The Rufus Kaui immediate and extended ‘ohana are proof positive that the show must go on. Less than 48 hours after Kaui passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, the huge karaoke contest he planned for The Landing Pad at Princeville
The Rufus Kaui immediate and extended ‘ohana are proof positive that the show must go on.
Less than 48 hours after Kaui passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, the huge karaoke contest he planned for The Landing Pad at Princeville Airport went on, with much of Hanalei and Princeville seemingly in attendance, said his wife, Rose Kaui.
The contest served as something of an immediate, impromptu memorial to the beloved musician, family man and entrepreneur, she said.
“It went on in his honor, in his memory, and it was awesome,” said Rose Kaui, who with her husband has a contract to provide karaoke equipment for regular gatherings at The Landing Pad.
It was early in the morning of Thursday, Nov. 18, when, like she always does, Rose Kaui got into her husband’s car after closing The Landing Pad’s Wednesday night karaoke bash, and waited for the regular sound of the car starting up so they could head home.
Only on this morning, the car didn’t start. She looked over at her husband, saw his head tilted back, and asked him if he was sleeping. When he didn’t move or respond, she put out the word for someone to call 911. He died at Wilcox Memorial Hospital later that day, after suffering a heart attack. And, probably just as he would have wanted it, the next night’s karaoke contest went on as scheduled. Rufus Kaui’s services were held Saturday.
