Solomon Kaipo Hanakeawe (Sonny) was born to Katherine & Solomon Hanakeawe, Jr. on December 31, 1955, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He arrived as a welcomed first son and a last minute tax deduction for 1955. He grew up with 2 older sisters (Memory & Kathy) a younger brother (Jason) and a younger sister (Deanna). While in Hawaii, they mostly lived in Aiea on the island of Oahu.
In the 70’s Solomon’s mom and his stepdad (Gary) moved their family to Los Angeles living first in Culver City and then relocating to Torrance. He used to tell the story of having moved to CA from HI and school mates asking if he'd lived in a grass hut. His response to those people, "Don't you watch Hawaii 5-0?!" Solomon graduated from North High School in 1973. School was not a favorite past time of his. For that, there was McMaster's Park and basketball.
Solomon loved music and taught himself to play the bass guitar. He played with the church's youth choir and a garage band with his buddies. His favorite singer: Andrae Crouch & the Disciples. He also loved Koinonia, Keith Green, jazz, R&B, and Maranatha music. He loved and owned what later became classic muscle cars - despite having once owning a Pinto. He liked action movies. He enjoyed all kinds of fast food, bbq, Hawaiian food, Chinese food, and best of all - his mother's blueberry cheesecake. He attended El Camino College and obtained his Associate's degree from L.A. Harbor College. He worked several jobs but was employed longest and most enjoyably with TRW and AT&T.
Solomon's great joy was his daughter, Michelle, or as he called her, "Sweetheart." His joy grew 3x over with the birth of his granddaughters: Keilana, Noelani, and Leilani. His eyes lit up like a sky filled with fireworks at the sight, sound, or thought of them. They held his heart on their fingers from the moment they arrived.
Solomon was a preacher's kid, with Solomon, Katherine, and Gary serving in ministry at various points in times. As a PK, he was exposed early & often to the gospel message, the purpose for being, the truth, and the source of eternal life.
Anyone who knew him, knew there were things (lots of things he was stubborn about) and topping that list are politics (conservative is best) and faith. For him, there is only one God and one way to salvation - Jesus Christ. It was nondebatable and he really did want everyone to know. Though there were times when his walk wavered, his faith never did. And that faith became his firm foundation, his rock of salvation, his covering of grace, his reason & purpose for being, his source, his comfort, and ultimately, his Blessed Assurance.
His dad, mom, stepdad, stepmom, sister, and nephew, as well as other well-loved family members, went to glory before him and I'm sure it was a wonderful reunion. He would want us all to know, this is not a final farewell but a temporary, "till we meet again." And most importantly he would want us all to know on the most personal of levels - Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation, the only road to heaven. And he is hoping to see us all again one day - in that perfect place.
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