Peggy Hamili
In memory of Our beloved mother, Peggy B. Hamili, who was delivered into this world at her family's Kihei home by her beloved father, our grandfather, Alexander Auhana Boniface Akina and her trusting beloved mother Violet Kawaiho'onani “Kanani” Thompson Akina. Grandma Violet gave birth to 10 children. The first 6 born were delivered by Grandpa Akina at home, Two of the babies did not make it to live in this world. The 4 younger ones were born at Maui Memorial Hospital. Besides taking care of her household and eight children, Grandma was an industrious, hard-working Hawaiian woman, who saw many opportunities to serve her community. She contributed to the smooth operation of a family restaurant and bar and at the same time, managed to clean homes, gather keawe beans and collect keawe wood to make charcoal, help with Grandpa's school bus business, care for and feed kupuna, provide food and shelter for the homeless, took in stray animals and took care of her own farm, gardens and her prized mango orchard. All the yield from her farm, gardens, and orchard, she took to market and sold or traded. Grandma was graciously compensated, highly respected for her honest work ethics, noted for her fair dealings and most of all appreciated and loved for her generosity and kindness. Grandma was a compassionate warm loving provider and mother.
Peggy being the 3rd in line, took on some of Grandma's kuleana, as was the custom back then, everyone shared 'Ohana kuleana. Grandma recognized that her soft-spoken, quiet-mannered, hard-working, intelligent, loving, forgiving, kind daughter was very deserving and wanted to provide the best education her money could buy. Fueled by that desire, Grandma had managed to save enough money to put Peggy and her siblings through private school at St. Anthony.
Further inspired by Peggy's brilliance, Grandma dreamed of sending Peggy to any institution of higher learning in the world that she would have wanted to attend. Fate had a different plan. Peggy fell in love and married Charles K. Hamili, Jr., a Hawaiian soldier in the U.S. army, who just returned to Maui from the Korean War. Peggy had many talents and she was guided by love of family and committed to service to her community, much like her mother. Our mother carried on the Hawaiian values and work ethics she learned growing up in Kihei. In addition to lovingly caring for her four children and household, Peggy sought out opportunities to hone her many self-taught skills. In doing so, she became a high ranking civil servant for the Department of Defense, she worked at family owned Kemo'o Farm restaurant wearing many hats, and eventually owned her own restaurant, Peggy's Cafe. She was known for her uncanny ability to solve any problem. She expressed her creativity by making delicious, original, themed cakes form scratch and sewing intricate Japanese geisha dolls, and her green thumb yielded prized flowers used by local florists, among other endeavors. In the community, she donated her time, food , and clothing to local shelters and churches, enjoyed supporting Pop Warner youth activities and Hawaiian canoe regattas.
What was the inspiration behind this life well lived? Mom grew up with 'Ohana rules and continued to live by them. These common sense rules originated from “Love Ke Akua with all your heart and might,” “Honor your father and mother,” and “Love your neighbor as thyself.” Back then, the 'Ohana ruled. Makua, parents and the Kupuna, parents of the parents, and higher up the elders' chain of command, were advisors, judge, and jury. They were trusted counsel and if there was conflict or harm, they would all work together to find a way for all to be set right to make them whole. All accepted their findings.
With the utmost of grace, we are humbled and inspired to include the house rules of 'Ohana, as part of the practice of loving. With sincerity, we share Peggy B. Akina Hamili's legacy of Aloha. We the pulapula, the descendants, feel Mom's encouragement , support, and blessings, and acknowledge that we have kuleana, responsibility, to seek to discover our connection with Aloha and then with 'ike, a great knowing ,hold steady.