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Nona Beamer Obituary
Beamer, a songwriter, performer, hula teacher and author, died peacefully in her sleep early Thursday at her home on Maui, said Mark Nelson, administrator of Aloha Music Camp, which Beamer founded and operated with her son, Keola, a Grammy-nominated slack-key guitar artist.
Nelson said he and Keola Beamer were on tour, the remainder of which has been canceled. Keola Beamer and wife, Moana, have returned to Maui.
Ailing in recent years, Beamer remained active and last performed with her family at the music camp in February.
"In her own very humble, gracious and truly remarkable way, Aunty Nona was not only a pioneer, alii, musician and humanitarian, she truly is the embodiment of aloha," Nelson said.
Winona Kapuailohiamanonokalani Desha Beamer was born in Honolulu and raised in Napo'opo'o in South Kona on the Big Island. She was of Hawaiian, German, French, Scotch and Swedish ancestry. Her Hawaiian name is an ancestral name that comes from Princess Manono and means precious flower.
Beamer attended Colorado Women's College, Barnard College and Columbia University. In New York, Beamer met Eleanor Roosevelt when she was first lady, and upon returning to Hawaii, took charge of Roosevelt's program to provide emergency food in all school cafeterias.
In 1949, Beamer began teaching Hawaiian culture at the Kamehameha Schools, and remained there for nearly 40 years. She also took over her mother's hula studio and taught hula in Waikiki for 30 years.
Since retiring as a classroom teacher, "Aunty Nona," as she was commonly called, spent her days sharing her extensive knowledge of Hawaiian culture with various groups and at numerous workshops. At Aloha Music Camp, she shared her knowledge of "Hawaiiana," a term she coined in 1948, and her stories of growing up as a Native Hawaiian.
"It wasn't until I was about 70 that I felt I was doing good as a Hawaiian," she said in 2003. "Now I can be proud to be a Hawaiian. It was a long time coming after years of feeling shame."
Survivors include sons Keola, Kapono and Kaliko Beamer-Trapp, daughter Maile Beamer-Loo and a grandson.
At Beamer's request, no services will be held, and her ashes will be scattered privately on the Beamer family ranch at Kamuela on the Big Island.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press
25 Entries
Gary Alexander
May 11, 2023
Auntie Nona was the embodiment of Aloha{Divine Love) ,i met her at a talk she was giving to the Hawaiian Studies class at Kailua High on OAhu ,she told us her life story,and I was surprised that somebody of her stature would share personal information, but that was Auntie Nona.Her presense was overwhelming, and I was speechless.But after that she moved to Pahoa,and we became good friends,she even gave me a Hawaiian name,Her story of the Hawaiian Singing tree snail,and time at the family land at Punaluu Kau were of a time long gone.She had to move away from where I lived,but called me when I was in the hospital,with her healing love I survived,and heard from her as she moved around she was the embodiment of the original Hawaiians,and there was no limit to her love(Aloha) and Awarded the title of Living Treasure By the President Of The United States ,we don’t need to pray for her she left us with blesssings that will live forever,
Jennifer Rathjen
July 14, 2017
Love the Beamer family. Their contribution to the arts are too many to name. Each has left a beautiful legacy which will remain alive and well in the hearts and souls of many. Thank you Aunty Nona. You beat in the hearts of our beloved islands. Nohonaniho'owehi.
May 29, 2015
Interesting how today I was thinking of Nona. As a young man of 17 in 1960 I met Nona, Keola and Kapono with my parents visiting Hawaii. My Dad helped as a Red Cross co-ordinator when the wave wiped out most of Hilo downtown. My Mom Patricia Del Pero and Nona hit it off as did my Dad and I. Keola and Kapono taught me how to eat opee's (sp?) right off the rocks! When we returned to California, we hosted Keola and Kapona who came to visit for a spell. Even then as boys they were into music and delightful kids. Thanks for the wonderful memories!
Ron Del Pero
How you can show support
January 9, 2015
Please accept my sincere condolences and sincere prayers that go out to the surviving family and friends. May the God of comfort continue to bless you and yours especially after such an untimely loss of a very precious life please accept my deepest sympathies. (2 Cor. 1:2, 3).
March 10, 2014
A gracious and respectable person whose work has done so much to bring so much joy to many of us in these troubled times hard to deal with (2 Tim 3:1). Perhaps more will continue to have positive experiences from a wonderful work that has had an impactful contribution to life and its anxieties.
