Dr. Edmund Keli'i Silva Sr.'s Obituary
Dr. Edmund Keli‘i Silva Sr.
Father of Edmund Keli'i Paki-Silva Jr., Ali‘i Nui Mō‘ī, Sovereign King of the Kingdom of Hawai`i
Our Dad, Dr. Edmund K. Silva Sr. was born on November 6, 1929 to John F. Silva Sr., and Ella Keli’i Fong – Say. He married Cecelia K. Needham, February 23, 1952.
The life of our dad, was filled with the love of his family. To Dad, the family was everything. Was he fair in dealing with each of us…? No. He had his favorites and I wasn’t one of them. As his son, he gave me responsibilities far beyond my age and demanded much of me. Yet, I knew that through his hard-exterior, Dad did what he thought was best to prepare me for the challenges that I would face in life.
Dad came from the Highest Ali’i ranks that are undisputed. He was a direct descendant of King Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu’au of Maui Island. In June of 2002, dad met members, (Descendants) of the original house of nobles established in the early 1800’s who pleaded with him to restore the Kingdom. Dad said he was too old, but his oldest son can do the job. Dad asked that the House of Nobles pass him over and offer to me the right to be Ali‘i Nui Mō‘ī of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Despite anything else in his life, this one act stands tall among all the Kings and Queens of ancient Hawai’i. — Edmund Kelii Paki-Silva Jr., Ali‘i Nui Mō‘ī,
Sovereign King of the Kingdom of Hawai'i
Recommended for The Silver Star Our Dad, Staff Sargent (E6) Promotable to Sargent First Class (E7) Edmund K. Silva, Sr., served with the highest distinction with honor and pride. While fighting in the Korean (Conflict) war, and at the risk of his own life, he saved his company from total annihilation by ordering in artillery to decimate the overwhelming enemy forces against them. His radio man was killed and Staff Sargent Silva, under heavy fire, reached the deceased radio man to call in an artillery strike by giving the proper coordinates. For his gallantry, dad received the Purple Heart, and was recommended for the Silver Star Medal (SSM). Authorization for the Silver Star Medal was placed into law by an Act of Congress for the U.S. Army on December 15, 1942. The current statutory authorization for the medal is Title 10 of the United States Code, 10 U.S.C. § 3746 for the U.S. Army, 10 U.S.C. § 8746. Dad loved his culture with the greatest respect. He taught us to respect our Kupuna’s (elders), our tradition, and the importance of knowing our genealogy. To dad, our ancestors were an integral part of our life. Dad lamented that our ancestors died not seeing the Kingdom of Hawai’i restored. Dad felt, we were not being taught the correct history of the overthrow of the Kingdom, the sacrifices of our ancestors to restore the Kingdom of Hawai’i, and voiced his concerns of Hawai’i’s future.
Of the many things we were taught, the greatest contribution to our cultural learning from dad was… “When we shake someone’s hands, the sins fall to the ground and we see a pure person sinless before us. And when we hug, those sins are nowhere to be found”. Dad loved nature, tradition, and culture. More importantly, he loved Heavenly Father, and his family. Dad departed this earth on July 20, 2020, a powerful number, representing harmony. This harmony certainly showed in Dad’s love of his family. Each of us was very special to him. He often joked how expensive it was to have so many daughters, but this was done with a heart full of love. Such love for him from his children was apparent, as the family prepared for Dad’s passing at home. At times less responsive, his eyes brightened and his smile came when we greeted him face to face, nose to nose, laughing and saying, “I’m here, Daddy.” Our Dad’s passing was filled with happiness as we played our guitar, and ukuleles to sing his beloved Hawaiian songs. The perfectly harmonized melodies brought him peace and sent him on his way with love and tenderness.
