ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
No. 2019 -18
REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF WILSON WELLINGTON PUNA PETER KAPUA
WHEREAS, Wilson Wellington Puna Peter Kapua was born on June 30, 1951, to Joseph Keala Kapua, and Cecilia Makakoa (Mahelona) Kapua, in Honolulu, Hawai‘i; and
WHEREAS, “Puna” as he was more affectionately known to his family members and close friends and began his educational quest at Pālolo Elementary School then moved on to his more formal education at William Paul Jarrett Intermediate School and finally graduating from Kaimukī High School with the class of 1969; and
WHEREAS, Puna enjoyed sports, especially volleyball and basketball with friends and classmates at Pālolo Park, Kaimukī Park and Crane Park; and
WHEREAS, Puna loved to hang out at Bea’s Drive-In across from Kaimukī High School, and Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu; and
WHEREAS, Puna decided to join the United States Army as a helicopter mechanic whose training and military assignments included Fort Ord, California; Fort Eustis, Virginia; Fort Lewis, Washington; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, Puna was immediately assigned to Phu Loi, Da Nang, Vietnam, and at the completion of his assignment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Puna decided that he enjoyed his assignment in Vietnam so much he re-enlisted for a second tour, at this time he received training in being a crew chief for a helicopter crew and with his prior skills and knowledge he became a valuable asset to any army unit; and
WHEREAS, Puna when he was done with that tour he returned to Hawai‘i and because of his critical Military Occupational Skill (MOS), he was assigned to the Hawai‘i National Guard attached to a helicopter battalion, his immediate duty was at Pōhakuloa Military Training Camp, and at Kīluaea Military Camp on the island of Hawai‘i; and
WHEREAS, Puna and met Billie Elena Kalama and the two got married on October 20, 1973, in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, and that relationship produced two boys Trevis M. and Lucas E. Kapua; and
WHEREAS, Puna, who acquired a skill of being a delivery and waste management truck driver who earned several commendation awards that made him eligible for U. S. Truck Driving Competition (Roadeo) on the United States continent, where he finished within the top five drivers in this national driving competition; and
WHEREAS, Puna was a very skilled in his driving ability that his company certified him to train other drivers in his company so they would qualify to obtain their commercial drivers’ licenses; and
WHEREAS, Puna joined Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club in 2002, where he enjoyed sharing his homemade chili pepper water at luncheons, birthdays, and wedding celebrations; and
WHEREAS, Puna was a devoted father, grandfather son, brother, and uncle to his ohana, and he was a caring and loving person; and
WHEREAS, Puna was preceded in death by his Dad (Joseph Keala Kapua Sr.) and Mom Cecilia Makakoa (Mahelona) Kapua; and
WHEREAS, Puna is survived by Brothers, Joseph K. Kapua Jr. Charles K. Kapua, Jack M. Kapua, and sisters Minerva L. Akeo, and Maydeen N. Maika; sons Trevis M. and Lucas E. Kapua and four grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Puna passed away on September 16, 2019.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 60th Annual Convention in Lahaina, Maui, in the malama of Welehu and the rising of Lāʻau Pau, this 16th day of November 2019, remembering the life of Wilson Wellington Puna Peter Kapua; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs remember Puna with a moment of silence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copies of this resolution are to be transmitted to Joseph Keala Kapua, Jr., Charles K. Kapua, Jack M. Kapua, Minerva L. Akeo, Maydeen N. Maika, the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, 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 subject matter committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House subject matter committee on 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 Welehu and the rising of Lāʻau Pau on the 16th day of November 2019, at the 60th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Lahaina, Maui.
Hailama V. K. K. Farden, President
