KAPA‘A — Sam Kaleiohi used to kid his wife Lois about getting married again. They did just that Friday, joining five other couples at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital for a special wedding celebration honoring the hospital’s married residents and their
KAPA‘A — Sam Kaleiohi used to kid his wife Lois about getting married again.
They did just that Friday, joining five other couples at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital for a special wedding celebration honoring the hospital’s married residents and their spouses.
Of the six pairs, Sam and Lois were one of the younger couples, having been married for 38 years. David and Connie Travis were the only other younger couple with 20 years of bliss.
Clarence and Hanako Ishida, meeting during the days of the pineapple cannery, have been married for 65 years and have three children.
Kiyoshi and Hanayo Kawamura have been married for 64 years, Primitivo and Maria Ramos celebrated 63 years of marriage.
Toshihiro and Maria Otani celebrated 62 years of marriage. Toshihiro met Maria in Germany when she was walking home one night. He was stationed there when he was in the Army.
A year later, the couple wed, returning to Kaua‘i where he worked for Lihu‘e Plantation and she worked for Woolworth’s.
Josie Pablo, the recreation director for Mahelona Hospital, said it took her 13 years to put together the event.
The help came from Elaine Morita and Sharla Hasegawa, Nancie Pigao, Juvie Bercasio, Riza Pena and Lalaine Rabaino as well as the entire staff of the hospital and its auxiliary members.
Pablo said numerous community organizations stepped forward to help make the celebration a reality, including Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors, Kaua‘i Bakery and the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club each coming forward with enough cake to take care of all of the guests. The Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital residents and staff also attended the gala, which was set up in the courtyard of the hospital.
The Kaua‘i Beach Resort allowed the use of the wedding arch; Flowers Forever contributed tropical arrangements; Lemn’s Flowers donated orchids; Safeway Stores, the lei and bouquets for the couples; Aimee Leong, the silk flowers; Richard, Barbara and Wayne Ebinger and Jack and Sharon Gushiken, the tropical flowers; Nell Asuncion, the money box and other decorations; Ted and Queenie Daligdig helping with the release of the pigeons; Skip Cacayon for the live music; and Kaua‘i Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Nalani Brun for the special rendering of the “Hawaiian Wedding Song.”
The wedding is only the start of a very hectic summer schedule for the Mahelona Hospital residents as Pablo said they will be doing their first of two beach outings at the renovated Lydgate Park pools next week, this event also combining with the KVMH residents.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