His Favorite songs:
- God Bless My Daddy
- O’ Makalapua
- I Do Believe the Lord Above
- Nearer My God to Thee
- Somewhere over the Rainbow
- The Wonders of You
- My Hawaiian Souvenirs
- E Hawai’i
- The Prayer
- Blue Darling
Indisputable Royal Genealogy: Our Dad, Dr. Edmund Keli‘i Silva, Sr., descends from the Highest Royal Bloodlines. Dr. Silva’s genealogy traces to King Kamehameha I and King Kamehameha Nui of Mau‘i, linking him to the highest-ranking bloodlines of Hawaiian Royalty. Per ancient protocol in selecting a King, descendants of the original members of the House of Nobles established by King Kamehameha III, selected Edmund K. Silva, Sr., as Ali‘i Nui Mō‘ī, High Chief and King of and for, the Kingdom of Hawai‘i, however, due to his age, he deferred the honor to be passed onto his son, Edmund K. Paki-Silva Jr., who is now the Ali‘i Nui Mō‘ī of the Kingdom of Hawai’i. Dad’s Royal Lineage dates back to 316 AD. His genealogical record exhibits an impeccable chain of custody. It is the original record of the Royal Courts and was last chanted in the Royal Court in 1836. Because Kamehameha ‘Ai Lu‘au, King of Mau‘i Kingdom, represented the highest and greatest birthright in all Hawai‘i Nei, his record had been threatening to some of the Kamehameha I (the Great) dynasty in power at that time, as well as raising disputes today.
Kamehameha ‘Ai Lu‘au, King of Mau‘i Kingdom’s lineage is also popularly known as that of King Kekaulike, who was the King of Mau‘i and the father of Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu‘au. Mau‘i Kingdom was ancient Hawai‘i’s most powerful and significant Kingdom. It comprised the most Divine Royal Lineage whose origins derived from the most ancient birthrights from Oahu and Kaua‘i. His genealogical record was the ancient oral chant, kept and added upon throughout the millennia and throughout the voyages of his ancestors into the Pacific when settling the uninhabited islands. Kamehameha ‘Ai Lu‘au, King of Mau‘i Kingdom’s lineage was kept by specific priesthood holders and solemnly recited in the Royal Courts of the Kingdoms of Mau‘i, Hawai‘i, Oahu and Kaua‘i. In order to protect Hawai‘i’s highest royal birthright, the ‘Ohana’s family record was put into writing by the royal genealogist, Hoku Pakipika, shortly after the birth of the sacred High Chief of highest rank, KapahupineaKaleikoa-Keopuhiwa-Paki on February 14, 1871. At that time, Kamehameha V was Hawai‘i’s King and the last of the Kamehameha I dynasty, which was of lower lineage to Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu‘au. The two royal heirs of Kamehameha I had additional lineage to the High Chief’s daughter Kalola, of King Kekaulike, the mere younger sister of King Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu‘au. King Kamehameha V, grandson of Kamehameha I, died on December 11, 1872, and was the last of the Kamehameha dynasty.
There was political turmoil as Kamehameha V did not appoint a successor to his throne. Lunalilo, a grandnephew of Kamehameha I, was elected king but died about a year later, January 8, 1873. On February 13, 1873, Kalakaua was elected king. Kalakaua claimed his highest vestments through High Chief Iwikauikaua. Iwikauikaua was the great-grandson of Keli‘iokaloa, eldest son of Umi-a-Liloa. However, Keli‘iokaloa was an unrighteous king that was killed, and his kingdom and birthright were taken by his younger brother, Keawenui-a-Umi. Kalakaua’s royal pedigree is then mired in the intermarriages among Chieftains from the Island of Hawai‘i, all of lower lineage compared to the blue-blood of Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu‘au. King Kalakaua intended to avoid future legislative elections of kings by appointing a long line of successors to which included his three siblings and three nephews of his wife, Queen Consort Kapiolani. One nephew was David Kawananakoa whose pedigree claimed Hawai’i Island’s highest lineage, Kaumuali‘i, King of Kaua‘i as well as cousin relationship to the Kamehameha I Chieftans from the Island of Hawai‘i. We note that Kaumuali`i was a grandson of King Kekaulike through a lesser marriage. Kekaulike joined with Holau, the 3rd great granddaughter of Umi-a-Liloa, and had a son, Ka‘ eokulani. Ka‘eokulani, joined with Queen Kamakahelei who ruled Kaua‘i Kingdom at the time Captain Cook first arrived. Their son was King Kaumuali‘i. Comparatively, King Kekaulike’s highest marriage was to his half-sister, Kekuiapoiwanui, from which was born his heir, King Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu’au. The resulting Kawananakoa line comes from a much lower
lineage comparative to Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu‘au. The Kawananakoa line had never come to rule in any way.
