Peggy Namaka O'Kaha'i Kawelo Villanueva's Obituary
Peggy Namaka O’Kaha’i Kawelo Villanueva, of Kaalaea, went to be with the Lord on January 20, 2018. She was 90.
Born Aug. 2, 1927, in Kaalaea, Ko’olaupoko, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, Peggy, known as “Maka” to her five beloved children, lived to enjoy a rich legacy of five generations.
One of 15 children, Peggy and her siblings grew up learning the value of hard work while tending to their family’s estate in Kaalaea. Weekdays saw 5 a.m. wake-up calls to pick the nearly 6,000 puakenikeni flowers for delivery to the neighboring Asao store, followed by house cleaning chores – all prior to walking to school. On Saturdays, she and her sisters could be found laundering their clothing and linen on the flat rocks in the river, and ironing them with charcoal irons. A most cherished memory was of assisting her father, who was a police officer, by cleaning and shining his pistol case and car prior to his inspections.
Peggy attended Waiahole School, and graduated from Benjamin Parker School, in Kaneohe. At 22, she received her license from the Territory of Hawaii Hairdressers, Cosmetician and Cosmetologists School. She married Proceso Abaloz Villanueva, Sr., in 1949, and took residence in Kaneohe, HI. They had five children.
Peggy went on to serve 25 years with the Department of Education (DOE), as Custodian and Head Custodian, at Kailua High, Kapunahala Elementary, and Waiahole Elementary Schools, where her love for children and people in general earned her the respect as honorary “Aunty” Peggy. At Kailua High, she helped to rehabilitate young girls from the then Olomana Girls Correctional Facility, teaching new purpose, meaning, and life values. As Head Custodian of Kapunahala Elementary School, Peggy’s work ethic and “can do” attitude led to various awards for “best” and improved school ground. In April 1969 she was awarded a Certificate of Achievement during “The School Custodian’s Workshop” under the direction of Auxiliary Service, DOE, and was an invited Guest Speaker at DOE Annual Conference as a motivational speaker.
In addition, for 13 years she worked a second job as a night shift supervisor and trainer at Tastie Treat of Kaneohe, where her positive influence and encouragement taught and trained many high school students seeking their first job opportunity.
Her legacy with staff, faculty, and now “grown” adult students lives on. But she considered her greatest accomplishment to be leading her family to the Lord. She remained a prayer warrior throughout her life.
Peggy is preceded in death by her husband Proceso Abaloz Villanueva, Sr., father Joseph Puoakauali’I Kawelo, mother Hilda Hoohila Manuia Galbraith, four brothers and six sisters. She (Maka) is survived by her five children, Proceso A. Villanueva, Jr. and wife Mary; Julita Antone; Janet Lam Ho-Mendoza and husband Pedro; Ernest Villanueva; and Celia M. Baach; nine grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter; sisters Lily (Pua), Martha (Hi’i), and Pearl (Kamaile); as well as many nieces, nephews, and grands.
The funeral will be held at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary (45-425 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744) on March 10, 2018 at 11:00, and will be followed by a luncheon and a 1:00pm burial on site. Family viewing is 9:00-10:00am; Public Viewing 10:00-11:00a
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