KOLOA — Stella Burgess, a longtime South Shore resident, community leader and director of Hawaiian culture for the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, died late Tuesday night at her Koloa home with family and friends surrounding her. She was
KOLOA — Stella Burgess, a longtime South Shore resident, community leader and director of Hawaiian culture for the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, died late Tuesday night at her Koloa home with family and friends surrounding her.
She was 61.
“If we could all follow her example of living aloha, it would be a much better world,” said Lanakila Willard, following the death of her best friend, who was known affectionately by many as “Aunty Stella.” “The Hawaiian way emanated from her in everything she said and did.”
Stories from mourners are coming from all walks of life, said Willard, who was at the home when Burgess passed.
People are remembering her generous deeds, including showing up at people’s homes when she heard they were in need, leaving food for them and disappearing unnoticed.
Office of Economic Development Director George Costa still remembers hiring Aunty Stella “to help us infuse more of the history of the Kapaa-Waipouli area,” while he served as the general manager of the Pono Kai Resort in Kapaa.
“When Stella called, you jumped,” Costa recalled about the Kalaheo-raised adviser. “She was a great resource and I called on her often for guidance while I managed the Point at Poipu then later with the county. She never hesitated to call on me and others in the county … who could provide much needed kokua for projects that benefited the island of Kauai.”
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. called Aunty Stella, “a pillar of strength in our community because of her love for Kauai.”
“She exemplified the true spirit of aloha and was always willing to share her knowledge about our island with everyone,” Carvalho wrote in an email. “Whether a visitor, kamaaina, business organization, keiki to kupuna, she gave her puuwai (heart) to assure that people were comfortable and left with a good feeling and a smile. She was my source of information for doing what is right or pono for our aina, for our culture and most of all, our people.”
Some of the many projects she worked on included maintenance at the Keoneloa Park at Shipwrecks, addressing crime in the Poipu-Koloa area, cleanup efforts around the Tree Tunnel, Koloa Plantation Days, the annual Hawaiian Culture Conference at the Grand Hyatt Kauai and the Prince Kuhio Celebration of the Arts.
People were greatly impacted by Burgess during her 15 years as the director of Hawaiian culture and community relations at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa.
“I was always in awe of her manao and cherished the times I could meet with her to talk story, attend her cultural events or just share a laugh,” Kauai Visitors Bureau Executive Director Sue Kanoho wrote in an email. “She had one of the deepest commitments to the Hawaiian culture and held the line of protocol, and yet would take the time to share some of those special moments with our residents and visitors.”
Margy Parker, managing partner of Margy Parker and Associates, LLC, said she worked with Aunty Stella over the last decade on evolving cultural events and still takes to heart the knowledge she has learned in that time.
“She simply embraced people, no matter where they came from while always bringing forth the most important aspects of the values honored by her culture,” Parker wrote in an email. “She was one intelligent, amazing, resourceful, direct and loving woman. She leaves quite a legacy.”
Willard believes the world is a better place because of Burgess and her generous nature.
“A lot of people, not just on Kauai, but everywhere, have a greater appreciation of Hawaiian culture because of her,” said Willard. “And some of us definitely still feel her spirit. We both believed in the hereafter, so I’m sure she is there with her loved ones and God and they’re looking down on us wondering how much we learned from her.”
A celebration of Burgess’ life is being planned for mid-March at the Grand Hyatt. As of press time, the Burgess family was still determining where memorials could be sent in her name. She is survived by her husband, Kimo Burgess, and son Keolu Burgess.
• Lisa Ann Capozzi, features/education reporter, can be reached at lcapozzi@thegardenisland.com.
