Luana Schofield

passed away on June 25, 2011. Luana Schofield, wife of the late Woodburn T. Schofield, mother of six children, John Schofield, Woodburn Schofield Jr., Deborah Pualani Blackmon, Rex Schofield, Kathy Maelani Hernandez and Morgan Schofield, was reunited with "Scho" and her grandson Baby Ruben on Saturday, June 25, 2011. She was surrounded by her loving sons and daughters, grandchildren and extended family, listening to her beloved Hawaiian music as she left our arms to meet her Lord Jesus Christ. Luana or "Tutu," was born on June 1, 1934 in the Puna district of the island of Hawai'i to Josephine Ka'awa. Her grandparents were Andrew and Kalamalu Ka'awa (Ka'awalauolepio) of Kaupo, Mau'i in the Hana district. Luana's mother died when she was 3 years old and she and her two sisters were placed in the Susannah Wesley Home for Girls in the Kalihi District of Honolulu, O'ahu. She was raised in the "Home" by House Mothers and became "sisters" with the other "Susie Girls." She was popular at Farrington High School (class of 1952) and in her senior year was a cheerleader and the O'ahu Princess for the school's Lei Day ho'okupu. After graduation Luana joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Ellington Air Force Base near Houston, Texas. At the beginning of her career as a W.A.F., she met the love of her life, "Scho," and they were married April 10, 1954. She danced the hula and sang in her own Hawaiian combo traveling and performing across Texas. Luana and Scho traveled the world with their family for 25 years and after Scho retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1979, Luana attended classes at Glendale Community College. She was a member of the GCC choir and was featured as "Bloody Mary" in GCC's "South Pacific." Unfortunately, shortly afterwards she contracted lupus and immediately had to curtail her pursuits. In 1981, Luana and Scho and other local friends from Hawaii founded the Phoenix area Hawaiian club, "Lau Kanaka No Hawaii," with the purpose of sharing the Hawaiian culture and it has grown tremendously over the years. Luana's surviving family includes her 6 children, 3 daughter in-laws, Darla, Patti and Jennifer; local nephew Joe; 13 grandchildren, Brendon, Jeremy, Justin, Kealoha, Bryanna, Aaron, Ryan, Robert, Morgan, Makoa, Kalani, Malia and Woody; and 5 great-grandchildren. Malia Brooke, Brandon, Jordan, Xavier and Bailey. She has two sisters, Chris Cui and husband Ben in Honolulu, HI and Isabella Shue and husband Harry in Las Vegas, NV and a large number of nieces and nephews in Hawaii and the Mainland. Even though she developed several health challenges over the last two decades, Luana lived each day with a wonderful smile and hearty laugh. She shared her life and love with all in the true "Aloha Spirit." Luana's memorial service will be on Thursday, June 30th at 6pm at West Resthaven Cemetery and Funeral Home, 6450 W. Northern Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301.