MEDIA RELEASE

Gov. Linda Lingle has ordered the Hawaii state flag to fly at half-staff at state and county buildings Saturday, Dec. 19, from sunrise to sunset, in honor of former state Sen. Stanley Hara, who died Dec. 1 at his Hilo home.

Hara was elected as a representative to the Hawaii Territorial Legislature in 1954 and served in the State Senate until 1980. He also worked in real estate for many years.

Hara’s son, Glenn, is a Circuit Court judge in Hilo.

Hara is survived by wife, Diane; sons, Glenn and Bradley; sisters, Sadako Tokoro, Kaneko Mikami, Gladys Mikami, Violet Chung and Mary Morisugi; and three grandchildren.

Services are set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary, with visitation from 5 p.m. Services also are planned at 11 a.m. Satruday at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo, with visitation from 9 a.m.

The family requests no flowers; aloha attire.

The text of the governor’s proclamation:

The people of Hawaii mourn the loss of Stanley I. Hara, former state senator, who passed away on Dec. 1, 2009 at the age of 86.

Senator Hara devoted his life and career to the people of our state. From 1954 to 1980, he served tirelessly in the territorial Legislature and later in the state Legislature. First elected in 1954, he served as the chair of the House Finance Committee for six years.

Appointed by former Governor John A. Burns to the state Senate in 1969, he later took on the chairmanship of the Senate education committee and the ecology, environmental and recreation committees.

A dedicated and devoted supporter of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hara received the school’s Distinguished Alumni and Service Award in 2008. In August of 2009, a UH-Hilo student received a scholarship in Senator Hara’s name from the Two-Ten Golf Club, enabling him to pursue his dream of becoming a physician.

Senator Hara was one of the visionary leaders who helped forge the foundation of our state into what we cherish today. His broad smile, hearty laugh, quick step and signature bowties will be missed in the halls of our legislature. Our state is thankful for his service and dedication.

Hawaii is a richer place because of dedicated people like Stanley I. Hara, and he will be deeply missed by his wife, Diane; sons Judge Glenn S. Hara and Bradley S. Hara; sisters Sadako Tokoro, Kaneko Mikami, Gladys Mikami, Violet Chung and Mary Morisugi; three grandchildren; and the many people whose lives he touched.

With deep respect and gratitude, we honor the memory of  STANLEY I. HARA

THEREFORE, I, LINDA LINGLE, Governor of the State of Hawaii, do hereby order the lowering of the Hawaii State Flag to half-staff on all state and county buildings from sunrise to sunset on Dec. 19, 2009, and encourage our residents and visitors to offer their condolences to the Hara family. I further encourage the people of Hawaii to display the Hawaii flag at half-staff at their homes and businesses on that day.

DONE at the State Capitol, in the Executive Chambers, Honolulu, State of Hawaii, this fifteenth day of December 2009.

Linda Lingle

Governor, State of Hawaii

Services for hula master George Naope are Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov.  7 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

The “Celebration of His Life” is 1-9 p.m. Friday, including a Roman Catholic service from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Following at 6:30 p.m. is a “Gift of Words,” a time when anyone is invited to share a special memory.

The celebration continues 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, including a Hawaiian service at 1 p.m. conducted by the Rev. Kaniela Akaka.

The celebrations are open to the public.

Naope, 81, died Oct. 26 at his Waiakea Uka home. He was a kumu hula, singer, dancer and chanter, and also was the co-founder of the world renowned Merrie Monarch Festival.

Uncle George Naope smiles and poses last year with Darlene Ahuna. (Hawaii247 photo special by Tim Wright)

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.org Contributing Editor

George Lanakilakekiahiailli Naope, co-founder of the Merrie Monarch hula festival, died Monday, Oct. 26 in his Waiakea Uka home after a long illness.

He was 81 and last year had lung surgery.

Tributes already are pouring in from across the state and around the world, hailing the pint-sized man with the giant heart and unwavering passion for Hawaii’s performing arts.

‘Uncle George’ was internationally famed and renowned as a hula master, chanter and performer, as well as co-founder of the world’s premier hula festival and ambassador for Hawaiian culture.

Naope, with Dottie Thompson and Agnes “Aunty Agney” Kalanihookaha Cope, founded the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo in 1963 after a trip to a Whaling Festival on Maui.

Naope, in a wheelchair, and Thompson were in attendance at the 2009 Merrie Monarch Festival.

He was born Feb 25, 1928, in Hilo and was already beginning his hula career at age 3.

He began teaching hula by the time he was 13. Over his lifetime, the kumu hula taught the kahiko hula, or ancient hula, in Europe, Japan, Australia the mainland and South America.

Naope also recorded several albums, but mostly was know for his deep love of the pageantry, protocol and pomp of hula.

His passion shined in the presence of at least two U.S. presidents as he greeted Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy on their island arrivals. Naope also was called to share the aloha at the wedding of (then crown prince) Emporer Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan.

He was honored with the “Living Golden Treasure” designation by the governor and state Legislature of Hawaii in 1960, and named in the Smithsonian Institute as a “Treasure of Hawaii” by President George Bush, Sr.

In addition to thousands of students and fans, Naope is survived by three sisters, Eileen, Bernie and Emma, a brother, Frank, numerous nieces and nephews, and a hanai grandson, Hoapili Bower.

Services are tentatively set with a Nov. 6 viewing, and a Nov. 7 celebration and memorial, at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

photos and video from the service
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Lyman Medeiros invites everyone to call KonaFM between 5:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 to share memories of Uncle George Naope. Call 296-5422.

Uncle George Naope 1928-2009 (Hawaii247 photo special by Tim Wright)