Augustine "Gus" Manliguis

We regret to announce that Augustine “Gus” Manliguis, died at 6:20am on December 13, 2011 at the Citrus Valley Hospice Center in West Covina. Gus, born in Pepeekeo, Hawaii on March 2, 1937, many years a welder by trade, lost his battle with Amyloidosis. It is a disease that occurs when substances called amyloid proteins build up in your organs. Amyloidosis is rare, and the exact cause is often unknown.

He was in hospice for 4 days, constantly visited by many, grief stricken family members who were not aware of his ongoing illness. Gus was a very private man and didn’t want any attention brought on him or to bring worry to any of his loved ones. We were so very blessed with quite a few moments while in Hospice, when Gus would awaken and talk with visitors. Each time he woke, he was so happy to see so many loving faces greeting him. His siblings, brothers Al and Rocky and sister Eileen got to spend special moments with their brother before he passed quietly, gently and peacefully in the early morning hours. His brother Calvin will attend the Military Burial Service.

Gus grew up attending grade school at Pepeekeo and Kalanianaole elementary school, then went on to graduate from Hilo High School in 1955. While growing up as a child he enjoyed playing sports particularly where he excelled in Track & Field, Baseball, and Basketball. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was Honorably discharged in August, 1958, then enlisting in the Marine Corp Reserves. He received a Good Conduct Medal and Rifle Expert Badge.

In later years, Gus was probably best associated with the L.A. Hawaiian’s Basketball team which he formed in 1965, and which consisted of Native Hawaiian locals. Later on, this team would be renamed and better known as the L.A. Kanaka’s and a Fast pitch softball team was formed with the same name. Gus & his long time friend formed a club of the same name & hosted many successful events for the local Hawaiian community. Gus also participated in a Hawaiian Festival in Northridge, California for over 25 years hosting a booth of Kalua Pig Plate lunch. He was renowned for his cooking talents and gained many fans with his famous Kalua Pig, teriyaki chicken, chicken long rice, and his wontons.

Gus leaves behind a loving wife of 49 years, Jessie, son Michael, daughter Lani, and his grandchildren Marie, Joel, Nathan, & Kaylin. A Rosary and Mass were held on December 16, 2011 at St. Christopher Church in West Covina, CA. There will be a Military Honors Service held at Riverside National Cemetery on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12:45pm. A small reception will immediately follow at The American Legion Post 79 in Riverside, CA.

EULOGY FOR AUGUSTINE "GUS" MANLIGUIS

Written by Dr. Maury Manliguis (Nephew)

This eulogy is in remembrance of Augustine Manliguis, otherwise known as Gus to his family and friends. Uncle Gus was born in Pepeekeo Hospital (in the South Hilo District) on the Big Island of Hawaii, on March 2, 1937 to Estaquio and Perfecta Manliguis. He was the 5th child in a family of 9 children that consisted of 7 boys and 2 girls. His brothers and sisters in descending order are: Albert Manliguis, Rose Omoto, Manuel (Monaco) Manliguis, Daniel Manliguis, Larry Manliguis, Ronald (Rocky) Manliguis, Calvin Manliguis, and Eileen Kagawa.

Gus grew up attending grade school at Pepeekeo and Kalanianaole elementary school, then went on to graduate from Hilo High School in 1955. While growing up as a child he enjoyed playing sports particularly where he excelled in Track & Field, Baseball, and Basketball.

After graduating from High School, he joined the Marines and served his country for three years; thereafter being honorably discharged in 1958. After leaving the military he made his home in California where he then went on to meet his future wife, Jesse, whom he remained married to for 49 years until his passing on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. Gus and Jesse went on to have two children, Mike and Lani, and four grandchildren – Marie, Joel, Nathan, and Kaylin.

Gus was known by his family and friends as an avid sports fan. When visiting him at his home you could always count on him having the television tuned in to a ballgame…be it football, basketball, or baseball. Along this same vein of love for sports…Gus can probably be best associated with the L.A. Hawaiian’s Basketball team which he formed in 1965, and which consisted of Hawaii born local boys. Later on, this team would be renamed and better known as the L.A. Kanaka’s.

