Kay Kikue Akamu

August 11, 1921 – March 1, 2020

Kay passed away on March 1, 2020 at the age of 98. She was born in Honolulu to Imakichi and Haki Wakisaka. She led a full and active life at her home in Nuuanu. Preceded in death by husband, Walter; sister, Frances; and brother, Richard. She is survived by children, Matthew (Mikiko), Peter, Lindsey, and Nancy (Kenny) Hiu; grandson, Bradley (Yannica); and sister, Marion. Private inurnment held at Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Rememberances

Kay Akamu was born on August 11, 1921 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her parents, Imakichi and Haki Wakisaka were “Issei” immigrants from Japan who worked in the plantations on Oahu after arriving in the late 19th century. Kay and her siblings, Frances, Richard and Marion lived in Honolulu and Kaneohe.

Her children, Matthew, Peter, Lindsey and Nancy, want to tell you that they are proud of Kay and her late husband Walter. Their parents were honest, hard-working and loving parents who, by example, taught them how to live with principles and values. They know that they were protected and nurtured to grow and develop into what they are today.

Kay was also very proud of her only grandson, Bradley.

Kay went to school in Kaneohe and Honolulu and graduated from Farrington High School. She was a sort of jack of all trades. She was a secretary at Pearl Harbor, stay at home mom, real estate sales agent and a teacher’s assistant at Royal Elementary School. Walter and Kay purchased homes and Kay ended up managing them as rental homes.

While Walter was mostly working long hours in construction, Kay was the disciplinarian for the kids. As they grew up, they had to do chores every day cleaning the kitchen, setting the table, washing dishes, sweeping the floor, putting plates and utensils away and taking out the rubbish. The three boys learned that they could not just fool around, goof off and make trouble.

If you met Kay, you would know how friendly and helpful she was. She always had something nice to say but at the same time if she needed to do something, it had to be done correctly. She had her way of doing things and she would not back down when some task wasn’t meeting her standards.

Kay was a good cook and a wonderful baker. Her signature dessert was her famous chocolate cake! She always brought dessert to family gatherings and upon arrival, the first thing everyone would ask us is “did your mother bring her chocolate cake?!”. She also made great date bars cookies and the best banana bread – always so moist. Occasionally, the neighbors would ask for one of her cakes and she would gladly bake one and deliver it too!

Kay was a talented seamstress. She attended Kimata Fashion School, a well known seamstress school during that time. She sewed a lot of Nancy’s clothes through elementary school and also sewed the bridesmaids dresses for her wedding.

Kay also prided herself with her home and yard. The house was always clean, neat and organized. She had a green thumb caring for anthriums, orchids, fruit trees, white ginger, bird of paradise, gardenia and roses. When family and friends would visit, they always left with something: flowers, mountain apple, plant clippings, potted plants, homemade guava jelly or ume (pickled peaches).

Kay had a passion for watching tennis and golf on TV. She enjoyed following her favorite players such as Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods.

Kay was a strong, determined and independent woman. When she had a minor stroke, she drove herself to the emergency room, only after she made and delivered her ginger lei. She made a full recovery and maintained a daily routine of walking and gardening that she practiced for the rest of her life.

We are fortunate that she lived a full and happy life until her final day; and we are most grateful that she shared her life with us.

Walter Akamu

August 3, 1918 – September 14, 2001

Introduction (Given at gravesite service for Kay on June 30, 2020)

Walter Akamu, Kay’s husband, died in 2001. Kay wrote a eulogy for Walter but it was not given at Walter’s funeral service. After Kay died, her handwritten eulogy was discovered in Walter’s funeral files. We think that Kay saved her note for a reason knowing that it would be found after her death. Now that Kay will be laid to rest next to Walter, it seems appropriate to give a voice to Kay’s eulogy to her husband at this time.

By Kay K. Akamu

Walter Akamu passed away a week ago, September 14. Though he is no longer with us, each of us has memories that continue to keep him a part of our lives. Allow me to share some of mine.

It must have been Tuesday morning when I noticed that our mailbox had fallen off its stand. My remark was “No more Walter – Who’s going to fix it?” The instant I saw the mailbox on the curbing, Walter had come to mind. It was a reaction—no, a habit that I had developed that everything will be okay as long as we get in touch with Walter. He had the know-how, tools and materials to help us—or if he didn’t have the right materials, he would go to his favorite store—Kilgo’s on Sand Island Road. When the job was too big or too complex he would call a friend. And when the expert friend came, Walter was around to see the project through. With no such talents in our household, we have relied on Walter’s expertise for the past 40 years.

It was easy to ask Walter for help because, not only was he knowledgeable, he was approachable, and most importantly, so willing. He was a great improviser—he was able to combine his basic understanding of how things work with materials available.

Walter was a man of many interests. Not only did he fix things, he created things such as newspaper tubes; a smoker in which he prepared turkeys—not only for his family, but for our neighbors as well; fishing lures and other fishing equipment. He also worked on larger projects such as his multi-level fish pond complete with filters and pumps in which he raised koi, tropical fish and even edible shrimp! He made railings for the stairs, walkways and borders for his yard. Each work completed to his high standards of workmanship and artistic design.

He laid out attractive, healthy and prolific beds of anthuriums, begonias, and other flowers. Springtime brought spikes of sweet smelling honohono orchids and white ginger. There were the bananas, mountain apples, peaches, guavas, and vegetables – all of which he shared with us.

He liked fishing and came home with fresh fish such as opelu and mahimahi. He was a poor sailor but persevered and became a good fisherman, I understand. We loved the fillets and chunks of fish—but even more, the heads and bones of the fish that he brought. We were lucky. Sometimes the opelu was prepared—his way—sprinkled with salt and cayenne pepper and fried. They were delicious!

Walter always announced his arrival at our house by ringing the copper bell that is attached to our back gate. It rings with movement—but Walter gave the clapper additional help—and his ring was the loudest when delivering his bounties.

We often sat and chatted—as neighbors often do. There was no agenda. The topics were whatever came to our minds—happenings in our neighborhood, our nation, the world, our daily experience including sights seen and insights gained on our trips, and most importantly about our families.

Walter, not only loved people and plants, but he loved animals. There were always new pets around the house. He fed the strays—cats, birds, dogs, and even a scrawny chicken which grew up to become a handsome rooster.

A particularly loved stray was Smokey—a short-legged black dog. Matt had found him on the golf course, but when he brought him home, Smokey became Walter’s pet for he cared for him, played with him, and took him in the front seat of his truck whenever he went out.

Walter was not a religious person but I believe he was very spiritual. He was a steward for our world. He had a deep love and respect for all things. He not only treasured all of nature’s bounty but also other things. He was a man who lived the concepts of ohana and aloha daily—a very caring, generous and sincere person.

For himself, he set high standards and without fanfare worked patiently and intently to make life better for all.

He asked little for himself and tried to be as self sufficient as possible. I can still see him trying to shift the gear on his truck when he could hardly move his arthritic arm. He used two hands to shift—and that without complaint or even mention. The same was true when he found it harder to walk. He held on to the railing to go down to the workshop in the basement or to care for his fish and plants. He was a doer.

He was a brave man—one who showed us how to live each day to the fullest while confronted with two life threatening illnesses over a period of years. Fortunately for Walter, I (his partner for 50+ years) shared many of the same strong values and characteristics—which enabled us to raise 4 children—Matt, Peter, Lindsey and Nancy. Each has learned well from their parents’ actions.

Yes, memories are precious, they’re magical for they rekindle and sustain the closeness that we have experienced.

Walter, thanks for the memories.