“Our own Doug Hamasaki, an ‘āina warrior who committed his life to Hoʻoulu ʻĀina here at KKV, has transitioned into the world of the ancestors after a noble battle with leukemia.  We are blessed to have shared his life of joy and generosity.  He passed here at his home, Hoʻoulu ʻĀina, with bravery and dignity. We have been truly loved. 

For the past 16 years, Doug poured his love and life into the 100 acres of dense upland forest here in the back of Kalihi Valley.  A foundational component to the dream that has grown to be this place of refuge and healing for Hawaiʻi, Dougʻs employment as resident caretaker did not adequately describe his commitment to aloha ʻāina, to teaching the children, and to saving the forest.  Even today, reading through his volumes of notes and files and research for Hoʻoulu ʻĀina, ʻloveʻ is the only word to describe the deep relationship between this brave warrior and this community land-base. 

Dougʻs childhood was spent in Māui with his parents and three sisters, Gayle, Susan, and Naomi, and he often credited his love for family and Hawaiʻi to his upbringing on that island in a more peaceful era.  He held numerous jobs over his life including including travel agent, videographer, and aku boat fisherman, and his kind and hardworking wisdom helped him to integrate the learning from each phase of his life into ways to mālama the ʻāina and aloha the keiki.  While he never raised children of his own, each generation of aloha ʻāina families hold special individuals who were deeply cared for by Uncle Doug.  Described as a ʻsteady handʻ in the lives of these young people, he loved them as his own children.   

As Doug grew older and grew more philosophical, he would always say “I MUA!!” no matter what the challenge, encouraging our young community members to keep moving forward, and never forget, “Main ting happy.”  Nothing was work to him because he loved his life here in Kalihi.  Even through years of treatment and blood transfusions, he pushed forward, celebrating the beauty of each day, reminding us to breathe and to be grateful.  Sometimes he would get tired and apologize that he couldnʻt work as hard as he wanted, but how could he have known that most of us, mere mortals, would need to lie down after a bout of chemotherapy? 

In his last days, he was surrounded by his loved ones, his sisters, beloved students, and children of Hoʻoulu ʻĀina, all sharing in his own ways of saying goodbye, still teaching the ways he knew best.  Work hard, clean the toilet, cut the flowers.  We know his life has impacted many of us here in Hawaiʻi and those who have moved away.  Thank you for the many expressions of love and gratitude we have received here at Hoʻoulu ʻAina.  We look forward to a time in the future when we can safely gather to commemorate his life together.” Puni Jackson, Director, Ho’oulu ‘Āina

Brave Warrior 

A poem by Dr. David Derauf 

Wonʻt you put up your feet for a little while. 

Thereʻs some coffee, though I know itʻs not quite to your liking 

Now the gardens are Bountiful 

Everything looks ready as if to welcome royalty 

The forest is bathed in the light of a beautiful morning 

The birds call out 

But how will I know how to coil the extension cord without you? 

How will we know a hundred things that you took care of? 

Not to worry: a hundred warriors now following your path 

Hey what is that noise I hear in the forest so late at night? 

Is it a weed wacker and who comes yonder a headlamp on his head...