George "Keoki" "Sonny" Nakalina Kaeliwai, Jr.'s Obituary
George “Keoki” “Sonny” Nakalina Kaeliwai, Jr., 86, of Honolulu, Oahu passed away at The Care Center of Honolulu on Monday, June 6, 2016. He was born to George N. Kaeliwai, Sr. and Violet Nakea Nahinu in Honolulu, Hawaii on October 20, 1929. He was a fuel system foreman employed with the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii and a United States Army Veteran.
George was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in Kalihi. He attended Iolani High School. After high school he enlisted in the United States Army and later became a merchant seaman who traveled to various ports throughout the West Coast, China, and Alaska.
He met and married Madeline Ahloy, started a family in Halawa, Oahu and worked for the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) on Wake Island as a boat operator from 1962 to 1973. He skillfully skippered converted WWII troop landing crafts (M-boat) that transported goods from cargo freighters to the pier docks. While living on Wake he enjoyed fishing, beach picnics with family and friends, Wednesday night bowling league, and watching movies and playing bingo at an outdoor theater called the Windy Palace.
He was an active member of the American Legion Elrod Post that supported many community events.
In 1973 he moved back to Hawaii and worked as a fuel system foreman at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station until he retired on January 2, 1985, he was also the president of the Ewa Hawaiian Civic Club. He enjoyed spending time with family always willing to lend a supportive ear or to engage in a lively discussion of current events. He also found joy in sharing his culinary skills by cooking special dishes that were always a family favorite.
His kind, loving, and friendly demeanor will surely be missed by all.
He is survived by son, Lawrence Nakea; daughter, Kehau Martin;
step-daughters, Dorothy Bell and Elsie Palafox; hanai-daughter, Bernadette Denison; sister, Kaleimomi Battle; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life Service for George will be held on Monday, June 27, 2016 at Diamond Head Mortuary (located at, 535 18th Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96816); visitation from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.; Service with Military Honors to be rendered will begin at 11:30 a.m.
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