LIHU‘E — Solomon Kanoho remembers his father Ezra Kanoho as a man who would stop to help strangers broken down on the side of the road, who would greet people on the street whether he knew them or not, and who — in the interest of public safety — would make his relatives practice CPR at family get-togethers.
“His big thing was about doing the right thing and leading by example,” said Solomon Kanoho. “He was fair, stern, but really compassionate.”
Ezra Kanoho — who passed away peacefully in his home at age 94 last week — represented the pinnacle of decency and statesmanship in his more than 20 years as a state legislator representing Kaua‘i.
Ezra Kanoho was born in Lihu‘e in 1927. Growing up in Nawiliwili, he was shaped by visits to his uncle, who served as a reverend at the Wai‘oli Hui‘ia Church in Hanalei.
Service became very important to him, and he was nicknamed ‘The Reverend’ by his high-school classmates. He sang with his late wife Pauline Kanoho in the Kawaiahao Church choir on O‘ahu, and later served as a deacon at Lihu‘e First Church.”
He worked with the Hawaiian Telephone Company for 40 years, first on O‘ahu then on Kaua‘i, rising to island manager. He then was elected to serve in the state House of Representatives.
“For Ezra, Kaua‘i was always home. Getting the chance to return home and later to represent the people of this island meant everything to him,” Solomon Kanoho said.
While he worked long hours during the week, he set aside the weekends to enjoy the simple pleasures of the island — fishing, going to the beach or playing a round at the Wailua Golf Course where, always civil, he would shout “oh phooey!” instead of swearing if he shanked a shot.
He got a particular joy from watching his kids grow up and raise their own families in the place that he’d spent his youth, Solomon Kanoho said.
Including Solomon, Ezra had four sons: Reuben, Paul and Ezra, along with eight grandchildren and five great-grandchilden. He was preceded in death by his wife Pauline Kanoho.
“He had a great life,” said Solomon Kanoho. “I’m very blessed to have had him as my dad.”
As a state Representative, Solomon Kanoho said, the senior Ezra Kanoho focused on following his own morals even when that may have been unpopular.
“The thing that struck me was that he treated everyone the same,” said Solomon Kanoho. “Although they might not have agreed on things, he would try to find some common ground.”
He served as a legislator for over 20 years before retiring in 2006 at age 79. He was remembered fondly by Kaua‘i legislators.
At the Kaui‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce awards and installation gala, Mayor Derek Kawakami reminisced about how he used to deliver Ezra Kanoho’s The Garden Island newspaper, and described him as a model of kindness who could make anyone feel special.
“There’s not a single person I’ve met who has had anything negative to say about Representative Ezra Kanoho,” said state Rep. Jimmy Tokioka, who later filled Kanoho’s seat.
“Whenever I got into a tough situation, I would ask myself, ‘What would Ezra do?’ I try to hold myself to that standard to that day.”
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com. Editor Sabrina Bodon contributed to this report.
