Nelson Kaleialoha Ma'ae, Sr. Kalili

To Nelson Kaleialoha Kalili, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Nelson, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Nelson really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Nelson was born on August 7, 1955 at Kahuku hospital in Kahuku, Hawaii. His parents were Torise and Jean Ma'ae. His father, (Torise), was born May 23, 1923 and passed away on February 23, 1991 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Nelson's mother, (Jean), was born on October 6, 1939 in Hana, Maui and passed away on July 30, 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Nelson was raised in Hauula, Hawaii. Even as a child, Nelson had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Nelson was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Nelson managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Nelson was raised with his siblings Jr., Roy, Matthew, Mike, Paul, Claudette, Joeltte, Mani, and Merid.

All of Nelson's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Nelson experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in football, basketball, track and field. In his spare time he liked art and drawing. Nelson's memorable achievements included a football scholarship.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Nelson was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Nelson simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Nelson, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Nelson's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Nelson graduated from McKinley in 1974. He enjoyed going to school very much. His favorite class in high school was wood-shop. Being an All Star football player.

Nelson never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Nelson to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Nelson delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Nelson was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Nelson utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Mark Nonaka, Jeff Nonaka and Craig. Later in life, he became friends with Jim Montgomery. Nelson loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Nelson very easy to approach. On February 14,1993 Nelson exchanged wedding vows with Cotillia Leimomi Washington at the Union Plaza - Chapel of Love in Las Vegas, Nevada. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Nelson related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Nelson had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Nelson's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Nelson had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Nelson was a real "people person," he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Nelson liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Nelson was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Nelson's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Nelson as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was retired military.

Nelson was an Army Veteran. He was in the First Infantry 1974-1976 at Fort Lewis, South Carolina and Yakama, Washington. Nelson saw action for Vietnam. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of SP4.

Nelson enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Nelson liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were singing and dancing. Nelson was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Nelson felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Nelson loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Nelson relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Nelson never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Nelson played football, track and field. Recreational sports included bowling and physical fitness. Nelson was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football, boxing, and basketball.

A generous person who often wore his heart on his sleeve, Nelson often found himself involved in activities he deemed important. He was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Outspoken in his beliefs, yet tactful in his dealings with others, Nelson was a member of several community groups, serving on committees as a volunteer coach for boxing and as a neighborhood watch.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Nelson recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member Papakolea Christian Church. During that time, he was Bible study committee.

Living life to it's fullest suited Nelson just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nelson was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Nelson's favorites was Ruby, Staffordshire Bull Terrier. They were best friends for 18 months.

Nelson believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in August 20, 1976, Nelson took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Hawaii making that home.

With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Nelson remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in helping others and studying about the Lord Jesus Christ. Even in retirement, Nelson continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Nelson passed away on August 9, 2010 at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Las Vegas, Nevada. Disorder of seizure, heart attack. He is survived by daughter Brandi Washington; grandchildren Treasure Cobb-Adams, Krystal-Tierra Turlep: godchildren Kimmie Bala, Kapale Ma'ae and Ashley Gasper; brothers Jr., Roy, Matthew, Mike, and Paul Ma'ae; sisters Claudette Erickson, Joelette Gasper, Nanette Maciel and Merida Ma'ae. Services were held at Boulder National Veteran Cemetery. Nelson was laid to rest in Boulder National Veteran Cemetery.

Nelson brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Nelson Kaleialoha Kalili lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered for his handshake and his smile.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Green Valley Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.