Obituary for Florence Kalihilihiokeanuenuekapunohulilaikekai Kalawa Tabag
You are probably here because you received and Ofrenda/Keepsake Card from the Ohana. Even if not, mahalo, mahalo, mahalo for visiting.
There is a poem titled, The Dash by Linda Ellis. The poet writes that between your birth and death date there is a dash. That dash represents all the time you spent in your life on earth. For Florence Kalihilihiokeanuenuekapunohulilaikekai “Pua” “Chaly” “Flo” “Waikahekahe” Kalawa Tabag, there was more than this to her dash, but we proudly share the highlights with you.
Born February 14, 1942 or possibly February 18th…her story is her dad went to the Board of Health in Kona to register her birth on the 18th and listed that day as her birthdate but she was actually born on the 14th. Anyway she celebrated both days every year. She was born in Keopu, North Kona (Komo House). She was the youngest daughter of John Opukahaia Keawe Kalawa and his 2nd wife Ella Kawaianapakamakani Pai Lono. She said she was the muliloa (long ass or last born) of the ohana as her younger sibling Harry passed soon after birth. Her dad’s 1st wife was Hoomana Noa, passed away leaving 4 kids from that marriage before he married her mom and had 6 more kids. There were 10 of them kids and she was the 9th child…John, Emma, Samuel, Marymae, Ella, Elizabeth, Theresa, Johnson, Florence, and Harry as TV was not available at the time.
Growing up in the coffee fields on the slopes of Hualalai, she attended Holualoa School, Konawaena High School and was a devoted catholic serving at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with her family. Her life was always filled with adventure like finding favor in the old filipino men who willingly gave up their car keys so she and her friends can go riding all over Kona or the movies even if it was known that no one had a driver’s license. She enjoyed riding motorcycle and partying like a rock-star…too much fun.
She met and married the love of her life, Francis Kaaumoana “Mona” Tabag. They were married in St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral Church in Kalihi. He was called Mona and she was called Chaly…only her can. They had 6 children, Desiree Melinda Momilani (husband Tim) Kimura, Francis Kauanoepio Keanuenue (wife Janeen) Umetsu-Tabag, Desilyn Sabrina Haaheo E Kuuipo Nohea (husband Kenneth) Pichay, and Franklin Boyd Kawaianapakamakani Tabag (partner Joslyn Ball). Several years later they welcomed into their lives Frederic Dominic Kaaumoana (Lori) Tabag Calma. After Mona passed away and the children became adults, Chaly moved back to the Big Island with the desire to live her life on the island she loved. It was there that her loving heart opened to a young girl vowing to have her as a daughter, Nicole Hasegawa. She was able to witness 2 more generations join her ohana, blessed with 11 grandchildren…Tim, Kawehi, Ku’u, Charlie, Manaola, Keoniku, Lawena, Kaehukai, Lani, Precious and Cherish and 4 great grandchildren…Charlei, Cruz, Lilly and Faith-Nicole.
Genealogy was a top priority in her life and the lives of her siblings. Again no TV so they would listen to their parents and kupuna talk about their ohana, making sure they remembered their names and where they came from. She and her siblings spent many hours researching and visiting ohana on all islands. Soon they were planning and inviting ohana they met and connected with to meetings that would eventually become family reunions for the Pai, Lono, Kalawa and Kanehailua lines. She was proud to say He Hawaii Au and loved being Kanaka Maoli which she reflected daily. She was a great speaker with or without a microphone and in her wit and humor was able to captivate the audiences with what she had to share. She was as transparent as glass, she was an eloquent speaker and listening to her was like listening to great music.
Her career journey came in many forms as a genealogist, security officer, food service, retail, warehouse, nursing, care giving and companionship. She always said, “hard work never killed anybody”. Amid all this she was always the life of the party whether there was a party or not, scolding, loving, compassionate and intertwined with making you laugh. She enjoyed and made lots of music, singing, dancing, and laughter, with or without alcohol wherever she went shouting “Up Yaws” or “The Party Is On”. She spoke often of the many beautiful and not so beautiful people she met in her life. There was always a lesson learned and an impact made when she spoke guaranteed to make you leave with a smiling or pondering heart that would affect your life in some way.
