Posted on: Monday, September 20, 2004

Alberta 'Pua' Hopkins, 65, Hawaiian scholar

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Alberta Pualani "Pua" Hopkins, a professor of Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai'i for more than two decades and author of the language text "Ka Lei Ha'aheo," died Wednesday. She was 65.

Hopkins served as a language resource to anyone who needed her expertise after she retired from the university. Her most recent work was as a senior scholar who occasionally settled disputes among professors working on a project to modernize the Hawaiian Bible and take it digital.

"It's a big loss; she was a driving force," said Puakea Nogelmeier, a UH Hawaiian language professor. "She was a mentor to myself and many other teachers; really a pillar of the Hawaiian language community."

Hopkins was born Oct. 26, 1938, in Hilo, Hawai'i.

She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Charles Hopkins; sons, Thomas Anthony Jr., James Anthony Jr., Kalae S. Anthony, Naalehu Anthony, Gordon Hopkins, Michael Hopkins, Stephen Hopkins, and Mark Hopkins; daughters, Helen Lamburt, Margot Anthony, Punihei Anthony and Lynlie Waiamau; 32 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Hopkins also is survived by brothers, Albert "Hypo" Pung, James "Jimmy" Pung, and Robert "Bobby" Pung; and sisters, Louise May Tippitt and Lilinoe "Miggs" Cranford.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, with visitation at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Honolulu.