Werner Umbhau

Werner Umbhau, 87, of Hawaii Kai, passed away on June 15, 2024. Born in Japan in 1937 to a German father and a Japanese American mother, he enjoyed life in Yokohama until World War II forced his family to relocate to a small village. Bombs eventually destroyed their home, and they faced significant hardships.
Werner arrived in Honolulu to live with relatives in May 1952. On the way home to Kaimuki from the airport, he was informed he would be "shagging balls" at Oahu Country Club for the summer, which dashed his dreams of becoming a Waikiki beach boy.
After a long and fulfilling career at the Bank of Hawaii, he became a popular emcee for BoH retirement events and continued to nurture many friendships with former colleagues and customers.
Werner is dearly missed by his entire family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, JoFay; his children Cece Fontaine, Thomas (Karen) Umbhau, Heidi (Vince Gerasole) Umbhau, Elke (Michael) Schlossmacher, and Kurt Umbhau; 13 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and his surviving siblings Jurgen, Renate, and Ben, as well as nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
He loved walking each morning at Sandy Beach, where the sunrise cast a golden glow on the waves and lit up the sky. Werner lived his aloha with a warm heart, making friends and embracing the beauty around him and the endless possibilities of each new day.
A celebration of Werner's life will be held at St. Augustine's by the Sea in Waikiki on Friday, August 23, 2024. Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m., with services following at 10:00 a.m.