Haili Congregational Church is mourning the loss of one of its own.
Dr. Elizabeth Haweaokalani Desha Brown Waia‘u, the church’s historian, conference delegate and former director of the Haili Cantata Choir, died Feb. 24 at Hilo Medical Center. She was 90, and had been in declining health since suffering a stroke several years ago.
Known as “Aunty Hawea,” Waia‘u was also a retired teacher at Hilo High School, first in English, then helping to set the curriculum for modern history of Hawaii courses in public schools statewide.
“She was just a precious gift,” said The Rev. Brian Welsh, the church’s pastor. “Coming into a church with so much history, she became the bridge for me to learn the history, to share the history. … She was the master of it.”
Waia‘u was the granddaughter of The Rev. Stephen L. Desha Sr., Haili’s pastor at the turn of the 20th Century, and twin sister of Hawaiian entertainer Kihei Brown. She was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame for her role with the Haili choir.
Welsh said Waia‘u’s sang “O Holy Night” at the church’s Christmas Eve service several years ago.
“She had a great voice; she never did anything halfway,” he said. “I think that was her last solo at the church.”
Waiau’s life was marked by tragedy, as well. She was seriously injured in a traffic crash that killed her husband, Leopold, a minister, at the hairpin turn on Oahu’s Pali Highway on Statehood Day, Aug. 21, 1959. Three sons, ages 6 and younger, were also injured in the crash. She was pregnant with her youngest son at the time.
“She raised her four sons; she was an awesome mother,” said Karen Welsh, the pastor’s wife, who described Waia‘u as “one of the most wonderful women I have known.”
Waia‘u’s granddaughter, Jessica Ohulei Waia‘u, said her grandmother “loved music, loved to sing and loved just helping people any way she could.”
“She always described herself as being a Christian woman first, and secondly, a very proud Hawaiian lady,” she said.
Visitation is 4-5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at the church. Service at 5:30 p.m.; refreshments to follow. Her celebration of life will continue at Saturday, March 21, with the Hawaii Island Congregational Church Ho‘ike from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and pa‘ina from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Service at 11:30 a.m. Burial at 2 p.m. at Homelani Memorial Park, section 1. Aloha attire is requested.
Waia‘u is survived by her sons, Kaina Lee (Robin Healani) Waia‘u, Kaimi Ralph Waia‘u, Kaleo James (Shelley) Waia‘u and Keala Leopold (Jeanette) Waia‘u; sister-in-law, Florence (Chang) Brown of Honolulu; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.
