Reagan fondly recalled in Islands

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Hawaiian canoe paddle honors the way he steered his nation. The 'ukulele is for the joy he brought his people. And the cowboy hat, with its distinctive antique feather hat band, is for his final journey.

Cpl. James E. Wright salutes the casket of former President Ronald Reagan in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday in Washington, D.C. Wright lost both of his hands while serving during the war in Iraq. Associated Press

The tribute to Reagan will be at St. Andrew's Cathedral — the same Beretania Street church that the president and Mrs. Reagan worshipped at during a 1984 visit. Local businesses, churches, the military and Hawaiian groups quickly came together in the past three days to create the non-partisan event, said Dale Evans, president of Charley's Taxi and one of the organizers.

The ceremony will run from noon to 1 p.m. at the cathedral and the public is invited.

"He came from humble beginnings," Evans said. "He went to a college that people made fun of. And they made fun of him being an actor. And yet, he became president of the United States."

The tribute will include a military honor guard, a 21-gun salute, taps and a Hawaiian chant written especially for Reagan by John Lake and Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett.

A kukui nut lei will be presented by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, and flower lei will be presented on behalf of Hawai'i's children.

Dr. Franklin Kometani, who was co-chair of the Hawai'i effort to re-elect Reagan in 1984, will present the cowboy hat. Kometani met the president at the White House and said it was an experience that left him "dumbstruck with awe."

"I think there is a great deal of respect and adoration for someone who came in when I thought the country needed someone to give us spirit, Kometani said. "When you listened to him and you saw him and you were around him, you were always optimistic."

Syl Kop, co-owner of the Hula Supply Center, helped gather some of the gifts. Her shop is donating the 'ukulele. The hat is being donated by the Ukulele House and the hat band, or feather hulu, by Hawaiian Traders, she said.

Kop said Reagan worked for the good of the nation without a hint of selfishness.

"I have always admired Ronald Reagan as a true kupuna of the United States," she said. "He wanted so much good for his people, just like Queen Liliuokalani."

Episcopal Bishop Richard S.O. Chang was a staffer helping Reagan aides when the president visited in 1984. Today, he will give the invocation.

He doesn't know how many people will show up. In 1984, the 600-seat cathedral was jammed with people. The tribute is a way for Hawai'i residents to honor a man who had an impact "on the life of our state and our community," he said.

"It's not only the Episcopal Church or the Republican Party," he said. "It is the community coming together. It is important for the community."

That community would include Lanikai resident Dorothy Morrison, 92 years old and sharp as a barber's razor. Morrison, who met the Reagans at a state Republican meeting in 1984, won't be at the tribute but said it doesn't matter.

"I'll be there in spirit," she said. "I have a picture of me shaking hands with him that I treasure now more than ever."

She called Reagan "our hero."

Honolulu attorney Ronald Au hopes to be at the cathedral tribute.

All week, he has thought of the former president, whom he met in 1972 when Reagan was governor of California. Au was national president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and accompanied Reagan at the request of President Nixon on a trip to Taiwan.

"I never realized he would become president of the United States, but I was amazed at how much he knew about international diplomacy," Au said.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.