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Happy Trails to You, Mabel Kekina
Posted: January 5, 2012
Mabel Kekina passed away yesterday afternoon. Mabel was 84 and a long time member of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club (HTMC). Mabel made lasting contributions to the hiking community — she founded the trail maintenance crew and coordinated search and rescue efforts for the club.
I first met Mabel in November 1997 when I joined the club to clear the Waianae-Kaala Trail. Mabel was was 71 at the time and was a phenomenal hiker easily outpacing people half her age to the 4,000 foot summit of Mount Ka’ala — the highest peak on the island.
- Mabel Kekina at 84th Birthday Party, April 2011
Mabel was loved by her crew. The group threw a party for her on her 84th birthday. Mabel always baked scrumptious desserts and fed her crew after each hike. She took a personal interest in her crew and many of us considered her a second mom. Mabel loved to talk and I spent many an afternoon listening to her amusing and entertaining stories.
- Mabel Kekina and Patrick Rorie on the Koolau Summit Trail – late 1990′s
Mabel told me that she joined HTMC in 1983 and fell in love with the mountains immediately. It did not take long for her to recognize a need — many of the trails were clogged with fast growing vegetation and fallen trees, and landslides made many trails dangerous.
- Mabel Kekina and her Trail Maintence Crew – late 1990′s
Although she was new to the club at the time, Mabel’s people and organizational skills enabled her to create a trail maintenance crew in 1983. Mabel has been leading this crew ever since for the past 29 years.
- Mabel Kekina at Waimano Pools with Donna and Janice Piburn, 1993
Mabel loved the water. Whenever the hike led to a waterfall or pool, she would always splash under the waterfalls and dive into the pools.
- Mabel Kekina Diving in Venus Pool — Hana Maui, May 2001
But perhaps what was of greatest interest to Mabel was lost hikers. Whenever the standard 3-day search period expired and the Police and Fire Departments stopped looking for lost hikers, Mabel jumped in to fill the void. Motivated to help the families of lost hikers, she organized teams of volunteers to continue the search. While many searches ended unhappily with only the remains of lost hikers found — a handful of them ended happily with the lost hikers found alive and well. The most noteworthy being the rescue of two Danish girls who were trapped on the summit of Ohulehule for 8 days in 1999.
- Mabel Kekina receives commendation from Governor Cayetano along with Jim Pushaw, Ken Suzuki, and Thomas Yoza, Sept 1999
Mabel always wanted to learn the circumstances surrounding each rescue or fatal accident. When I found the body of the Norwegian engineering professor off the Kealia Trail in May 2011, Mabel invited me to her home so she could learn all the details. I saw that over the years, Mabel collected hundreds of newspaper clippings and interviewed dozens of people to better understand the psyche of lost hikers.
- Mabel Kekina enjoys her pig book and stuff animals, April 2011
Mabel contracted lung cancer five years ago and had a lung removed. Although this greatly curtailed her hiking ability she still showed up for trail clearing each Sunday with baked goods and a cheerful disposition. Towards the end of 2011 a lung infection led to the build up fluid in her lungs which led to congestive heart failure. Mabel was in good spirits to the end and told those who visited her in her last days that she was happy. I cherish the memories I have of Mabel during her 84th birthday party enjoying her pig books and stuffed animals — she was very fond of cute little piggies.
Were it not for Mabel, many of Oʻahu’s trails would have been overwhelmed by fast growing vegetation, fallen trees, and landslides long ago. And many lost hikers would not have been found nor many bodies which enabled their families to reach closure. You will be sorely missed Mabel — thank you for all you have done. Happy trails to you.
Photo Credits:
Photo 1 – Nathan Yuen, Source: Nathan Yuen, 2011
Photo 2 – Unknown, Source: HTMC Archives – late 1990′s
Photo 3 – Unknown, Source: HTMC Archives – late 1990′s
Photo 4 – Unknown, Source: HTMC Archives – 1993
Photo 5 – Unknown, Source: HTMC Archives – 2001
Photo 6 – Jim Pushaw, Source: Jim Pushaw – 1999
Photo 7 – Nathan Yuen, Source Nathan Yuen, 2011
Video 8 – Nathan Yuen, Source Nathan Yuen, 2011
thank you for the beautiful memorial to Mabel.
Touching tribute Nathan, thanks for putting this together.
Very Nice memorial to a great lady! Thanks, Nate, this was really lovely!
Your tribute along with the photos speaks for all of us who loved and respected Mabel. Thank You.
Mel
Mabel was, and is, an inspiration to young and old. Her love of the ‘aina rubbed off on all who knew her. Her legacy will be the trails — her gift to all… Those who knew her will never hike those trails without thinking of her. Thank you Mabel, and “Happy trails to you.”
I’ve never met Mabel, but admired her from afar [through Chris Godwin]. What a wonderful tribute to Mabel, Nathan, she is certainly an inspiration. Tom Rau said it elegantly.
I was blessed to be able to meet Mabel on several occasions, and I was always impressed with her warmth, charm and hiking knowledge. She is the very model of an ideal hiker. Her cancer may have claimed a lung, but it never took her heart.
