Soon Ne Park Apilado was born on Feb. 1, 1923, in Puhi.
The residents of the Kaua‘i Care Center — Regency Pacific, where she is a resident, were treated to a special dessert following lunch on Wednesday, when Apilado’s family arranged to have her birthday cake distributed at the celebration.
According to Kaua‘i Care Center Activity Coordinator Keala Huffman, her family will be joining Apilado for a family celebration on Friday at the care facility.
Apilado, who attended Waimea High School and the Kaua‘i Technical School, worked as a lab analyst at Kekaha Sugar Company until her retirement. She is the only living sibling from her generation of the Kim, Park and Woo families.
Following her marriage to Pat Faustino Apilado, the couple raised five children: Abraham Apilado, Patrick Apilado, Judy Ann Manuel, Marilyn Laker of Arizona and and Suzanne Novak of Arizona. She outlived husband Pat and children Abraham, Patrick and Judy Ann.
She also has numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and their families from the Kim, Park, Woo and Apilado families.
She loves her grandchildren, and took care of several of them. They enjoyed playing cards and Scrabble with her. The grandchildren would tell you that she was strict, but without a doubt, she had a big heart, and usually gave in to their wants.
Prior to her memory fading, Apilado loved driving her friends to Lihu‘e for a day of shopping and eating lunch.
She also enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, singing at church and, if she had the opportunity, going to Las Vegas.
Apilado, according to a biography provided by Huffman, had a passion for making patchwork quilts.
“Everyone saved their fabric for her — not a single piece of fabric was wasted,” Huffman said. “She enjoyed making the quilts, but more than making the quilts, she would enjoy giving them away. Sadly, while struggling with her memory, she had to stop sewing. She tried, but it became a battle. So, if you have one of her quilts, cherish it — it is one of a kind, and truly a work of her love.”
As for a key to her long life, the family biography said, “If mom could express her ‘recipe’ for her longevity, one tip would be to laugh, often. Make humbug and make someone smile and laugh. Still today, when we visit with her at the care home, she often makes us laugh, and for sure, she still can be humbug.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
“Hauoli la hanu! (100th happy years and still counting)…..hope you had a blessed and wonderful day.