She spent many years near her ohana in Maili O’ahu, helping her only surviving sister Theresa, live life and take care of each other. Always there for anyone, ready to talk story, tell you off with love, encouraging the listener or visitor to take care of themselves because “I like see you again”.
She quietly battled a cancer condition for about 2 years. She would only say that she not sure what is going on, no further details. Until ohana started to see differences in her daily life such as not too hungry, not eating as much as she used to do, tired a lot, weak and slow movements, and lots of doctor visits that she non-chalantly explains, “oh it was just…. nothing serious”. In the month of March 2021, she sent a kahea out to the children, grandchildren, her sister, cousins, nieces, nephews and one by one explained that she was given the notice of stage 3 or possibly 4 lung cancer. She was not going to take any treatment so time will be spent with each other for as long as possible. She longed for visits every day and made it a point to kahea whoever was near and poured out her heart into whoever was listening, many times asking for specific foods to taste and enjoy as if it was for the last time. All she needed was a spoonful or two and she would be happy. Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021, she plans an Easter Sunday lunch with a menu of baked ham, roast turkey, potato mac salad, the Seafood Combo from Crawfish and Crab Shack, and a Queen Emma Cake. As Easter Sunday approaches she gets surprised visits from outer island ohana and is so happy and excited. She spends hours staying up talking, laughing, crying, singing, the home is filled with a beautiful aura of joy. On Saturday, April 3, 2021, she becomes very ill and is taken to Queen’s West Medical Center. After several hours of treatment, she breathes her last breath on earth and her first breath in heaven. Her spirit and soul depart at the end of Holy Week, a season she faithfully believed in as part of her strong Catholic faith. This painful loss was and is still unbearable to handle each day. In addition to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, she is survived by her sister Theresa (Inocencio) Cabrera, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Since that day, the other C disease limited any gathering or planning an event to honor her, but it was always clear that we would have to one day soon let her have her eternal rest. We tried to hold on to her as long as possible. She being the uni-cue one she is has made it clear that it is time for her present kino to be released into the environment to journey forever into the next 40-11 days. Showing herself to both suspecting and unsuspecting ohana within the past few months, we finally got it.
We tried to hold on to her as long as possible. She being the uni-cue one she is has made it clear that it is time for her present kino to be released into the environment to journey forever into the next 40-11 days. Showing herself to both suspecting and unsuspecting ohana within the past few months, we finally got it.
Celebrations is what she was all about surrounded by ohana, hoa, actually anybody who was willing to laugh, dance, sing, eat and talk fo-eva shouting Uncle Sonny Henerelau’s favorite saying, “THE PARTY IS ON.” Born and raised on Moku o Keawe in Keopu, Kona and lived a lot of her years on the island of O’ahu, her amazing-ness permeated wherever she was. So her ohana (well her immediate ones, because almost everybody was ohana to her) will be celebrating her on both islands.
Friday, June 17, 2022, from 2 to 6 pm her ohana will have a drive through visit at Lualualei Beach Park 2 otherwise known as Middle Park on Poka’i Bay Street in Wai’anae. Come spend a moment reflecting the awesome memories you will always have of her. This is the last time you will be able to hug and honi her physical being “from here to eternity”.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022, is the day of the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year. An early morning ride to Kawaihae and Keopu Cemeteries and Kamakahonu Beach (closest to Ahuena Heiau) as she wished to visit one last time. At 10am a quiet send-off is planned at Honokohau Harbor and a vessel will carry her to a perfect spot to dive into the beautiful Pacific Ocean. All our ‘aina is connected by the sea, the waves and current will carry her from shore to shore and all who loved her can go to any shore to honor her memory knowing she is there. You will probably find her sunning on the beautiful beaches in her colorful mermaid costume with planny limu in her hair saying “eh, an den?”
