Gene Kawai Lima

Gene Kawai Lima, age 90 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 19, 2025. Uncle Gene was born on March 12, 1935. He was the youngest child of Violet Kahimalani Lima and David Kawai Lima. He was a proud graduate of the Kamehameha Schools class of 1953 and was a rare 13 year student, kindergarten to senior. During high school, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a Seaman Recruit and joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1954. He received basic training in Camp Pendleton, California. He was stationed on the USS Yorktown (1969) and had various other assignments including a drill instructor (DI) and a tour in Vietnam (1967), where he was wounded in combat and awarded a Purple Heart. In 1974 Uncle Gene retired from the Marine Corps at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and began a second career as a security guard for the Federal government, assigned to the Tripler Army Medical Center.

Uncle Gene is survived by his maternal aunt Thelma Kekumano (age 99 years), brother-in-law Gerald "Jerry" Watts Sr., and his sister-in-law Peggy Okamoto. His older siblings, both predeceased, were Elaine Viola Watts (husband Jerry), and Kenneth Kawika Kawai Lima (wife Peggy). He is also survived by seven nieces and nephews; Kevin (Fidela) Lima, Keith (Marian) Lima, Kerwin (Lilly) Lima, Donnalynne (Cat) Balmilero, Kathleen (Richard) Chase, Gerald (HanSuk) Watts Jr., and Alika (Marty) Watts; grand nieces and nephews, great-grand nieces and nephews, and great-great-grand nieces and nephews.

The Watts and Lima Ohana expresses a heartfelt mahalo nui to the Hale Ho Aloha Nursing Home, Suliana Lolohea and Carlito Camacho for their devoted care of and kindness towards Uncle Gene over the years.

Funeral services will be held on September 8th at the chapel of the Hawaiian Memorial Park. Visitation is from 9 am to 10 am. Services are from 10 am to 11 am. Interment to follow at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery at 1 pm.