In Memoriam:  
Mitsuo Aoki

Retired minister Mitsuo Aoki died August 19 at his Kaneohe home. He was 95. 

Mits, as he was known to many, served as Pastor of several Hawai'i Conference churches, including Puunene Congregational Church and Kapaa Community Church. He later founded the Religion Department at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. He was best known in the community for his ministry with Hospice Hawai'i and his work on the issues of death and dying.

Born in Hawi on Hawai’i Island, Mits moved to the mainland where he attended college in Missouri. He then studied at Chicago Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary before returning to Hawai’i to begin his ministry.

Mits was the recipient of several awards for his work with Hospice patients, including the Hospice Hawai’i Lifetime Achievement Award, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission's Living Treasure Award, and the Jefferson Award for outstanding community service. A 2003 documentary called “Living Your Dying” focused on Mits’ work with cancer patients and was featured in the Hawai’i International Film Festival and Hawai’i Public Television.

Mits celebrated the sixy-fifth anniversary of his ordination in 2009 and was recognized at the ‘Aha Pae’aina for his years of ministry and teaching.

He is survived by son Galen and daughters Sophie Ann Aoki and April Aoki. A memorial service will be held September 18, 2 p.m., at the Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu.

Click on the links below to read more about Mits’ life.

August 21 Honolulu Star Advertiser Obituary 

August, 2008 Midweek Feature

May, 2001 Honolulu Advertiser Feature

August 24 Honolulu Star Advertiser Feature

In Memoriam:
Samuel Saffery Jr

Samuel Makaneole Saffery, Jr., died August 13 at the age of 99. Kahu Sam was Pastor of Lili’uokalani Church for 22 years and retired in 2004.

Although his father, Samuel M. Saffery Sr., who had been Pastor of Lili’uokalani Church from 1940 to 1971, always encouraged Sam to consider ministry, Sam’s call to ministry was a second career decision. He became a licensed pastor of Lili’uokalani Church in 1982 after his retirement from the Parks Department of the City and County of Honolulu. In 1999 he was ordained by the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches.

An article in the April 11, 2004, edition of the Honolulu Advertiser, written prior to his final Sunday as Pastor of Lili’uokalani Church, highlighted his career in the ministry and how hard it was for Sam to retire, even at the age of 93.

Sam was born August 3, 1911, to Miulan and Samuel M. Saffery, Sr. He married the late Vivian Macy in 1936. Vivian, a well-known tennis star, passed away November 28, 2009.

He is survived by his two sons, Samuel “Buddy” M. Saffery III and Jon “Toby” M. Saffery. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

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