Iunisi Holani Pepa

Iunisi Holani Pepa, the beloved heart and matriarch of our family, passed away peacefully at the age of 72. Born on September 25, 1953, in Leimatu’a, Vava’u, Tonga. Married to Simote Manumanu Pepa in 1986 and widowed on February 6, 2005, in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

A woman of immense faith and quiet grace, Iunisi dedicated herself entirely to our family; building a foundation of love and resilience that will sustain us for this new journey without her. To know her was to understand the sincerity in how much she loved those around her. Iunisi was the steady hand and the guiding light for all who were lucky enough to call her Mom or Grandma.

Beyond her tireless work ethic, Iunisi was a gifted creator.She loved her arts and crafts.With a unique ability to find inspiration in the smallest of details, she turned the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Her artistic spirit was one of her favorite ways to express her love.We were blessed tenfold by the works of our mother’s hands.

Iunisi’s legacy lives on in the family she raised and the many lives she touched with her generous spirit. Her smile, her wisdom, and her artful soul will be deeply missed but never forgotten. She is survived by Salome Pepa, Taniela Pepa (Mele Pepa), Melekaufusi Pepa Latu (Heiteni Latu), Olivia Vea, Sini Nafe Pepa (Loisi Pepa) and her cherished grandchildren, who will carry her memory in their hearts forever.

A service to celebrate Iunisi’s life will be held on Sunday April 26 and Monday April 27, 2026, at First United Methodist Church of Honolulu (1020 S Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96814).