IN LOVING MEMORY: STEVEN ANTHONY HIRAKAMI; 7.10.46-11. 26.25

Story and Photos by Raydiance Joy Grace

Additional Photo Credit to Livestream of the Event

The Celebration of Life for Steve Hirakami at the HAAS Campus in Pahoa was a heartfelt event attended by over 250 well-wishing friends, associates, students, and family members, who all extolled Steve’s contributions to education in Puna and Hawaii!

Ikaika Marzo, a lifelong friend, emceed the Celebration, describing himself first as a surfing buddy with Steve at Pohoiki, then as a friend and student, and finally as someone who worked for him. He eloquently and with humor introduced all the participants who completed the picture of Steve Hirakami’s life.

 Gail Clarke, co-founder with Steve of the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science Public Charter School, gave everyone her Mahalo for joining together today to celebrate the life of Steve here at the Academy. She knows Steve is smiling. Her talk about him describes the immense contribution he made to education in Puna and beyond!

Gail shared, “His passing was very sudden and is still shocking. I’m grateful to have been able to share these words with him before he passed. Mahalo for 25 years of service, Steve. Your modeling of Aloha in education took the message far and wide. It facilitated creativity, course corrections, resources, collaborations, and focus that continue to benefit Puna and Hawai’i. As a contributing community member in service with local and government networks, you truly model the Haas Public Charter School mission to educate, enrich, and inspire the whole student, as all of us are, to thrive by understanding the past, navigating the present, and preparing for the future. I, along with many, am grateful for and proud of your efforts to support generations of learners in our communities, in gardens, in the ocean, off the rock, to go explore the world, and for many, back home to work and serve locally.”

In her tribute, Terri York said, “In 2001, after Steve was hired and before school opened, he participated in a family community leadership project of UH Mānoa. I was co-facilitating and had encouraged him to attend. In the visioning session, he drew a picture of a campus with ponds and gardens, and here we sit. He lives on in my memories of him, and in this amazing school that he built, and when I mean built, I mean it quite literally. If you couldn’t find Steve on spring break and during summer vacation, you needed to look for the tractor because he was out there moving rock and making this school into the beautiful place it is today.” 

“We are honored to have his celebration here at the school, where he dedicated 25 years of his life, and we are honored to have you here seeing his legacy in action. Now, please allow me to introduce Nadia Ran, our HR manager. Nadia and I used to tell Steve that we were his bonus daughters, whether he wanted us or not.”

Nadia Ranne, in her remembrance, stated, “One of the greatest gifts of my life has been the honor and privilege of working alongside Steve Hirakami for 15 years. Steve was the epitome of public service, and his focus was to educate our children and to strengthen our community. I know Gail, Terry, and so many others share this sentiment. Steve had so much aloha, integrity, vision, wisdom, and common sense. He taught us to always base our decisions on what is best for the students, knowing that guiding principle would lead us down the right path every time. He was a champion for public charter school students and schools. His advocacy was unparalleled. He was a visionary, seeing the potential and leading us to it with confidence, determination, and an open heart.” 

“We worked side by side through many successes and some intense challenges. We sometimes became his confidants and got to directly see and know what a good man he truly was. We will always cherish his stories, his perspectives, and his outlook on life.”

“ I also cherish Uncle Steve from Pohoiki and his love of surfing, the ocean, nature, and community. A legendary surfer and a proud father, he taught his boy the ways of the ocean. He raised Pono, an amazing young man and an awesome contributor to the house community and learners. We know he cherished his Ohana, his love for his wife Linda, son Pono, daughter Ula, and the precious granddaughters. In his daily transition from work to home, he expressed his joy by preparing delicious, nourishing meals for them, being present in the moment, and appreciating every moment.”

“ Steve, mahalo for sharing your mana, your aloha, and your leadership with us. We will do our best to continue your legacy of aloha and education, and to be Pono in our daily lives, as you modeled for us. We miss you immensely and are eternally grateful.”

Michael, remembering his early days, shared an active childhood with his older brother. Steve and Michael did a lot of camping in the 1950’s on Kāneʻohe Bay in Oahu with their parents. Michael believes that is where Steve developed his love of the outdoors, swimming in the ocean, fishing, and having fun. Steve’s father was an excellent chef, and manager of a restaurant in Waikiki. He got his ability to cook from his father. Another talent that Steve had was his uncanny common sense ability when he approached any type of problem. Michael has fond memories of his brother and thanked everyone for coming to his “Celebration of His Life.”

Lynda opened by saying, “He’s a beautiful heavenly spirit and was a father, brother, cousin, mentor, sensei, boss, and best friend. When people heard that Steve was sick, he realized how many best friends he had. People would come up to him and say what a good man he was. He helped me out a lot. He did good things for me. That’s the kind of guy he was. He befriended you, and you became a friend for life. You could call on him night or day, and he would be there for you, and he would do whatever he could.”

“He was smart, fun-loving, and ready to help anybody. He saw the potential in adults as well as children. He was a great water man from the days of his deep-sea fishing with his buddy, Charlie, or night diving in Kapoho with the boys. When he came to Kalapana, he fell in love with the people and the surf. His favorite wave was the one he was riding, no matter if it was high, flat, big, small, or no wave. He would jump in the water at any chance he could just to have some fun.”

“ Anybody who knew Steve knew that he loved to talk. He would tell stories with vivid details, and he had an uncanny knack for remembering statistics and numbers from decades ago. Those of you whose lives were made better because of his influence, I think he would like all of you to honor him by paying it forward. Our families felt all of your prayers, love, and support through this time for this man who made such a difference in our community that he loved so dearly. Steve loved to celebrate, and this celebration was a very good fit for him. From our Ohana, Mahalo for all your love and support, and especially for all the people who created this celebration fitting for our beloved, Steve. Thank you so much, love you.”

