04/20/2026
Last weekend the PNW Hawaiian community and the world lost an AMAZING human being and an incredibly beautiful soul,
❤️AUNTY MANU LONO❤️
All of us at Hawaii'i General Store are just heartbroken.
Before we opened the store nearly thirty years ago, I asked the most prominent leaders in the PNW Hawaiian community whose "blessings" I needed. Who did i need to reach out to and speak to in order to be pono before we opened? Over and over again people said, "Aunty Manu Lono".
The first time I met Manu she could not have been kinder, more sincere, and serious about what i was asking of her and so very full of aloha.
Manu absolutely embodied the spirit of aloha, it seemed effortless for her, it was just HER.
She was the REAL DEAL, HĀwaiian through and through. Such a rare soul. ❤️
She was also HILARIOUS, the moment she entered the room, laughter ensued and her hugs were true medicine.
If you were lucky enough to catch her with an ukulele in her hands it was pure magic! Once she started singing, stand back cuz, "HOO-EEY, CHEE-HOO!" the pa'ina was about to get real !
Manu could ''ōlelo Hawai'i, sing like an angel, dance any hula and MC like a pro. Her hulas gave "chicken skin" every time!
And then the was Manu as kumu hula of Halau hula o Lono....
She and her haumana brought so much joy to countless people over the years and have been like 'ohana to all of us here at the store for decades. They would come (and still do) sing, dance, sew lei, kokua and playwith us during the festive and hectic times of the year.❤️
Behind all of Manu's kolohe, playful and loving spirit was a backbone tough as nails. If you needed help, she was there, and if you needed LOTS of help her halau was there too. ❤️
Manu knew she was Hawaiian, to the core. She radiated it. She was strong, pono, whip smart and guided by aloha. She didn't need to flaunt it or act all "high makamaka". She was grounded in her being raised Kanaka Maoli.
I will miss her rare beauty everyday, especially when i hear her sweet voice yelling "Hoo-eey e Babe! There she is, 'ae! aloha nō my girl, how you?" 🥹❤️🥹
She was just sooo cool. 💔
All of us at HGS send tons of love and aloha to her huge 'ohana, back home and here. Special aloha and big hugs go out to her daughter Roxie Lono who has been a treasured member of our store 'ohana for so many sweet years.
Mahalo nui to all for sharing your sweet Manu with us. ❤️
Aloha nō wau iā 'oe e Manu
E hoʻomaha me ka maluhia, a me
hele me ka hauʻoli i ka lani, ku'u hoaloha nani,
Gail and your HGS 'ohana ❤️
