at any point during his weeklong walk. You can access that by clicking here.

If you’re unable to join the walk but want to take part in the effort, you can donate by clicking here.