The following tribute is a must-read as a philosophy comparing surfing to life as taught by Steve Hirakami to his son. There are deep insights into the character of Steve’s sterling traits that guided him in his life and surfing. I understand now how Steve was so successful in starting a unique charter school in Puna, applying these principles to his daily life.

Pono Hirakami’s tribute starts, “I knew my dad best in the ocean. He had me in the water on a surfboard when I was in diapers. He had so many life lessons to teach through the ocean. He taught me that when you wipe out, you want to spread your load out so you don’t hit bottom. In surfing, that keeps you safe, but in life, that means you don’t carry everything in one place. You don’t let one mistake define you; you learn to fall in a way that let’s you get back up and try again. He would go tumbling over the falls and he would come up smiling and laughing as if nothing had happened. I was amazed at how calm he would be. That’s how he taught me not to panic. When you are held under the worst thing you can do is fight the ocean. You stay calm, you wait and trust that the wave will pass.”

“ That lesson goes beyond surfing. Life will hold you under sometimes, but panic only makes it worse. A strong and calm mind makes clear decisions. I would get barreled and I didn’t know how I would make it out of a barrel? He would say you have to push through. When you think you are not going to make it, that’s when you have to commit, when there is no easy way out. That’s when the magic happens. That’s when the growth happens. That is when the most gratifying achievements in life happen. When you believe in yourself and make it through.”

“ The greatest lesson he taught me wasn’t just about surviving the ocean; it was about respecting it. Before and after every session, he gave love and gratitude to the ocean. He never paddled out like he was entitled to anything besides his line-up when he paddled 20 feet above everybody else because he knew the waves would get better and bigger. His energy changed the water. He loved big waves and the adrenaline rush he would get as he confidently weaved through the crowd as surfers panicked to get out of his way and that’s where his last lesson came from. He taught me that to catch the biggest waves, you need good balance not only in the water, but in life, physically, mentally, and even in what you eat.”

“ Which leads me to another thing that I knew my dad was best at, as an amazing chef, a cook who could turn any dish into something unforgettable. What made his dishes unforgettable was the stories, not just the flavors, the presentation and the love that he put into them but those stories that he told around the dinner table. He was the one of the best storytellers that I have known. When he told the story you weren’t just listening you were there. He shared the sound effects, and put you into all the action, From sitting in a cockpit of a helicopter, getting barreled backwards in a massive wave of Waimanu Valley while the chopper blades feathered the lift like it was offshore.”

“Above the stories, the food, and the surfing, he was an amazing father. He told me his life goals. He wanted to raise a child in a home with both parents present. Check. He wanted to give and provide. Check. And he wanted to change and provide. Check. And he wanted to change people’s lives for the better. Check. He achieved those goals with his amazing work ethic, with forgiveness, and with love. He showed me that being a man isn’t just about ego. It’s about responsibility. Showing up for your loved ones and helping others to find their balance. The ocean made him strong, the community gave him purpose, but to me, being a father is what made him great.”

“So every time I paddle out, every time I face something difficult, every time I lose my way or I need a little help with cooking, I think of him and I’ll hear him. Don’t panic, spread your load, stay balanced, go deep and don’t give up. Because the best waves are still coming. So with the stories, lessons, opportunities, and love he gave, he will live on through me, through all of you, and through Haas and the future generations to come that will hear and tell his stories while attending this wonderful school that he helped create.”

“I want to end my speech with a bonsai toast. Not because it was almost my name, but because he would always do it at family events. And for those of you who don’t know, bonsai means 10,000 years of life. It’s usually done at weddings to wish the bride and groom a long life together. But I want to do it today to wish my dad 10,000 years of life in the future and to make him a legend. The first toast goes to his family. His brother, his wife, his nieces and nephews, his children, stepchildren, godchildren, and grandchildren. Banzai! The second toast is to all of you who came to show your love today. Banzai! And the last toast goes to him, my dad, to Steve. May he live on with us and through us all.”

 “To Steve, your legacy is alive, your aloha is everything. E hele oi, e hov nalu, e kupo, go ride the waves now, dear friends. The children you fought for will carry your name. The schools you protected will carry your breath. And we, your fellow warriors, will carry your memory with laughter and deep, deep honor.” 

“On behalf of the Ahakula Ho’oamana, the Hawaii Public Charter School Commission, I’m sharing with you folks a certificate, a palakala, of his leadership and legacy. And we’re presenting this to the Hawai’i Academy of Arts and Science in commemoration of Steve’s life, his dedication to the Hawai’i Public Charter School movement as a founder and school director here at HAAS, as a model charter school of the state of Hawai’i, and our nation. One of the first executive directors helping to establish the Charter School Administrative Office that paved the way for the Hawai’i Public Charter School Commission, and the growth and expansion of charter schools throughout our kama’aina, throughout our islands. He’s recognized as a dedicated leader on behalf of all the keiki that he lived to serve, as well as the Pahoa community that he has impacted for over 30 years. So mahalo nui to his ohana, to the ohana of HAAS, on behalf of the Hawai’i Charter School Commission. Aloha.”

    Everyone at Puna Rising Ohana and Puna Happenings would like to express their gratitude for the contribution that Steve Hirakami made to education in Puna, Hawaii and beyond in his lifetime. His gifts and talents will continue to give to many generations of students to come. He will forever be remembered. We give blessings to his family, his friends, his colleagues  and all the recipients of his knowledge. We see him in the water getting ready to catch his next favorite wave into the unknown. Aloha and Mahalo, Steve!