Benjamin Kahookele

Birth: July 26, 1932 | Died: September 6, 2024

Ben was born on July 26, 1932, in Halawa Valley, Molokai, Hawaii. He was the last child of John and Helen Kahookele. He had 4 older siblings. His dad passed when he was only a year and a half. His mother then took the children from Maui to live with her family in Molokai. Growing up in Halawa Valley he was surrounded by God’s majestic beauty. The mountains, the valley, the ocean, an abundance of tropical flowers and trees. He was sustained by clean air, the food of the ocean, fresh mountain water, tropical fruit, farmed vegetables, and poi, made from the taro root. He remembered never wearing shoes or shirts. It wasn’t all carefree, as he was expected, even as a child, to work in the wet taro fields, before and after school. It was hard work as you stood in mud, digging and weeding. We’ve all heard the story of him working in the taro field before school and the school bus driver honking his horn as he began his descent into the valley, letting the kids know it was time to stop and get ready for school. He remembered well that tardiness at school was not tolerated, so he’d better not dilly-dally. Perhaps that and the Marine Corps helped create his penchant for arriving early and never being late!

Tragically, Ben’s mother died when he was 9 years old. By this time, his mother had remarried and given him 4 additional siblings, all 4 years and under. Ben’s stepfather was unable to care for all the children, so they were adopted out to friends and family. Sadly, the siblings were separated, some not seeing one another for many years. This was an unstable time for Ben, as he went from place to place to live.

Ben told stories of working as a pin boy. He’d be stationed at the end of the bowling alley where he’d clear the fallen pins and return all 10 pins back to their proper places. It required dexterity and speed. He told us that you had to be quick to avoid getting hit by the oncoming bowling ball, but it was worth it because it gave him some pocket money to go to the movies.

How did Ben come to dislike pineapple? He shared that it was from working in the pineapple fields weekends and all summer long in the heat and getting gouged by the pineapple fronds. This Hawaiian did not like pineapple!

I guess Ben would say that by the time he left the island of Molokai for the big city of Honolulu, he lacked direction. Fortunately, he ran into his uncle who was in the Air Force, and he took Ben under his care with the caveat that Ben enlist in the Air Force. Well, Ben stalled for as long as he could, but finally went to the recruiting office. There he got into the line for the Air Force but saw friends in another line. He joined them and the next thing he knew he was before a Marine Corps recruiter. The recruiter said, “You are in the wrong line, kid.” Next time the recruiter spoke was to the Air Force Recruiter. He smugly said, “You’ve lost another one.” Ben had joined the United States Marines. Ben always said that joining the Marines was a good decision for him. It gave him three square meals, a roof over his head, clothes on his back. The Corps was his family. The Corps provided stability, taught him discipline and along with his prior life experience, taught him how to adapt, and overcome all obstacles. Through hard work, determination, and sheer grit, he earned the honor of being a United States Marine.

In 1959, Bens’s life was about to change once more. As the story goes, he had been eying a waitress at his aunt and uncles Hawaiian bar and restaurant in San Pedro, California and at twelve midnight on New Years Eve, he gave her a big kiss. She unexpectedly said, “That was good. I think I’ll have another!” They were married 4 short months later and were married almost 57 years. Together they raised three children. He always said she was a “strong, Kentucky woman”, small, but mighty. He shared that he could give 100% to whatever job the Marine Corp had him do, no matter what it was or where it was, because he knew she could manage their home and take good care of their children.

For nearly 20 years of their lives together, they lived the military life. Stationed in California, North Carolina, Hawaii and then in California once more, before Ben retired in 1973. Ben served two tours of duty in Vietnam. You probably never heard him mention that he received the Navy and Marine Corps medal for heroism. He was responsible for saving the lives of two Marines. Anyone who knew him wouldn’t be surprised by his courage, bold initiative, and devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger. As everyone knows, Ben was proud of his 30 years of service in the Marines. He spent his remaining years, following the three Marine Corp core values of honor, courage, and commitment. He often said, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” “A Marine to the end.”

Ben retired from the Marine Corps on Friday and started working at Kimberly Clark in Fullerton, California on the following Monday. He retired from Kimberly Clark after 20 years.

Ben and Dottie loved to go on road trips, go camping and travel. They both had a desire to see, learn and explore. Thankfully, they were blessed with many opportunities to do just that. They enjoyed time with wonderful friends who became family. In addition to their 2 daughters and son, sons-in-law and two grandchildren, they had many “hanai” sons, daughters, and grandchildren. Hanai is the Hawaiian word used to describe those you’ve chosen to informally take into your hearts and into your families. Ben and Dottie had more than enough love for them all and were loved greatly in return. They willingly shared what they had with others and were quick to help anyone in need.

Ben loved his family. He would do anything for them. He was a devoted and loving husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend.

He was proud to be native Hawaiian and proud of his heritage. It was determined that he was descended from Maui royalty. He loved his Hawaiian food, especially poi. He especially loved to play the ukulele. He had an amazing ear for music. He could “MacGyver” anything. He’d find a way to solve a problem or fix something by improvising with what he had on hand.

It’s said that Ben’s generation is considered the “Silent Generation”. He seldom spoke of his faith, but instead, showed it through his character, actions and reverence for God. We often think that his strong faith and trust in God sustained him through the unimaginable horrors of war during his military career. Ben was received into the Catholic faith at the age of 79. He took the name of the newly canonized St Damien of Molokai. Ben looked forward to attending weekly Mass and receiving the Eucharist. In his later years, we believe this gave him great strength and hope as his body and mind aged.

Bens’s life changed once again when he lost the love of his life in 2016. He missed Dottie every day but managed to maintain his zeal for life. After 92 years on this earth, touching the hearts of so many, making a difference in so many lives, he was called home by our Lord. Ben found a quote that he had printed and framed after Dottie passed, it read “Grief doesn’t end, but changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. It is not a sign of weakness, nor lack of faith. It is the price of love.”

A hui hou. E ho’omaha me ka maluhia. Until we meet again. Rest in peace.

Ben was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy (Dottie). He is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Rochelle and Greg Hastings, daughter and son-in-law, Gia and Chris Quinlan, his son, Ben Kahookele II, and grandchildren, Christa and Connor Quinlan. In addition, he leaves behind “hanai” daughters, sons and granddaughters, as well as, his only surviving sibling, “Tita” Ramona Solatorio.