Elaine Kazue Foo Sum

She is survived by her sister Irene Imada and brother Wilbert Kajihara. Husband Paul Foo Sum; son Ed Foo Sum; brothers Ernest, Roy and Lyle; and sisters Takako and Gladys pre-deceased her.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 27, at Po`okela Church in Makawao with visitation at 3 p.m. and services at 4 p.m.

Her burial is set for 2 p.m., Saturday, June 28, at Maui Memorial Park in Wailuku.

Elaine, a Pukalani resident, was born on April 23, 1930, in Lahaina to the late Sakae and Hitoe Ichiki Kajihara.

She attended Makawao and Maui High schools. As the eldest child, Elaine had to care for her younger siblings and help her parents in the family general store in Makawao, M. Ichiki Store.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1952 and 5th Year Degree in 1953 from the University of Hawaii-Manoa.

Elaine was employed for 33 years by the state Department of Education as a teacher and language arts specialist on Oahu, Hawai`i Island and Maui. One of her longer stints was 13 years at Makawao Elementary, where she retired in 1986. She also taught at Fort Shafter and Palolo schools on Oahu, Honomu School on Hawai`i Island and Puunene and Paia schools on Maui and was the HEP Installation Teacher for Tri-isle Schools from 1970-73.

After retirement, Elaine devoted a lot of her time to Po`okela Church, where she was the longest active member. She began attending Sunday School in the 1930s, was baptized in 1954, volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, joined Bible study and was a charter member of the Po`okela Church Quilting `Ohana.

Elaine enjoyed cooking, baking, crafts and tending to her plants. She avidly followed the happenings of her nieces and nephews and other family members and her upbeat and positive nature made her a beloved aunty.

When asked for some words of wisdom, Elaine replied: “Live by the Golden Rule and start each day with a grateful heart.”