There is a poem titled, The Dash by Linda Ellis. The poet writes that between your birth and death date there is a dash. That dash represents all the time you spent in your life on earth. For Florence Kalihilihiokeanuenuekapunohulilaikekai “Pua” “Chaly” “Flo” “Waikahekahe” Kalawa Tabag, there was more than this to her dash, but we proudly share the highlights with you.
Born February 14, 1942 or possibly February 18th…her story is her dad went to the Board of Health in Kona to register her birth on the 18th and listed that day as her birthdate but she was actually born on the 14th. Anyway she celebrated both days every year. She was born in Keopu, North Kona (Komo House). She was the youngest daughter of John Opukahaia Keawe Kalawa and his 2nd wife Ella Kawaianapakamakani Pai Lono. She said she was the muliloa (long ass or last born) of the ohana as her younger sibling Harry passed soon after birth. Her dad’s 1st wife was Hoomana Noa, passed away leaving 4 kids from that marriage before he married her mom and had 6 more kids. There were 10 of them kids and she was the 9th child…John, Emma, Samuel, Marymae, Ella, Elizabeth, Theresa, Johnson, Florence, and Harry as TV was not available at the time.
Growing up in the coffee fields on the slopes of Hualalai, she attended Holualoa School, Konawaena High School and was a devoted catholic serving at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with her family. Her life was always filled with adventure like finding favor in the old filipino men who willingly gave up their car keys so she and her friends can go riding all over Kona or the movies even if it was known that no one had a driver’s license. She enjoyed riding motorcycle and partying like a rock-star…too much fun.
She met and married the love of her life, Francis Kaaumoana “Mona” Tabag. They were married in St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral Church in Kalihi. He was called Mona and she was called Chaly…only her can. They had 6 children, Desiree Melinda Momilani (husband Tim) Kimura, Francis Kauanoepio Keanuenue (wife Janeen) Umetsu-Tabag, Desilyn Sabrina Haaheo E Kuuipo Nohea (husband Kenneth) Pichay, and Franklin Boyd Kawaianapakamakani Tabag (partner Joslyn Ball). Several years later they welcomed into their lives Frederic Dominic Kaaumoana (Lori) Tabag Calma. After Mona passed away and the children became adults, Chaly moved back to the Big Island with the desire to live her life on the island she loved. It was there that her loving heart opened to a young girl vowing to have her as a daughter, Nicole Hasegawa. She was able to witness 2 more generations join her ohana, blessed with 11 grandchildren…Tim, Kawehi, Ku’u, Charlie, Manaola, Keoniku, Lawena, Kaehukai, Lani, Precious and Cherish and 4 great grandchildren…Charlei, Cruz, Lilly and Faith-Nicole.
Genealogy was a top priority in her life and the lives of her siblings. Again no TV so they would listen to their parents and kupuna talk about their ohana, making sure they remembered their names and where they came from. She and her siblings spent many hours researching and visiting ohana on all islands. Soon they were planning and inviting ohana they met and connected with to meetings that would eventually become family reunions for the Pai, Lono, Kalawa and Kanehailua lines. She was proud to say He Hawaii Au and loved being Kanaka Maoli which she reflected daily. She was a great speaker with or without a microphone and in her wit and humor was able to captivate the audiences with what she had to share. She was as transparent as glass, she was an eloquent speaker and listening to her was like listening to great music.
Her career journey came in many forms as a genealogist, security officer, food service, retail, warehouse, nursing, care giving and companionship. She always said, “hard work never killed anybody”. Amid all this she was always the life of the party whether there was a party or not, scolding, loving, compassionate and intertwined with making you laugh. She enjoyed and made lots of music, singing, dancing, and laughter, with or without alcohol wherever she went shouting “Up Yaws” or “The Party Is On”. She spoke often of the many beautiful and not so beautiful people she met in her life. There was always a lesson learned and an impact made when she spoke guaranteed to make you leave with a smiling or pondering heart that would affect your life in some way.
