Samuel Nahinu Kekauoha

It is with immense sorrow and incredible gratitude that we announce the loss of our booster shot. Our Dad, Samuel Nahinu Kekauoha, has returned home to his Heavenly Father on January 11, 2025, and is reunited with his eternal sweetheart, Claudia. Our hearts are completely shattered, but we are so incredibly happy that our parents are together again. We know that they are both happy and healthy and ready to holoholo and talk-story with all their loved ones that they have missed so much. We hope Mom is enjoying her one and only chance to finally be the one introducing Dad to everyone at the reunion.

Dad was born on November 21, 1936, to Hosea Nahinu “Randolph” Kekauoha and Helen Lydia Moike in Pauoa, Oahu. He was the 2 nd of 6 children, and he loved his family dearly. He graduated from Kahuku High School #RR4L, earned an Associate's Degree as a member of the first graduating class of Church College of Hawaii, now BYU-Hawaii, and then graduated from BYU-Provo. He faithfully served a mission in Hong Kong and returned home to become a teacher at Laupahoehoe, Hana, and Radford High School. He was a gifted teacher who made a lifelong impact on his students, who visited him often and loved him dearly.

During all these adventures, he met and married our beautiful mother, Claudia Edmunds, in June 1970. They were happily married for 55 years and together raised 5 daughters in beautiful Laie. They were never apart and worked tirelessly to create the life that they loved, raise their family, and serve the Lord. Mom and Dad were always united in their values - God, family, and Church - and these principles guided every decision they made together. Despite their different backgrounds and cultures, they worked hard together and loved each other through every challenge and every blessing, right up until the very end.

Our Dad had two passions in his life – the Lord and his family. He served the Lord tirelessly in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints as a Scout Leader, YM leader, Bishopric member, High Council member, and many other callings. He loved most of all to serve the Young Men of Laie 1st Ward. He assisted many boys as they earned the Eagle Rank and made lifelong friends in the service of his Heavenly Father and those teenage boys. But beyond his service, he simply loved the Lord with all his heart, might, mind, and strength. Almost every conversation anyone had with our Dad came back to his love and gratitude to his Heavenly Father. In his later years, he struggled with dementia, but he never forgot the words to his favorite primary song, “I am a Child of God”. It was often his evening prayer, and he would change the words as he spoke to his Heavenly Father and told Him about his day and the things he needed. It is one of our family’s most treasured memories.

His second passion was his family. Our Dad focused all his energy and love on his family, both his beloved wife and daughters, as well as his extended family. He taught his girls the importance of faith, hard work, service and family. We have endless stories of waking up at the crack of dawn because someone needed help or because something needed to be done. Our Dad worked hard for us and worked hard with us. He was affectionately known to most people as Uncle Sam. Dad spent hours doing family history, holding family reunions and doing temple work. We have fond memories of working together, with our ohana to put together enormous reunions, year after year. He loved seeing his work continue with the younger generation. In his later years, his most repeated question to us girls was if we have our family history and do we know our family? And because of all his efforts, we can all honestly answer, yes, Dad, we do.

Dad is survived by his 5 daughters Pua (Marty) Van Haaften, Lilia (Kanamu) Tollefsen, Kahanu (Dave) Brubaker, Kahi (Mike) Winget and Nia Kekauoha. He would be sad if we didn’t mention that he is also survived by his 4 sons- in later years, we would have to introduce ourselves to Dad by our husband’s name. He is also survived by his sister, Helen Kahawaii, and his brother, Randy Kekauoha. It is also no small thing that he is survived by his 24 mo’opuna, who brought him so much joy and 7 great-grand babies, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, his brother William and his wife Lani, his sister Mary and her husband Ted, and his brother Hosea. He was also preceded in death by many stepsiblings. He loved them all very, very much.

Our ohana wishes to thank all those who helped us care for our Dad and Mom in their final months. We can never express the love and gratitude that we feel because of your kindness and love. You all look so good!