Marcia Costa
July 27, 2011
Aunty Nona was a wonderful soul. Her heart was bigger than the Pacific ocean. She will and is missed by many still. My the Lord bless her family and the music from which comes from them.
April 3, 2010
For Nona...
WEEP NOT FOR ME
Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell among the wonders of the earth; for my larger self is free, and my soul rejoices on the other side of pain...on the other side of darkness.
Do not weep for me, for I am a ray of sunshine that touches your skin, a tropical breeze upon your face, the hush of joy within your heart and the innocence of babes in mothers arms.
I am the hope in a darkened night. And, in your hour of need, I will be there to comfort you. I will share your tears, your joys, your fears, your disappointments and your triumphs.
Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels, and hear the music beyond the stars.
Do not weep for me, for I am within you;
I am peace, love, I am a soft wind that caresses the flowers. I am the calm that follows a raging storm. I am an autumns leaf that floats among the garden of God, and I am pure white snow that softly falls upon your hand.
Do not weep for me, for I shall never die, as long as you remember me...
with a smile and a sigh.
© Joe Fazio
~
[email protected] /Joe Fazio,
Beverly Hills, California
Nalani Hao
September 2, 2008
A hui ho...Hao Ohana, Nalani Hao
May God Bless your Ohana, from ours to yours!
Alexa Merrill
July 3, 2008
Aloha me ke pumehana, Aloha no...
Lexi & the Thoene/Merrill 'Ohana
Kai Brandon
April 13, 2008
Aloha No, your `ohana is in our thoughts and prayers. `Akau `Ohana
christen shaughnessy
April 13, 2008
sorry about your loss
The Roberts family
April 13, 2008
Our hearts ache with you at the loss of beautiful Aunty Nona. Remember, our dear ones never really leave us if we carry them in our hearts. You are in our prayers....
HAPPY HULA DANCER ON MAU'I
ARDATH MICHAEL
April 12, 2008
Mahalo nui loa, Aunty Nona for all the Aloha you shared with so many here in ClassRoom Earth. Your smile and grace will be missed, but your loving living legend will live forever in the hearts of your special Ohana. Aloha nui loa. Ahui Hou, Aunty Ardath, the Happy Hula Dancer.
S GRIFFIN
April 12, 2008
HE WILL ACTUALLY SWALLOW UP DEATH FOREVER AND THE SOVERIEGN LORD JEHOVAH WILL WIPE THE TEARS FROM ALL FACES....
ISAIAH CHAPTER 25 VERSE 8
KEN &MARY O'DANIEL
April 12, 2008
TO NONA'S FAMILY, FRIENDS, & ALL WHO KNEW HER WE SEND OUR LOVE, PRAYERS,CONDOLENCES,& ALOHA TO Y'ALL.
Sally Marr Cornelison
April 12, 2008
I took hula lessons from Nona at U of H my first summer in Hawaii - 1970! I still remember her grace and proud carriage. She was instrumental in instilling my love of Hawaii and her people. Aloha nui. You will be missed by the world.
Tanita
April 11, 2008
May the resurrection hope that Jehovah promises to us bring the family and friends of Ms. Beamer hope. My prayers and thoughts are with you all!
Aunty Zee "Zeona" Navarro
April 11, 2008
Aloha dear Beamer Ohana, May we express our sincerest saddness for the passing of our dearest Aunty Nona. May we send our Aloha from across the sea from Utah's Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Hawaiian Cultural Center, and Soul Redemption. May God always bless you for your wisdom that you share, on Aloha, the pure kindness to others. How greatful I am for your kupuna wisdom, how blessed we are because you made a difference in our keiki's knowledge, to continue in the next generations to come. Mahalo, Ahui hou, Malama pono Zee
leslie n
April 11, 2008
Aloha Aunty Nona. You will be missed. God Bless the Beamer family.
D.L. ZIMMERMAN
April 11, 2008
REST IN PEACE NONA BEAMER
Angela Alcoran Ealey
April 11, 2008
I am from Honokaa, Hawaii and my heart aches for the loss of such a strong and wonderful and lovely lady. May the good Lord bless her family with peace and comfort. It's clear to see how she had such great children, because she was such a great lady. Their family has sacrificed & given so much to Hawaii, Much Mahalo Nui Loa for your love! I look forward to meeting Aunty Nona in Heaven, what a treat for the Angels to greet her! Remember, when the sun warms your cheek, it's mama giving you a kiss and saying hello.
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