Kaua‘i lost in 2003 a signifiant number of persons who changed the island for the better. The list includes politicians, entrepreneurs, entertainers and educators. Perhaps the most prominent is Gladys Kamakakuokalani Ainoa Brandt, who helped write the 1997 “Broken Trust”
Kaua‘i lost in 2003 a signifiant number of persons who changed the island for the better. The list includes politicians, entrepreneurs, entertainers and educators.
Perhaps the most prominent is Gladys Kamakakuokalani Ainoa Brandt, who helped write the 1997 “Broken Trust” essay that led to the ouster of Bishop Estate trustees.
While she lived much of her later life on O‘ahu, she was a long-time principal at Kapa‘a High School, and maintained a residence on the North Shore of Kaua‘i. She died Jan. 15 at the age of 96.
Even into her nineties, she remained alert and active, and was named to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as a temporary, replacement trustee by then-Gov. Ben Cayetano.
Another educator leaving this place was Dr. William Kenji “Pila” Kikuchi, of ‘Oma‘o, former professor emeritus at Kaua‘i Community College and instructor in anthropology and archaeology.
He died on July 10 at the age of 68, and was a member of the Kaua‘i Historic Review Commission who also won the KCC Excellence in Teaching award in 1981. In 2002, he was named a living treasure by the Kauai Historical Society.
Barton Nagata of Lihu‘e, 85, died on Dec. 7. He was a former state Department of Education Kaua‘i district superintendent, and successful real estate salesperson after that.
Last but not least among educators leaving in 2003 is A. Momilani Gampong-Yaris, 37, a teacher at Kekaha School known more widely for her work as proprietor and entertainer with Kaleo Club International.
The Waimea resident passed away on March 28, only a few days before her halau’s annual ho‘ike. With husband and kumu hula Doric Yaris taking over the emotional show, it went on, with much of the script and music written by Gampong-Yaris.
Another entertainer who left us is Jaime B. “Braddah Kimo” Nelmida, who as a musician and radio on-air personality knew everybody on the island. He was a radio personality on both KTOH and KUAI, and a musician at both the Kauai Surf and Kauai Resort.
He died April 4 at the age of 64.
John F. Barretto, Jr., 69, of Kapa‘a, a former member of the Kaua‘i County Council, candidate for Kaua‘i mayor and successful small businessman, passed away on Sept. 20.
Entertainer and restaurateur Louise Marston, 75, of Hanalei, owner and operator of Tahiti Nui restaurant in Hanalei, died Oct. 9.
Retired golf professional Toyoharu “Toyo” Shirai, 87, died on Oct. 30.
Walter Alexander Lappert, 82, died at his Koloa home on Sept. 1. He came to Kaua‘i to enjoy retirement, then decided to open a single ice cream shop along Kaumuali‘i Highway in Hanapepe. The business quickly grew to include locations across Kaua‘i, on O‘ahu, and even in Japan.
Maili Frost Yardley, 86, of Lawa‘i, died June 28. She was an author of Hawaiiana and cooking books, and a former food columnist with The Honolulu Advertiser.
William Hollis Crozier, 58, of Wailua Homesteads, built Ameritech cellular telephone service, which later became Cingular and now has been acquired by AT&T Wireless, into the island’s dominant cellular-service provider. He died April 28.
John K. Smythe Jr., 69, died June 2. He was a former administrator of the Kauai Community Correctional Center.
Gordon Maikai Kaluahine Jr., 47, of Lihu‘e, passed away on Sept. 10. Despite being confined to a wheelchair after a swimming accident when he was a teen-ager, he worked tirelessly as an advocate for wheelchair access, and even harder to continue to be a provider for his family. Despite his confinement, he never complained about his situation, and always kept an upbeat attitude. That attitude inspired many able-bodied Kauaians.
Wilfred “Bunt” Baldwin, 89, of Koloa, former manager of what later were known as Lihue Plantation and Kekaha Sugar Company’s mills, died Feb. 18.