Aloha Kakou,
Mahalo for all your warm thoughts and memories. Mahalo for carrying on her lagacy. Mahalo for all you all have done to enrich her life. Mahalo Nathan and to the others who helped put this tribute together. Mahalo mahalo mahaaalo! Stay strong, walk in her footsteps, and let her wisdom and light guide you forward. Happy trails, my beloved, happy trails.
Grandma Mabel’s Oldest Granddaughter,
Leimomi
Thanks Nate, very nice and well deserving tribute to this great lady, that did so much for the club – and for the larger community of hikers and their families in distress.
Breaks my heart I never got a chance to really know my grandmother. I’m lost of words. I know she was a great woman.
Much mahalos Nate for the wonderful tribute to a great lady whose heart was way bigger than her tiny stature, I only did two trail clearings with her back in the 90′s but her persona was so likable that I still remember her today and how she was so giving and cheerful. I admired her so much for what she was doing and how she treated her people. The hiking community has lost a truly great woman but I know she will be thought of whenever I’m out on a hiking trail. Thoughts and prayers to her Ohana…
Aloha everyone!!!
Substitute Ko’olau for Israel and this can be about Mabel.
I’ll miss you, Ma.
I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 34:14).
Me ke aloha!
I only learn about the sad news tonight, she is a great lady alright, she helped to find me during my notorious 250 ft. hike accident on 2003.
Though I have thanked her a few times…never enough.
I am glad to hear all the nice tribute to her, and your nice work Nathan.Thank you.
It was a pleasure knowing you. We always had nice. I remembered when you had done your first hike. You said you had a great time. Im so happy you found something that made a change for the best in Hawaii. That just goes to show how important you are. You will truly be missed.
Aloha!
Mabel,
You are a woman of grace and beauty! I have learned many life lessons from simply hearing and reading about you from my family. I feel so lucky that I was able to talk story with you and hear you laugh and joke in your last days here with us. You are a legend and I know many will follow in your kind and lovely footsteps! My family sends our love to you! I hope you have fun with Scoop up in heaven! He will be so happy to see you!
Happy Trails!
Love,
Suzy
I am crying right now after seeing this wonderful tribute to my Aunt Mabel. My Mom, Irene was the eldest in their family and our Aunt Mabel was so dear and loving to our family of 6 girls. When our Mom died a few years ago, Aunt Mabel gathered all of us and told us to always keep our family close together, as our Mom did that for their family. Many thanks to all of you in this Ohana of caring people who are doing a great job keeping the trails clean and looking for the lost hikers. We are so proud of our Aunt Mabel. June, Carol and I visited her on Dec. 31st and she had so much to say to us. We will always remember those last moments we had with her. Again- Mahalo to you all and
especially to you Nathan.
Thank you!!!
Irene Nagao (Hilo)
Mabel has been a role model to me since I joined the trail maintenance crew. I have so many fond memories of our times together. I will never forget how our children loved Mabel. She would always find a good water spot to take the children while we were clearing trails. I miss you Ma.
Mabel extended her love for the land by sharing her stories of old-time ‘Aiea. Thank you for caring, loving, sharing.
Happy trails to you Mabel! When the club first started to schedule trail clearing (as we called it then) I had the job for a brief time then handed it over to Mabel. Her immediate sucess made her a legendary symbol of selfishness. She fostered the HTMC spirit of giving of oneself for the benefit of others. Her efforts in this regard speak for themselves. Some history is in order here:
In the mid to late 70′s, each hike leader (as it was called then)automatically inherited the responsibility to get his or her trail ready before the scheduled date. So it behooved that person to generate a support group where each person helped each other to get a trail ready. It is my understanding that prior to this, every hike was a trail clearing hike. As a member of the HTMC Board in the early 80′s it was suggested that we schedule a trail work day apart from the hike day. I took the job briefly then handed over to Mabel. This turned out to be a real winner! Many are absolutely amazed what this crew could do in just one outing, and the number of workers who showed up was equally amazing. All this success can be attributed to one person – Mabel Kekina! Aloha, see you in the next world!
Wonderful tribute! Thank you ever so much. We never knew nor met Mable. Her son Herman and his Little Girl are our dear friends. If it weren’t for this gorgeous site I would never have known what a wonderful Mom Herm had. Sadly, I see Mable will be missed more than words can say, but never forgotten. Yes, Happy Trails Mable. You are an inspiration!
With Love and Aloha,
David & Lynn McLernon
Koloa, Kauai
I just learned of Mabel’s passing yesterday. She was was a welcome visitor to the Aiea Fire Station where she would bring us pastries and goodies that she had baked. What a wonderful, wonderful woman.
[...] Heading in a general northerly direction along the KST, we encountered several Hawaii Trail and Mountain Club (HTMC) members… who were hiking the Makapuu-Tomtom Trail in commemoration of a most notable and well respected hiker, Mabel Kekina, who had recently passed away. Hiking colleague and friend, Nate Yuen (HawaiianForest.com) shares his memories of her immeasurable contributions to the hiking c…. [...]
I just read the news on the HTMC website. I read about this amazing woman when she met with Colin Perry (Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society) to help locate my uncle’s crash site from 1945 on the island of Oahu. I never met her, but she holds a special place in my memories. Thank you Mabel.