Kawika was born on June 30, 1997, to David Kahoaka Kamakea III and Cheryl Mikilani Lee Kamakea in Kailua, Hawaii. He graduated from Mid Pacific Institute class of 2016. Kawika furthered his education at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington where he was also a member of the PLU football team. He later continued his studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he was a student the time of his passing.

Kawika grew up in Kailua with his parents and brother Nainoa. He lived a very active life and was involved in many sports in the community from a very young age. Kawika was a member of The Honolulu Boys Choir, H.E.A.R.T Choir, played AYSO soccer, KBA Basketball, Pony League baseball, Judo, Waimanalo Pop Warner football and also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with The Boy Scouts of America Troop#74.

Kawika represented Mid Pacific Institute and the Pac-Five organization in various sports. He was also a member of the schools Hula Halau Pupukahi where he learned so much about his Hawaiian Culture. It was because of this Kawika decided to continue his Hawaiian Culture studies at UH Manoa.

Kawika is survived by his father David Kahoaka Kamakea III, mother Cheryl Mikilani Lee Kamakea, brother Christopherlee Nainoa Kamakea, Grandmother Joan L.K. Lee, many aunties, uncles and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, David Kahoaka Kamakea Jr., Eleanor Leilani Kamakea and Henry V.L. Lee.