Community activist, proponent of veterans issues and Hawaiian practitioner Arthur “Aka” Mitchell Mahi died March 23. He was 79.
Community activist, proponent of veterans issues and Hawaiian practitioner Arthur “Aka” Mitchell Mahi died March 23. He was 79.
Mahi was born in Laupahoehoe to Mitchell Mikiele Mahi and Lily Kahuawai Keau Kuakahela, and was raised by his maternal grandfather, Keau Kuakahela, who was skilled in Hawaiian beliefs and practices. Mahi’s friend, Roy Palacat, better known as Uncle Bobo, said Mahi did more than just practice his Hawaiian beliefs.
“That was deeply ingrained by his elders,” Palacat said. “Uncle lived the culture every day of his life.”
Palacat described Mahi as generous and full of guidance for those who were willing to listen to him.
“If you were makaala, alert, when uncle was talking, you were the recipient of the pearls of his wisdom,” Palacat said. “Uncle was a very honest man, open with his honesty.”
Mahi’s daughter, Agnes Barrozo, described her father as immersed in his Hawaiian culture.
“He was always involved in a group that was trying to get a title on a certain property, get a center for kids to learn the Hawaiian culture. He was so much in his culture.”
Mahi was also always ready to pitch in and help her, Barrozo said, whether it was bringing avocados and bananas to the credit union where she worked for market day or helping with party planning.
“He goes all the way; if we have to prepare for a party, he’ll get everything we need and he doesn’t worry about it,” she said. “I just have to ask him and he’s always there for us.”
Among his many community activities, Mahi was also involved in getting a veterans cemetery in West Hawaii. He was a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran and served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He also worked as a coffee farmer on Harada Coffee Farms, was a ranch hand with Huehue, Mona Hind Holmes and Puuwaawaa ranches. A retired laborer who worked for Hawaiian Dredging Co., Isemoto Contracting Co. and the company that built the Kona Surf Hotel, Mahi was also a member of the Hawaii International Laborers Union.
Mahi served on the Hawaii Island Burial Council, was a kahu with the Hawaiian Civic Club Kona, was a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I , Kahuanaauau Puuhonua O Honaunau, Hui Kalo Liliuokalani Children’s Center and Merry Monarch Singers. He was president of the Kuakehela Ohana for 30 years and belonged to the Mahi Ohana. He also hosted many foreign exchange students.
Mahi is survived by his wife, Theresa K. Mahi of Kailua-Kona; one daughter, Agnes Barrozo of Kalaoa; one son, Tracy Kaleo Mahi of Alaska; hanai sons Joel Kalima Victor of Hawi and Erik Warner of Kalaoa; two sisters, Annie Mokiau of Honolulu and Mary Reyes of Papaaloa; and four grandchildren.
Friends may call April 19 from 7 p.m. at his residence, 73-4149 Hawaii Belt Road, Kalaoa, for an all-night vigil. Friends may call 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 20 at the Makaeo Pavilion at the Old Kona Airport Park in Kailua-Kona, for a gathering of family and friends. Burial will take place at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. A luncheon and fellowship will be held at the Makaeo pavilion. The family requests casual attire be worn. The family also requests the Kuakehela ohana to wear family colors. Flowers are welcome.