Darin Nakakihara Death La Palma, California Obituary: Darin Nakakihara, a retired high school teacher from La Palma, California, has died following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological condition. He was widely known for openly documenting his experience with the disease through his social media series, “Die Trying Vlog,” which attracted a large and supportive online following.
Nakakihara was diagnosed with ALS in 2023 after experiencing symptoms for around a year, which began following a fall in his garage. The diagnosis led to his early retirement from teaching, a profession in which he was regarded as dedicated and influential to his students. Despite the challenges of his condition, he chose to share his journey publicly in an effort to raise awareness and offer insight into daily life with ALS.
Through his Instagram account, @darin_nakakihara, he built a community of more than 140,000 followers. His content included updates on his family life, reflections on living with ALS, and practical coping strategies. On TikTok, one of his most widely viewed videos reached over 17 million views, documenting the progression of his speech changes over the course of a year. He also shared that doctors had given him an estimated prognosis of two to five years after diagnosis.
Nakakihara is survived by his wife, Denise, and their three daughters, including Kendall and Madi. His openness and resilience drew widespread admiration, and he is remembered for transforming his personal struggle into a platform of awareness and connection.