Although he is my uncle, I really didn’t come to know him and the rest of the family until just about four years ago when I moved to California. Prior to that (with the exception of a brief week of contact in 2004 incidentally during another uncle’s funeral) I hadn’t had any communication with uncle Gus, aunt Jesse, Mike and Lani since I’d been a kid – probably around the age of 10 years old when he’d brought his fast-pitch softball team to play in a tournament in Hilo. So I’d guess that it’d be safe to say that I really met him for the first time in 2007.

What I can tell you is that from the very beginning he was as welcoming and as warm a person that I’d ever met. And I would venture to guess that just about anyone who even remotely knew him would agree to that! Nothing ever really seemed to make him upset or angry…except for when Aunty Jesse moved a little too slow and made them late for engagements.

And although Gus was known for his love of sports, I will go out on a limb to say that he was even better known for his love of COOKING!!! Boy did he love to cook! His players from the Kanaka’s softball team can probably tell you best about his cooking…because he sponsored a food booth at a local Hawaiian festival (the Ho’olaulea) which was held in Northridge every year, where Gus and his family, and his team operated a stand for over 25 years! Because of that it is my opinion that his specialty food was Kalua Pork, rice, and Macaroni salad. It was usually a hit, and I will attest to that because the first I helped at the festival his booth ran out of food within the first several hours of opening. It was ONO (Good for those of you who need a translation) and impressed upon me just how much people liked his food. Yet others might say that he made a pretty wicked Chili Verde…, while still others might say he made the best Chili Beans…and so on and so…In the end we can all say that he was a pretty darn good cook.

Not to mention the fact that he made a pretty good “Mai Tai’s-Jungle Juice” too! My cousins and the family friends tell me that the teams who played against the L.A. Kanaka’s looked forward to playing against Uncle Gus and the team not only because the teams he coached were talented, but especially so, because of the famous food that he cooked for after the games, which sounds to me as though was the real highlight of things. I believe he ended up feeding the entire crowd at times!

I asked my Uncle’s family – his brothers and sisters to try to relay to me some interesting or lighthearted stories that they remembered about him…one particular story that stuck out was of him during his high school years. It appears that uncle Gus had a date (I believe it was for the prom), but he had no money and wanted to get a flower lei for his date. So he promptly went to the cemetery, gathered up some flowers, and made his own lei to present to her…always the resourceful man ☺ …A fun loving person was he, my cousin Mike tells me that he loved going to the Santa Anita Race track to watch the horse races when Mike was off from work, and how he loved to take a look at the horses in the stables prior to the race – so that he could pick the winner! …And there was a time when Mike was younger. Mike was getting ready for bed and walked into his room without turning the lights on he got into bed only to be scared out of his pants, when he felt something in his bed….it was uncle Gus lying there stiffly as he played his prank on him.

As we gather here to remember this man – A Husband, a Dad, and a Grandpa to some…and Gus, Uncle Gus, Gus-Gus, and Coach to others…it warms my heart to know that Uncle Gus, was a very loving, caring, and nurturing man. His love for his family was without measure! He never stopped doting on his grandchildren, Marie, Joel, Nathan, and Kaylin. He was certainly the proud father of his two children and their spouses (my cousins) – Mike and Marie, and Lani and Piet with an abundance of love and understanding. He always extended the most gracious of hospitality to everyone else, making anyone who came across him feel welcome.

What touches me most is that as I reminisce about these final weeks and days spent with him…and what I think paints a good character picture of him.

I remember when I came to his bedside in the hospital how he asked me to help Mike watch over “the family” and to care for them as their private doctor. Uncle Gus spent most of his time sleeping and out of consciousness in his last days with us…one of the most touching moments in my mind, and that will probably stay with me forever, are some of the last words he spoke to his wife (aunty Jesse) as he periodically woke for a few minutes at a time – as he laid there on the bed at Citrus Valley Hospice he looked at her with tears and concern in his face and voiced his worry to her about whether or not she would be okay after he passed.

His sister, my aunty Eileen, even told me that he asked her to take care of his brothers and sisters, and family, and friends, by cooking Chicken Long Rice and sushi!! How’s that for always being the thoughtful host – all the way until the end. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Aunt, and cousins-Mike and Lani, for allowing me the privilege of delivering this eulogy because it really is an honor and my pleasure to paint you a picture about uncle Gus.