Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Obituary: Sister Mary LaStant, BVM | 1926-2015

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Lifelong educator taught at Holy Cross, Kalaheo Sister Mary LaStant, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who taught in a Catholic school on Kauai 60 years ago, died Nov. 2 at her congregation’s Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 89 and a religious sister for 68 years. She was buried at […]

SISTER MILLA DERBY, OP | 1926-2015: Teacher and artist captured isle beauty with dye on silk

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Honolulu-born Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Milla Derby, who taught music and art in schools across the country before becoming an artist-in-residence in Hawaii, died Sept. 26, at Oahu Care Facility in Honolulu. She was 89 and a religious sister for 62 years. She is Hawaii’s last Sinsinawa Dominican. The funeral Mass will be held at Holy […]

SISTER M. RUTH FAISCA, SHF | 1933-2015: Kohala-born sister served parishes in California, Nevada and Hawaii

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Big Island-born Sister M. Ruth Faisca, a Sister of the Holy Family who worked in catechetical, child care and parish ministry in California, Hawaii and Nevada, died peacefully in Fremont, Calif., on Sept. 17. She was 82 and a religious sister for 64 years. Sister Ruth was born on May 13, 1933, in Kohala. She […]

MARYKNOLL SISTER SANDRA ANNE GALAZIN | 1944-2015: Missioner served more than four decades in Hawaii as social worker, counselor

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Maryknoll Sister Sandra Anne Galazin, who served most of her 47 years of religious life as a counselor and social worker in Hawaii, died Sept. 26, at Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, N.Y. She was 71. Sister Sandy, as she was known in the Islands, recalled her religious calling in a 2011 Hawaii Catholic Herald […]

Deacon Hiram Haupu | 1952-2015: Deacon served Maui quietly, humbly for 14 years

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“Sometimes our prayers might change the situation and sometimes our prayers just change us.” Maui Deacon Hiram Haupu wrote those words in his pocket calendar shortly before he died at his Wailuku home on Sept. 13. His wife Elaine, who later found the sentence among Hiram’s health notes, considers it to be her deacon husband’s […]

DEACON JULIO M. AKAPITO | 1945-2015: Former congressman, lawyer, educator served fellow Micronesians

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Deacon Julio Muritok Akapito, who came to Hawaii 11 years ago from Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia with a broad range of achievements in politics, law, education, sports and religion, and who, for the past seven years served immigrant Micronesian Catholics as a deacon at two parishes on the Big Island’s east side, […]

SISTER TERESITA OF THE CHILD JESUS TAM | 1920-2015: Nun brought artistry to Isle’s first cloistered community

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Sister Teresita of the Child Jesus Tam, one of the seven original founders of Hawaii’s Carmelite monastery, whose artistic and gardening talents brightened the contemplative community for four decades, died Aug. 19 in a Kaneohe care home. She was 95 and a Carmelite for 80 years. Her superior Sister Agnella Iu described her fellow Carmelite […]

WINONA KAMAI | 1936-2015: Former diocesan employee also served parish and community

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In addition to working for the Diocese of Honolulu for 25 years and keeping tabs over a large extended family, Winona Blanche Leialoha Nobrega Kamai filled her time volunteering for a multitude of parish ministries, community activities and Hawaiian affairs. “Nona,” as everyone affectionately called her, died peacefully in her Honolulu home on July 21. […]