Honorato Yacapin Jr.

Honorato Yacapin Jr.
December 29, 1945 — July 7, 2025
Portland, Oregon

Service: January 7, 2026, Lili'uokalani Protestant Church, 66-090 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712. Visitation: 9 am Services: 10 am. Casual Aloha Dress.

Honorato Keli'ikoalokomaika'i Yacapin Jr
29 December 1945-7 July 2025

https://www.rememberinghono.com/

On July 7, 2025, Hono passed away at his home in Portland, Oregon, just 119 days after his unexpected diagnosis of Agent Orange-related lung cancer.

Hono was born on December 29, 1945, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the fifth of eight children born to Honorato Inay Yacapin and Epefania Vertido Yacapin. He grew up in Wahiawa, where he attended Wahiawa Elementary School and graduated from Leilehua High School in 1963. During his high school years, he played football and baseball and was a member of the Hawaii State Championship baseball team his senior year.

He attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, for the academic year 1963-1964, then returned to Hawaii to attend Honolulu Business College for the 1964-1965 academic year.

Hono's 21-year career in the United States Army began on July 3, 1965, the day he became one of 209 young men of the 11th All-Hawaii Company who took their Oath of Allegiance at Iolani Palace, the historical residence of Hawaii's monarchy. After a week at Schofield Barracks (near Wahiawa), the men boarded the troop ship USS Sulton for Fort Ord, California.

After Basic Training at Ft. Ord, Hono went to Ft. Gordon, Georgia, for military police training. He became a training platoon sergeant. After seven months at Ft Gordon, Hono wrote, "Life took a different turn. My company commander recommended me for Officer Candidate School (OCS). I remember asking if I had a choice, and he said, "Not really." So I smiled and said OK, sir, I'll go. I went through all the prerequisites and got accepted to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Georgia, home of the Infantry...on Sept 22, 1966, we graduated and became Second Lieutenants (Butter Bars...Six months in OCS, five months at Ft. Polk, Louisiana as a training officer, and about a month as company commander for a basic training company...on the 13th of March 1967, I stepped foot in Vietnam." He first served as Platoon Leader, Company "B", then Executive Officer, Company "C", 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry (the "Black Lions), 1st Infantry Division (the "Big Red One"), Lai Khe, Vietnam.

After returning from his first tour in Vietnam, Hono served as Company Commander, then Operations Officer at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for 6th Battalion, 1st Infantry, 6th Infantry Division.

He completed Basic Airborne School at Ft Benning, Georgia, then the Special Forces Officers Course at Ft Bragg, North Carolina. He returned to Vietnam with Special Forces, serving with the Mobile Strike Force Training Command, An Khe, and as Training Center Advisor, Headquarters & Headquarters Company (B51), 5th Special Forces, 1st Special Forces, Dong Ba Thin, Vietnam.

Following his second tour in Vietnam, Hono was assigned to Ft. Lawton, Washington, where he served as an advisor to a Special Forces company and other units in the area.

Hono married Diana May Wright, on December 30, 1971, at Chapel on the Hill on Ft. Lawton. A son, Duston, and a daughter, Layne, were born to them. As a military family, they lived the challenges and adventures of military
life, fostering a strong and resilient family unit through numerous relocations and deployments. Hono and Diana were married until her death in 2021, shortly before their 50th anniversary.

In 1973, as a result of Reduction in Force (RIF) action, then-Captain Yacapin reverted to non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank. He continued to serve by completing Ranger School and was assigned to the 75th Regiment at Ft Lewis, Washington. His subsequent assignments included tours in Alaska, Germany, and Kansas.

Hono retired from the Army with the rank of Captain after twenty-one years of active service. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster.), Air Medal, Parachute Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Army Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, French Commando Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Canadian Airborne Badge, and the Vietnamese Parachute Badge.

After military retirement, Hono studied Ornamental Horticulture at Clackamas Community College. He began his civilian career with the Department of Veterans Affairs, first as a foreman with Willamette National Cemetery and then as the Gardener for the Portland VA Medical Center, retiring in 2006.

Hono volunteered as the treasurer for the VA employees' union, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Local 2157 (AFGE), continuing in that role for some years even after his retirement. He is still remembered with great affection for cooking Hawaiian food as a fundraiser for charitable needs within the VA Medical Center community.

Hono delighted in sharing the aloha of Hawaii and the Hawaiian culture with everyone he met. His late treasured friend, Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner Gerald Naliko Markel, gave Hono the Hawaiian name Keli'ikoalokomaika'i, which means Kind Warrior Chief.

In the early 90's, he was instrumental in establishing the Hawaiian Cultural Awareness and Education (HCAE), a non-profit organization aimed toward educating people about the Hawaiian culture. Hono was the club's first president.

Hono remained committed to his Special Forces brothers and was a long-time member of the Special Forces Association Chapter 47. His selfless efforts and dedication to the brotherhood were instrumental to the success of the chapter's hosting of the 2015 SFA Annual Convention in Portland. He particularly enjoyed cooking his Hawaiian specialties for the Chapter's annual picnic. He was a life member of VFW and DAV.

He always enjoyed many outdoor activities, including fishing and his annual fall elk hunting trip in the forest near LaGrande, Oregon.

In 2022, Hono married his long-time friend and former colleague, Sarah Morris. Their marriage was filled with faith, joy, mutual respect, and daily companionship. They shared a deep, loving bond, embracing life together through travel, spending time at their property on the coast, and enjoying the blessings of their blended family. It was Sarah's privilege to care for Hono at home throughout his final days.

Hono is survived by his wife, Sarah Yacapin; Son Duston Yacapin; and daughters Layne Yacapin (Gregory Billingsley) and Alia Long.

Sarah's children are Jen Atkins (Sean McIntyre), Melissa Atkins (Todd Williams), Amy Rose Atkins, and Tony Atkins (Michelle).

Sisters Felicidad (Fely) Sagon, Maria (Mary) Yacapin, and Sharlene Yacapin-Ammons (Bob); brother Daniel (Danny) Yacapin.

Grandchildren Emmalynn Yacapin (Jen); Amanda Yacapin; Megan James (Kodey); Allison Yacapin; Keli'ikoalokomaika'i (Koa) Yacapin; Meilee Nanea Long; Abby Atkins, Orion Atkins, Maja Atkins-McIntyre & Julian Atkins.

A man of honor and heart, Hono leaves behind a legacy of love and service—to country, community, family, and culture—that will continue to inspire all who knew him. May his memory bring comfort to each of us who carry it forward.