There were fears over threats of assassination upon the child heir of the Kamehameha Nui ‘Ai Lu‘au line, Kapahupinea Kaleikoa Keopuhiwa Paki. This High Princess was protected by a Chinese merchant whose cultural covenants to protect Hawai‘i’s royal lines predate the 15th century Hawai‘i. The genealogical records of our Dad, Dr. Edmund K. Silva Sr., are much involved and indisputable.
Honorary Doctor Degree of Law: Our Dad, Dr. Edmund K. Silva, Sr., holds an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the Rockfield College of Sciences and Technology, in Zurich, Switzerland, in recognition of his steadfastness and leadership in management of people and national resources of the Sovereign Kingdom of Hawai’i, therefore the Academic Board of RCST has conferred upon him the Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) of this Institution, so say us all.
Remaining Family: Our Dad, Dr. Edmund K. Silva Sr., was preceded in death by our mother, his wife, Cecilia Kuulei Needham, his daughter, Dovey K. Silva, his granddaughter, Collette Maile Silva, and Georgia Jean McFadden, (his daughter-in-law, spouse of Edmund K. Paki-Silva Jr.). Our Dad is survived by his daughter, Deborah Ann Hauoli Taigaafi; his son, Edmund K. Paki-Silva Jr.; his daughter, Chrystal O. Naki; his daughter, Francine Papolii; his daughter, Ella A. K. Abe; his daughter, Lillian Kuulei Johnson; his son, Kurtney P. Silva; and his daughter, Ende Piilani Silva-Kamake`eaina. Our Dad has many wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren, however, for security purposes they are not listed here.
For the Love of my Father
If time occurs in heaven,
Do you still rise with the sun?
Do you and Mom share breakfast
before your day has begun?
Can the heavens hear your laughter,
As you sit and reminisce
About the time we had together
And other people that you miss?
And, Dad, do you still throw your fishing net
Along heaven’s oceans?
And when you gaze upon Hawaii’s seas, Do you remember walks with me? Do you gather with your family Beneath heaven’s glow? And look upon your Islands still That once you called your home? Is music all around you, All those songs you loved so dear? Are you and Mom singing O’makalapua The way you did when you were here? Do you have long talks with God About those left behind? Do you tell him all the stories Of your sons and daughters true? I know that heaven must be grateful To have you there each day, To bring your easy laughter And your silly sense of play. And I’m sure that God already knows The special father you have been And how I wish that you were here To guide my way again. But, I carry you inside my heart; You are never far from me. I see you in my smile And in who I grew to be. And I’m sure that on this Sacred day God will help you celebrate Not how you started your life, But how you finished it; With the love of your family at Your side — singing, praying And loving you as you quietly Spirited away to be with God. Kelii, July 22, 2020
On behalf of the entire ROYAL FAMILY with great Aloha, Mahalo iā ʻoe, e ka Makua Makua, no kāu aloha iā mākou a pau. Ali‘i Nui Mō‘ī, EDMUND K. SILVA, JR. (PAKI) Nalikolauokalani Paki – Ka-‘i-‘omaka-ola-hou-Kaluaokalanika-‘imano‘anu‘unu‘u-ka-lama-kea-i-ho‘oku‘ke‘aupuni-o-Hawai‘i.
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