Dardanelle Francine Mapuana Sui Lang Ka‘auwai
On Nov. 29, 2021, immediate family members celebrated ho‘olewa, the one-year anniversary of our beloved “Danel’s” passing. ‘Iwa birds circled and weaved above the canyon at Koke‘e where she had requested her ashes be scattered, at the end of a favorite hiking trail. Rose petals, leis of hala, ti, and jade accompanied her as winds danced with ‘Iwa overhead.
She played piano, guitar, ukulele, violin and taiko drums. She also performed with a taiko and kupuna ukulele group. She was a crafter, sewed, created stained glass and Christmas art. She made quilts for many family members, including for each of her grandchildren. She admired the Japanese classic painting Under the Wave Off Kanagawa, replicated it for her home, displayed next to a bonsai tree. She was a good cook, “handyman” — fixed appliances, built kitchen cabinets, and did other projects.
She was a registered nurse, compassionate healer, generous, thoughtful and loyal, a comforting wife, mother, puna (grandmother) and sister.
She is survived by loving husband Jake Ka‘auwai, sons Richard (Diane DeHart) Burkhart and Keoni Burkhart, grandchildren Hanalei, Maile and James, siblings Mahealani Wendt, Warren Perry, Darryl Perry, Dave Perez, Alexis King, Moses Martinez and Antone Perry-Perez Jr., and many generations of nieces and nephews.
We will love and cherish her always. We will never forget her.
