Kupuna Aunty Sarah Kailikea 1911-2004

Aunty Sarah Ke‘alamapuana Malina Kailikea of Nawiliwili has died at 93.

Born on October 11, 1911 in Kipu, Aunty Sarah served most recently as a link to Kaua‘i’s past for the island’s rapidly changing community, and has been a notable resident of Nawiliwili for decades.

Her sure stand on life’s many issues on Kaua‘i, and her sharing of her depth of knowledge of Kaua‘i’s past and Hawaiian traditions, personified her life. Though small in stature, her presence at public events, and in private talks, when she felt strongly about an issue, could be that of a Hawaiian warrior of old.

She could clearly recall the days of George Norton Wilcox, the owner of Grove Farm Plantation, who was born in the mid-19th century, and would take listeners back in time to a world now long gone. She possessed a wealth of knowledge in Hawaiian traditions and cultural practices, drawing on lessons taught to her by her kupuna, bringing back to life not just the words of what she was taught, but also the spirit of ancient places and times.

Throughout her life she held a special place in the life of Kaua‘i. A noted Native Hawaiian composer and chanter, she studied ancient Hawaiian religious practices, chant, hula, legends and language with Papa David K. Bray, and with Tutu Mary Kawena Puku‘i.

She loved to share this knowledge with all, endearing herself to Kaua‘i kama‘aina and newcomers.

With her husband, the late Melvin Kailikea she operated two Nawiliwili landmarks: the Luau Garden and Menehune Gardens.

Both were located at the family’s homestead at a place known as Papalinahoa, or “rosey cheeks.” The place name covered an area at Nawiliwili that included the beach house of George Wilcox once located where Hale Kauai’s Nawiliwili store stands.

The Luau Garden was a center of popular Hawaiian entertainment on Kaua‘i in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and drew notable musicians and singers from Kaua‘i and other islands including Sterling Mossman, Kaliko Kalama, Maiki Aiu and others.

The couple turned to operating a botanical garden and visitor attraction when they opened the Menehune Gardens near their home in 1963. They presented Hawaiian folklore, and put on Hawaiian cultural shows. The gardens closed in 1992, the year Hurricane ‘Iniki struck Kaua‘i.

Aunty Sarah and her husband Melvin were chairs of the Aloha Week Festival, bringing historical and cultural accuracy to the Aloha Week pageants at a time when the traditional side of Native Hawaiian culture was overshadowed by modern day interpretations that were often more pop culture than authentic.

Her prized Chinese banyan tree — planted by G.N. Wilcox at Papalinahoa over 100 years ago — is said to be the state’s largest, and grew to over 100 feet tall before Hurricane ‘Iwa in 1982 and ‘Iniki in 1992, trimmed it. A fire came close to destroying the two-acre tree in 2000. In 1976 the Kailikea waged a successful campaign to have tree declared an exceptional one, giving it legal protection.

Her service to the community included providing Hawaiian protocol for the Kaua‘i Museum since its founding by the late Juliet Rice Wichman and other notable residents of Kaua‘i.

Aunty Sarah was recognized for her long-time role in preserving Hawaiian culture on Kaua‘i in 1995 when the Kaua‘i Museum named her a “living treasure.”

A special music CD of songs and chants Aunty Sarah wrote was released in 2000. The disc featured gift songs Aunty Sarah wrote for others, including Grace Guslander of Coco Palms Resort fame.

The couple were married on October 3, 1933, and she spent most of her life at her Papalinahoa home. The couple is survived by sons Melvin David Kailikea, Jr. and Malcom H. Kailikea, both of Nawiliwili, and their daughter, Leila Christensen of Honolulu.

Aunty Sarah’s parents were Leila Ioseph Kaholokai and Henry Malina Sr. She was raised by her grandparents, Eliza and William Richmond, on Rice Ranch in Kipu.

A graveside memorial services is scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Lihue Public Cemetery.