Hula for Pearl Harbor vet

The Associated Press tells the story of Ray Richmond, 97, and his family who boarded a flight home after the ceremonies at Pearl Harbor Harbor, Ray was a survivor of that encounter in 1941 Mrs. Hawaii America, Lehua Beltrame-Tevaga happened to be a flight attendant on that particular flight;

Also on the flight were the three members of well-known Hawaii group, Makaha Sons. So Beltrame-Tevaga asked them if they wouldn’t mind singing for Richmond.

With an hour left in the flight, they went to the row where Richmond was sitting with his family. The lead flight attendant announced that Richmond was a Pearl Harbor veteran. Beltrame-Tevaga took a lei from around her neck and placed it on Richmond.

Mark Yim of the group played the guitar while Jerome Koko and Kimo Artis sang “Papalina Lahilahi.” Beltrame-Tevaga danced hula next to Richmond’s seat.

Richmond thanked the performers and Beltrame-Tevaga said he told her “it was the best part of his whole trip.”

Category: We Remember