Florence Kay

Beloved mother and wife

Florence Porras Kay, 102, passed peacefully of natural causes in Hospice on October 12, 2026 in Kahului, Maui surrounded by her family.

Florence was born on April 13, 1924 in Puunene, Maui to Eladio and Flora Porras. She was the 5th child in a family of nine. She had five sisters; Sophie, Annie, Rachael, Margaret and Bobbie and three brothers; Walter, Randy and Albert. She had very fond memories of growing up on the plantation with her family and friends, She enjoyed playing sports, basketball was her favorite, and all the social events of the church and the plantation community. She often reminisced of accompanying her mother as a very young child to visit Flora's comadres in Paia, H'poko, Kula, Keokea and Lahaina in the 1930's, when traveling these distances was not common. Fortunately Eladio had good friends among the Filipino bachelor huis who owned cars and provided the rides.

She attended Puunene School, skipping the second grade, and was a proud member of the 2nd graduating class of Baldwin High School in 1941, She spent the war years on Maui, first joining the Women's Air Raid Defense (WARDs) as a plotter of ship and aircraft movements early in the war, before working for the Navy at NASKAH.

After the war she moved to Honolulu where she met and married Emmet James Holt Kay, Sr. on February 2, 1952. They were married for 44 years until Emmet's passing in 1996. They were blessed with two children; Emmet Kimo and Puanani.

During their marriage, in support of his profession as a pilot, she moved her family and lived on Guam and Saipan, also in Laos in Southeast Asia, where he was shot down and survived as a civilian POW. Following his release she traveled with Emmet to Washington D.C. for a visit to the White House.

After Emmet's passing Florence took great pleasure in helping raise her mo'opuna; Anianiku and Kimo Holo, her pride and joys. Her fondest memories were of caring for them as little ones; feeding, bathing and putting them to bed. Recently she was finally blessed with her first and only great grandchild Kupa'aponomaikahaku, the love of her heart, at age 101.

Florence lived a long and fruitful life and touched many lives. Her greatest pleasure was visiting with her family and extended family, especially sister Bobbie and Abel Cravalho who were there whenever she came home to Maui on vacation with her family. And sister Sophie and Louie Eberly in California, spending many happy hours and days with them and their family. She had a special bond with nieces Floralei and Alan Spatcher and Marylou and John Santiago, nephew Allen and Rita Eberly and all their children and grandchildren.

Among her happiest recent events was her 100th Birthday Celebration in Kihei in 2024 with over 200 of her closest family and friends who made a special effort to come to Maui and be there to honor and celebrate a life well lived.

Florence is survived by her children; Emmet Kimo and Puanani, son-in-law Ipo Mossman, grand children; Anianiku and Kimo Holo and wife Kana Holt-Mossman, great grandson Kupa'a as well as her brother Albert Porras and sisters-in-law Ilonia (Walter) Porras and Theresa (Randy) Porras and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services are on Friday, Nov, 20, 10 am - 12 noon at Norman's Mortuary in Wailuku. Followed by refreshments and fellowship. Florence will be interred in Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, joining her husband Emmet, on Monday, Nov. 23 at 1pm.