Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 4, 1 April 2007 — Linda Keaweʻehu Dela Cruz [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Linda Keaweʻehu Dela Cruz

Nov. 2Ū. l32S-March 15, 2ŪŪ7

Lilian Leialoha " L i n d a Keawe'ehu Dela Cruz, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee for Hawai'i Island, passed away March 15 at her home in Pana'ewa, Hilo, surrounded by her family. She was 77. First elected to the

OHA Board of Trustees in 2000, Dela Cruz was re-elected in 2004, and would have served until 2008. "Linda Dela Cruz will be missed by many who knew her and who have been touched by her many contributions to Hawai'i through hermusic and her service as an OHA trustee," said U.S. Sen. Daniel Kahikina Akaka in a press release. "Through her dedicated service she worked to improve the lives of the Native Hawaiian people, especially in the Pana'ewa conununity. Linda's ability to make decisions with aloha truly brought people together, unified under a eonunon purpose," he said. "We are deeply kaumaha (saddened) at this tremendous loss for the Hawaiian community," said OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona, who was leading a meeting of the OHA Board when the news of Dela Cruz's passing was received. "Linda has been a strong and assertive advocate for our Hawaiian people and brought heart and soul to her trustee work. OHA benefited from her many years of eommunity service. We will miss her, but know she is at peaee. Our sincere aloha goes out to her 'ohana and loved ones." Dela Cruz was also past president of several community organizations, includ-

ing the Pana'ewa Fanners Association, thePana 'ewa Hawaiian Homes Connnunity Association and the Keaukaha-Pana'ewa Community Association. Known in entertainment circles as "Hawai'i's Canary," Dela Cruz was a standout recording artist, known for her "ha'i" style of falsetto singing. She was honored in 2003 by the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts with a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award. Her 40-year entertainment career included a long stint as a member of the Halekūlani Girls trio. Of the many recordings she made over the years, her rendition of Ke 'Ala o ka Rose will remain a classic for generations to eome. E Editors note: By law, the OHA Board has 60 days to select Dela Cruz,'s replacement. Should that time elapse before a replacement is named, the governor then has 30 days to name her replacement.