Aloha Boy Kana'e

 

Boy Kana'e Obituary: Honolulu Advertiser

I'd like to thank Christie Wilson for doing such a great job.

KAHULUI, Maui — Hawaiian music radio deejay Henry "Boy" Kana'e died Monday at Maui Memorial Medical Center after being found unconscious at his Kahului home by a family member. He was 55.

Kana'e, known on air as the "Hawaiian Supaman," hosted a show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays on Pacific Radio Group's KPOA 93.5 FM and was a popular emcee at community events.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Co-workers became concerned when Kana'e did not show up for his show Monday and they alerted family members, according to KPOA program director and deejay Alaka'i Paleka.

Kana'e died at about 5 p.m. at the hospital. The cause of death was not immediately known, but daughter Jazre Sunia said he suffered from health problems and "was tired."

Kana'e joined KPOA in 1994. He also served as cultural adviser to Maui Fest Hawaii and was an associate pastor with Harvest Chapel, Church of God.

Paleka said Kana'e had a large following of Internet listeners on the Mainland and projected an upbeat outlook on life and the sometimes grim news reports from around the world. "He had a way of making it seem like it's going to be OK," she said.

"He was just the epitome of a Hawaiian man. He had so much aloha for everybody," she said. "Whenever you were down, his kahu side came out. He often talked me down."

She also described Kana'e as "a mischievous character" who enjoyed pranks. Paleka said his favorite holiday was April Fools Day. She recalled a recent April 1 when he secretly placed barriers to block off the area around the radio station's Ano Street office and studio and told co-workers the county was resurfacing the roadway.

Kana'e was born Oct. 27, 1953, in Kula, Maui. He attended Maui and Lahainaluna high schools before graduating from Moloka'i High. Among his many community activities was an annual walk on Moloka'i for the American Cancer Society that he organized in memory of his late wife, Sharon.

As an associate pastor, he performed many weddings, including officiating at Sunia's wedding two weeks ago.

"He was always laughing and had a positive attitude even when things were going down," she said.

"He always used to say, 'If nothing ever goes right, take it to the left because the left is where your heart is, and your heart is love, and love is God, and God will set you free.'"

Kana'e is additionally survived by his mother, Yvonne; a son, Leighton; another daughter, Sherise; brothers, Garrick, Clayton, Clarence and Nathan; and five grandchildren.

Reach Christie Wilson at

cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.