Keala, Samuel Aukai Jr.

Aukai Kekoa

‘O John Keala ko‘u kupuna kāne kualua
‘O Nancy Awa‘a ko‘u kupunahine kualua
Noho pū lāua a hānau ‘ia ‘o Samuel Aukai Keala, Sr.
‘O Samuel Aukai Keala, Sr. ko‘u kupuna kāne kuakahi
‘O Charlotte Miller ko‘u kupunahine kuakahi
Noho pū lāua a hānau ‘ia ‘o Samuel Aukai Keala, Jr.
‘O Samuel Aukai, Jr. ko‘u kupuna kāne
‘O Genevieve Achiu ko‘u kupunahine
Noho pū lāua a hānau ‘ia ‘o Tymmie Keala
‘O Kordell Kekoa ko‘u makua kāne
‘O Tymmie Keala ko‘u makuahine
Noho pū lāua a hānau ‘ia ‘o Kalaniaukai, ‘o Kamanukea, ‘o Kaena, a ‘o Ku‘ulei
‘O wau ‘o Kalaniaukai Tim ‘Īpa‘apuka Kekoa ka hiapo
E ola ka hāloa o ku‘u ‘ohana

Pipili no ka pilali i ke kumu kukui. (‘ŌN 2662) This ‘ōlelo no‘eau means "the pipili gum that sticks to the kukui tree." This saying is significant to me because of the kaona within it. It talks of one who remains close to a loved one always, like a child would hold on to the grandparent he loves very much. I love this particular kaona because it totally describes the way I feel about my Papa. As an ambulance driver, husband, and Papa to many, Sam was a wonderful person that left his legacy for me to live.

Samuel was born on October 5, 1930 in Keālia, Kona, on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. He was born to Samuel and Charlotte Keala, and also had a brother Herman and a sister Pi‘ikea. His father was a minister at ‘Imiola Church in Waimea and his mother was the post mistress. Many of his stories and fondest memories were about his childhood days in Waimea. Samuel attended Castle Kindergarten, Nānāikapono Elementary, and Waimea School. When he was in seventh grade, he became a boarder at the Kamehameha Schools. His room was located in the basement of ‘Iolani Dormitory, although he often stayed with Colonel Kent in Hale Pelekikena because the Kents were good friends of his parents. He used to smoke in the furnace room and got the nickname "Smoky."

Kamehameha was like a prison to Papa. He really missed home. So one day, his cousin busted him out of school and Sam caught the Humu‘ula ship back to Hawai‘i island. When his "great escape" was discovered, he was given the choice to go back to Kamehameha or go to Farrington High School. He chose Farrington and this is where he met my Gammie, Genevieve Achiu.

Sam held many different occupations. He retired from the City and County of Honolulu as a paramedic after giving over thirty years of service to the city. He was a "jack of all trades," he could fix just about anything! My Papa was also a paniolo and loved to ride horses, rope cows, and build trailers and corrals with his brother Herman. Sam loved Hawaiian and country music and the old songs of the forties. He especially loved my mother’s beautiful singing!

There are many, many stories I could tell about my Papa. My favorite stories are about Sam’s adventures in Waimea. Papa tells about the time he and his brother Herman had to clean the church yard at ‘Imiola. They found a gong under the fellowship hall and decided to see if it fit in Father Lorenzo Lyons’ bell that was in the church yard. After ringing the bell a few times, they tried to pull the pin out of the gong, but it was stuck. After several attempts, they decided to do it later. To make a long story short, the bell rang three nights in a row, but no one else heard the bell except for the two brothers, and on the third night they took their rifles and shot towards the bell. They were determined to rid themselves of whoever was playing this practical joke. The next morning they pulled the pin out with ease and threw the gong back where they found it.

Papa loved his family more than life and did all he could for us. He taught me the value of working hard and showing aloha and respect in everything I do. I miss my Papa, and I will carry on his legacy!