Elizabeth Kali
Elizabeth Kali, of Lawai, passed away on Nov. 28, 2024. She was born on Aug. 30, 1947, in Pohnpei. She was a retired gardener at National Tropical Botanical Garden.
Preceded in death by father Apaisam Henry, mother Leitise Henry, brothers Sose Apaisam, Joseph Apaisam, sisters Elmore Jano and Burton Jano.
She is survived by husband Henry Kali, sons Carter (Lorlain Mikel) Apaisam, David Song, Kaipo (Sofia Alvarez) Kali, daughter Leinani (Tony) Baca, 33 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Anne Elizabeth Rivera
Anne Elizabeth Rivera passed away on Nov. 26, 2024, in Lihue at the age of 74.
She was born on Aug. 13, 1950, in Long Beach, California. A beloved teacher on Kauai, shared her love of learning with her students through stories from her adventures and travels. Anne was a passionate reader with a curious spirit, always drawn to learning about distant cultures and seeking out new experiences.
She was preceded in death by her mother Emma Louise Sharrar and father Harvey Wesley Sharrar.
She is survived by her husband Olegario Rivera, daughter Marleny (Dave) Parmenter and brother James Sharrar.
Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at Lihue Cemetery, starting at 10 a.m.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Elma Leilani Kaneakua
Elma Leilani Kaneakua (1938 – 2024), age 86, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Kapahi, while surrounded by her family, in the early hours of Nov. 24, 2024, after her fight with Parkinsons Disease.
Born on May 1, 1938, on Kauai Island, in the Territory of Hawaii, Elma grew up surrounded by a large family of 8 siblings, many cousins, aunts, and uncles. Her family influenced her to be a loving, patient, kind and dedicated person who always put the needs of others ahead of her own and she incorporated that as a mother, wife and memah.
Elma was a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools class of 1956, where she aspired to her creative skills and fashion design. Summer breaks at home were spent working at the pineapple cannery with Hawaiian Food Packers where Pono Kai Resort sits today. After graduating, she worked as a telephone operator for Hawaiian Telephone Company on O‘ahu, then moved back home and was employed at The Coco Palms Hotel.
On April 14, 1962, she married her love, Larry Napu‘umanamana Kahaunaele of Anahola. They had a daughter, Helene Ku‘uleimamo Kahaunaele and made their home in Kapaa.
After 30+ years, and the devastation from Hurricane Iniki, she retired as the Executive Secretary for the Hotelier, the late Mrs. Grace Guslander, to dedicate her life as a Caregiver for both her parents.
Elma was well known for her beautifully designed, award-winning Hawaiian holoku and her prize-winning lei-making. She enjoyed being outdoors with her plants but her passion was designing costumes for Helene and her cousins when they were little girls performing with their Kumu Hula, Joseph Kahaulelio every Sunday night at the Sheraton Kauai.
Affectionately known as Elma, Aunty Lani, Memah, Tutu… she was Memah to all the kids, known by so many, and an inspiration to everyone she encountered.
Elma was preceded in death by her parents James Ne‘ene‘epua‘ilihau Kaneakua and Louise Elizabeth Keali‘ikalepa o kololou o nalalaniali‘i o Kamehameha Kaha‘ule (Kamanuwai) Kaneakua, brothers Henry Ke‘alakalae Kaneakua (Odetta Miner), William Kaneakua (Anita Bonilla), sisters Pauline Leimomi Wise (Milton), Eloise Ululani Oclit (Fendel “Ding”), Adeline Kaneakua, Helene Kaneakua and ex-husband Larry Napu‘umanamana Kahaunaele.
She is survived by her brother James Keoua Kaneakua (Beverly Apao “Lei”), daughter Helene Ku‘uleimamo Kahaunaele-Akiona (Holbin III), 6 grandchildren, 15 ½ great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and hanai mo‘opuna.
A Celebration of her Life will be on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at the Kapa‘a First Hawaiian Church. Friends may visit with the family from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. followed by her service from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., with burial at Kauai Memorial Gardens in Kapaia. The family has a GoFundMe page where you can leave your sentiments and words of aloha if you cannot attend.
Helene and the family would like to extend their deepest and warmest thank you to her medical providers and staff at Kauai Medical Center and Wilcox Hospital, The Office of Elderly Affairs (Samantha Souza) and their providers, Kokua Health, Kauai Care Center in Waimea, Kauai Hospice, Miss Riza Pena, and Caregivers, nieces Tammie Miner, Eva Joy Miner-Peru, Ginger Kaneakua and Mita Kaneakua, her granddaughter Kahealani Alapai Lum, and Helene’s daughters-in-law Cheyenne Rodriguez and Sheana Alapai, for taking such wonderful care of my mom, our memah.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary in Koloa is handling arrangements.
