Mary Keonaona Apio

On September 8, 1934 the Lord brought to life an angel named Mary, born to migrant worker Benito Galindo and Annabelle Kancamahi Ohumikini on the small Island of Lana’ i Hawaii. In a very idealic environment Mary and her older sister Phoebe enjoyed life on the pineapple plantation in Lana’i City and the warm Pacific Ocean waters of Keamoku.

Their father Benito would bring his family to Lalaina, Maui to shop for necessities and often would provide sweet treats for the girls, Japanese sweet manju was Mary’s favorite at the time. Another favorite for Mary was enjoying a hot bath at the Japanese Bath House, which her mother Annabelle was the caretaker. Learning to fish, make dry salt from the ocean water naturally on the beach taught to them by their mother, collecting shells for decorations always made Mary happy. In the 1940’s when Mary was 6-7 years old, Benito’s job relocated to Honolulu and that began a new chapter for her family (more vehicles, taller buildings and people of different cultures)

School was very important to Mary but she loved to learn even more. World War II engulfed her surroundings when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Living in Kalihi was a very trying time for her family, as Kalihi was in close vicinity to Pearl Harbor, Mary saw planes in the sky’s, heard loud noises in the distance and curfew restrictions being imposed.

In the late 1940’s, Mary met and eventually married John Kapelena Apio and the two would begin to start their own family; Flora, John, Dennis, Sherrylyn, Karen, Linda and April. Travel was next for Mary, in 1959 Hawaii State Hood found The Apio’s and they began a new move to Germany, how Mary looked forward to learning and seeing new surroundings; Hailbron, Germany was a place of new culture, people, sights and food!!! Ah yes food, new sweets, and pastries, a blessing for Mary. Military life, meeting new friends and attending church became the norm, her family grew to seven children by the time our father got orders to Fort Lewis, Washington.

This would be a road trip of a life time for the family, John and Mary would be surrounded by their children in a new station wagon, they went across the mid-United States from New Jersey to Pennsylvania then Ohio, Kansas, Colorado and to California all the while enjoying the company of her family and experiencing the United States this gave her children exposure and life long memories.

California was a rest stop to see John’s sister Louisa and visit with family for a while because the last leg was going up to coast to Washington their family’s destination. Mary knew her new house would bring new friends, experiences and memories and so true to her feelings all went well. In 1964 John was to serve his country in South Korea, Mary and the kids moved to Grandma Annabelle’s home in Makaha. The family loved the beaches, the food and being with uncles, aunties, cousins every day for the next two years. John had come back to Hawaii, but was ordered to Vietnam, a country in turmoil.

It was not till September of 1967 when John again served his country and the family was relocated to Kaiserslanten, Germany. The children, a little older and with past memories began to live the next three years forming new bonds and life experiences. In September in 1970’s, John and Mary and their children relocated to their home on Fort Hood Texas and after 3 years purchased a new home that Mary always wanted in Killeen. She so loved her flowers, plants, trees animals and anything that nature would offer and especially her family and many friends.

The love for Hawaiian, Philipino, Japanese, Chinese and all that she tried were her favorite. Mary, you will be missed and the memories will last a lifetime.

Maholo and God Bless