Here are some excerpts of the stories and comments
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ORIGINAL INSTALLATION OF MEIPALA PLACE SIGN |
"For several years, several people had contemplated some type of memorial for Aunty Mabel, but not much seemed appropriate and it was ‘back burnered’. After a period of time, while I was walking in the fringes of Sunset Ridge, I happened to walk down an empty cul-de-sac; no houses; no sold lots; nothing. Just beautiful views of the Pacific and Haleakala. I thought what a wonderful memorial for Aunty Mabel this street would make. I called Chris Lau, the developer of Sunset Ridge, and told him of my idea. He agreed and I petitioned the County for the name of ‘Meipala Place’; the petition was granted and I contacted a trophy shop in Kona to make the plaque that still appears at the entrance to that street..." The Inscription on the plaque: "This street is dedicated to the memory of Waikoloa's First Lady, Aunty Mabel "Meipala" Ishii. (January 2, 1937 - September 6, 2003) Loved and missed. A hui hou. Aloha `e." |
Photos of the April 23, 2008 Street Sign Installation and Blessing |
"Aunty Mabel was a dear friend to me in the early 2000's when I located permanently to our small Village. I was in her wee office space so frequently... She was a living encyclopedia on the history of the Village in addition to knowing where to look to find any information needed! Now we have that tribute to her down the street In Sunset Ridge!
"Aunty was that special lady who made our transition to full time Hawaii living so pleasurable ! She was the life and breath of our Village!"
"Each September, a close knit of us ‘old timers’ will email each other, no matter where we are, to 'join our hearts' to remember our beloved Aunty Mabel. Just [sharing this story] brings tears to my eyes [and] love in my heart to remember this woman who made Waikoloa the wonderful place it is to live. She exuded the Aloha spirit and made Waikoloa Village a special place to live and she lived in Honoka`a [Pa`auilo]! She was everyone’s ‘Aunty Mabel’ and there were not too many problems she could not take care of or answer, as her knowledge reached far beyond Waikoloa! When I first moved there in 1997, she became the source to all my questions! I enjoyed talking to her so much I began volunteering in her office, where we’d share, eat and laugh--all day! She enjoyed helping all the new homeowners who moved to Waikoloa and got to know each one of them AND their kids, personally! Aunty Mabel became a part of your family--as she did with mine! Everyone who knew her, loved her! After all these years, we still miss and love her dearly and she will always hold a special place in our herts. A hui hou Aunty Mabel - Aloha nui loa!
"Mabel arrived at the office at 5:00 in the morning, and left at 6:00 in the evening. She brought color-coordination to a whole new level. If Mabel's color of the day was purple, she came to the office donning purple eyeshadow, purple nail polish, purple earrings, a purple dress... and even purple shoes to boot! Many activities brought the staff close together...[and] food, by far, was at the top of the list. The office closed from 12 noon to 1 p.m. when, every day, the co-workers ate lunch together. Part of the fare was a tonic of laughter. There was never a serious lunch... Mabel did everything. She was a pillar."
"She was quite a woman. God's blessing on you and all who loved her."
"I was thinking about Aunty Mabel all day yesterday, reminiscing back to all those wonderful memories, which continue to 'bond us' together! Such wonderful, treasured friendships! Attached is my favorite pix of us, I'm sure you all remember me showing you it throughout the years... I still keep it here on my desk... it makes me smile & takes me back to those daily lunches of laughter... I sure miss them!"
"Aunty Mabel, First Lady of Waikoloa, was a true friend and lived ALOHA with style and grace."
"I met Aunty Mabel (as I always called her) early in 1986, just after she started working for the Waikoloa Village Association. From the get go we became fast friends. She exemplified the 'aloha spirit'... new arrival at Waikoloa Village could not get out of her office without a huge hug and wish of aloha. I have always been proud that she welcomed me and considered me to be 'hanai,' a lofty honor which I cherish. When Waikoloa lost Aunty it was an extreme 'gut punch.' To this day I cannot walk into the WVA offices without noticing the extreme loss of [her] aloha... Her spirit lives on but it will never be replaced. Ciao Aunty!"
Notes from an attendee at the Meipala Place street ceremony April 5, 2008 - Waikoloa Village Sunsete Ridge "We are all gathered at the site... a cool breeze sweeps upward from the ocean, and a cloud casts an ominous shadow over the dedication spot. The cloud formation is unusually low and could be seen from a far distance. It is a chilly and spiritual wind. It whirls around everyone, softly, gently... A presence is felt by everyone; no one speaks... It is quickly followed by uhiwai, a light mist that sprinkles down, touching our hair, shoulders, arms, and as you looked upward toward the sky, it touched our faces and lips. Someone whispers, "It's tears from heaven." Roger Hansen (creator of the memorial) and Justyn Carvalho (one of Meipala's grandsons) mount the memorial plaque on the corner of Meipala Place and Kilakila Street in Waikoloa Village. |
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Photos by: Kathy Fraser
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Waikoloa Middle & Elementary School As the Librarian for several years, Paula Kamiya was instrumental in obtaining grants for the school's Community Learning Center and Art in Public Places program. The art piece, Labyrinth – Earth and Concrete 2003, symbolized a "contemplative pathway of life for the individual. The journey is marked by stones which represent experiences along life's path." Paula, who is also an artist, crafted a special mosaic in honor of Mabel for one of the pillars of the newly dedicated "Labyrinth." Paula and the labyrinth committee provided the following explanation for the mosaic.
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Waikoloa Village Office
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