Beneath Diamond Head’s majestic gaze lies a peaceful sanctuary. Diamond Head Memorial Park offers stories etched in stone. This isn’t just a final resting place. Diamond Head Memorial Park tells a story of Hawaiian heritage.
Diamond Head itself boasts a unique story. British sailors once mistook calcite crystals for diamonds. That’s how Diamond Head got its English name. Native Hawaiians called it Lēʻahi. This refers to the brow of a tuna. Lēʻahi served as a vital navigational landmark. Its silhouette guided voyagers across the Pacific.
Margaret Lake rests here in Diamond Head Memorial Park. Known as “Aunty Maiki” she was born in Honolulu in 1925. She opened her hula hālau in 1946. Lake dedicated nearly 40 years teaching hula. She was one of the most influential hula teachers of the 20th century. Lake studied hula with the foremost dancers including Lokalia Montgomery. As a teacher she passed on her knowledge to more than 40 kumu hula.
Kam Fong Chun also rests in Diamond Head Memorial Park. He starred in the original Hawaii Five-0. He played alongside Jack Lord. Born in Kakaako in 1918, Chun became interested in acting at McKinley High School. Before acting, he spent 16 years with the Honolulu Police Department.
Wally Yonamine lies here too in Diamond Head Memorial Park. Born in Olowalu Maui in 1925 he made history. He was one of the earliest Asian-Americans to play professional football and baseball. Yonamine played one season with the San Francisco 49ers. He played for three championship baseball teams in Japan over 11 years. He later managed the Chunichi Dragons. Yonamine was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
Alfred Apaka also rests here. The world knew Alfred Apaka as “The Golden Voice of Hawaii.” He is one of Hawaii’s most influential performers. Apaka began his music training at Roosevelt High School. He played ukulele and bass. He also sang in church choirs. His first job was singing for the Don McDiarmid Orchestra. In the early 1950s Bob Hope discovered Apaka at a Waikiki luau. Apaka became a regular guest on Hope’s TV specials.
Diamond Head Memorial Park echoes with legacies. It is a place where stories linger. Each stone whispers a tale of lives well-lived. They contributed to Hawaii’s culture and history. Take a moment to reflect on these remarkable individuals. Remember their contributions to Hawaii and the world. Diamond Head Memorial Park is a place of remembrance.