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ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS

A RESOLUTION

No. 2017 – 10

REMEMBERING AND HONORING THE MEMORY OF OUR DEAR KUPUNA VERNA MAE KAWAI‘ULA AKO BRANCO

WHEREAS, Almighty God in his infinite wisdom, has seen fit to call unto Himself our beloved member from her earthly bounds; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Kawai‘ula Ako Branco, or “Kawai” as we fondly referred to her, was born on August 29, 1935, in Hilo, Hawai‘i, and was raised on Kukaiau Ranch; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Branco passed away on May 21, 2017, at the age of 81 years; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Branco was married to the late Robert “Skippy” Francis Branco, Sr. who passed away in March 2010, and together had seven children, three sons, Robert, Jr., Michael, and James, four daughters, Verna Gale, Lola Ann, Anna Rose, and Charlotte Marella, and twenty-five grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Branco is an alumnus of the class of 1953 of the Kamehameha Schools for Girls and also a member of Hui Kumulipo, and her classmates were a source of joy to her; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Branco served as an active member in excellent standing of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Laupāhoehoe since becoming a member in November 2011; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Branco was also a member of the ‘Ahahui Hale O Nā Ali‘i O Hawai‘i, Hālau O Kalākaua, Inc., Helu ‘Elua since becoming a member of the Hālau ‘Ohana in April 1991, serving in various ranks as an officer from 1995 through her retirement in 2006 at which time she was elevated to the rank of Hālau Papa Ali‘i (Distinguished Service United) and presented with her respective ahu of Hālau O Kalākaua, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her assigned responsibilities as a member of the ‘Ahahui Hale O Nā Ali‘i O Hawai‘i Hālau O Kalākaua, Inc, Helu ‘Elua, she played an important part in assisting with the coordinating of conventions as a member on multiple convention committees and in her capacity as a delegate; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Branco was an active member of the Hilo Community, retiring as CPR District Coordinator for the Hawaiian Studies Kupuna Component and other Hawaiian Studies positions with the Department of Education; and

WHEREAS, Verna Mae Branco was an active and devout member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo, Hawai‘i.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 58th Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington, in the malama of ʻIkuwā and the rising of Māhealani, this 4th day of November 2017, remembering and honoring the memory of our dear kupuna Verna Mae Kawai‘ula Ako Branco; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Branco ‘Ohana, President Lucille Chung of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Laupāhoehoe, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.

The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of ʻIkuwā and the rising of Māhealani on the 4th day of November 2017, at the 58th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Seattle, Washington.

Annelle C. Amaral, President