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Rose Tai Kim Soon of Hana Maui, passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and family, on September 7, 2025 at Roselani Place, Kahului, Maui.
Ms. Soon was born on December 3, 1924 in Kaupo, Maui. Her father and mother were Nicholas Yee Soon and Hiu Yuk Len. She graduated from Arizona State University at Tempe with a degree in Primary Education. Her working years were associated with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Honolulu, Hawaii, the Hawaii Department of Education, the Federal Aviation Administration in Long Beach, California, U.S. Customs at Los Angeles International Airport and Hotel Hana-Maui.
She always held Hawaii in her heart and after being away for 36 years, she returned to the Hana District to enjoy her remaining years. There she continued her work on the family genealogy, a project begun with pencil and paper, decades before online assistance. She loved gardening, ice cream, and being involved with her community. She was very proud to serve on the board of the Kaupo Community Center as they restored the two room schoolhouse where she began her education. These few facts do not begin to cover her many accomplishments in an amazing life of 100 plus years. One of her favorite words was “imua” and so she did, always in life, and at last, in death.
She is survived by her sister, Evelyn Heu of Kahului, Maui, three daughters and two sons: Kathleen (partner Jim) of Long Beach California, Kolleen (husband Tom) of Portland, Oregon, Karin of Hana, Maui, Kenneth (wife Marilynn) of Fair Oaks, California, Kevin (partner Annie) of Richland, Washington, and two granddaughters, four great- grandsons, and one great-great grandson. Her third son, Kimo sadly passed away on July 16, 2022. She requested that his ashes be placed next to hers in the family graveyard.
She will be laid to rest near her sister and mother in Kaupo. A Celebration of Life will be held on September 12, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kaupo Community Center. RSVP by August 15 bluegeckodesignlb@gmail.com Donations may be made in her honor to Kaupo Community Center/ Kaupo School at the event or through https:kaupomaui.org
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit return to the God who gave it”
Ecclesiastes 12:7