She spent many years near her ohana in Maili O’ahu, helping her only surviving sister Theresa, live life and take care of each other. Always there for anyone, ready to talk story, tell you off with love, encouraging the listener or visitor to take care of themselves because “I like see you again”.
She quietly battled a cancer condition for about 2 years. She would only say that she not sure what is going on, no further details. Until ohana started to see differences in her daily life such as not too hungry, not eating as much as she used to do, tired a lot, weak and slow movements, and lots of doctor visits that she non-chalantly explains, “oh it was just…. nothing serious”. In the month of March 2021, she sent a kahea out to the children, grandchildren, her sister, cousins, nieces, nephews and one by one explained that she was given the notice of stage 3 or possibly 4 lung cancer. She was not going to take any treatment so time will be spent with each other for as long as possible. She longed for visits every day and made it a point to kahea whoever was near and poured out her heart into whoever was listening, many times asking for specific foods to taste and enjoy as if it was for the last time. All she needed was a spoonful or two and she would be happy. Palm Sunday, March 28, 2021, she plans an Easter Sunday lunch with a menu of baked ham, roast turkey, potato mac salad, the Seafood Combo from Crawfish and Crab Shack, and a Queen Emma Cake. As Easter Sunday approaches she gets surprised visits from outer island ohana and is so happy and excited. She spends hours staying up talking, laughing, crying, singing, the home is filled with a beautiful aura of joy. On Saturday, April 3, 2021, she becomes very ill and is taken to Queen’s West Medical Center. After several hours of treatment, she breathes her last breath on earth and her first breath in heaven. Her spirit and soul depart at the end of Holy Week, a season she faithfully believed in as part of her strong Catholic faith. This painful loss was and is still unbearable to handle each day. In addition to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, she is survived by her sister Theresa (Inocencio) Cabrera, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Since that day, the other C disease limited any gathering or planning an event to honor her, but it was always clear that we would have to one day soon let her have her eternal rest. We tried to hold on to her as long as possible. She being the uni-cue one she is has made it clear that it is time for her present kino to be released into the environment to journey forever into the next 40-11 days. Showing herself to both suspecting and unsuspecting ohana within the past few months, we finally got it.
We tried to hold on to her as long as possible. She being the uni-cue one she is has made it clear that it is time for her present kino to be released into the environment to journey forever into the next 40-11 days. Showing herself to both suspecting and unsuspecting ohana within the past few months, we finally got it.
Celebrations is what she was all about surrounded by ohana, hoa, actually anybody who was willing to laugh, dance, sing, eat and talk fo-eva shouting Uncle Sonny Henerelau’s favorite saying, “THE PARTY IS ON.” Born and raised on Moku o Keawe in Keopu, Kona and lived a lot of her years on the island of O’ahu, her amazing-ness permeated wherever she was. So her ohana (well her immediate ones, because almost everybody was ohana to her) will be celebrating her on both islands.
Friday, June 17, 2022, from 2 to 6 pm her ohana will have a drive through visit at Lualualei Beach Park 2 otherwise known as Middle Park on Poka’i Bay Street in Wai’anae. Come spend a moment reflecting the awesome memories you will always have of her. This is the last time you will be able to hug and honi her physical being “from here to eternity”.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022, is the day of the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year. An early morning ride to Kawaihae and Keopu Cemeteries and Kamakahonu Beach (closest to Ahuena Heiau) as she wished to visit one last time. At 10am a quiet send-off is planned at Honokohau Harbor and a vessel will carry her to a perfect spot to dive into the beautiful Pacific Ocean. All our ‘aina is connected by the sea, the waves and current will carry her from shore to shore and all who loved her can go to any shore to honor her memory knowing she is there. You will probably find her sunning on the beautiful beaches in her colorful mermaid costume with planny limu in her hair saying “eh, an den?”