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ANDREW "ANDY" SONG October 4, 1927 to July 7, 2016 Andrew Sung Mahn Song died on July 7th at age 88. He was predeceased by his wife, Ella Song, who died in 2004. Andy is survived by his three children, Dr. Alan Song (Malia) of Maui, Andrea Song Gelber (Stephen), and Cathy Song Davenport (Douglas) of Honolulu. Andy is also survived by seven beloved grandchildren, Dr. Joshua Davenport (Michelle) of San Francisco, Dr. Katherine Gelber of Los Angeles, Rachel Davenport Taylor (Ian) of Kailua, Samuel Davenport of Honolulu, Emily Gelber of Washington, D.C., Leina'ala Song & Alana Song of Honolulu as well as one great grandchild, Sophia Duong Davenport of San Francisco. Andy is also survived by sisters Evelyn Lee, Dr. Ellen Kang, Jessica Gelber, and their families. Andy was born in Wahiawa to Suk Soon and Bok Pil Song and was a graduate of Leilehua High School. He attended The Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK, where he and Ella were married in 1949. He continued his aeronautical training in Miami, FL, eventually becoming a flight instructor as he waited to get hired by a big commercial airline. He watched as his own students were recruited while he was told that, as an Asian American, he would never be hired as a pilot by a major airline, because passengers would be uncomfortable seeing an "Oriental" in the cockpit. Ever the optimist, Andy continued to pursue his passion for flying, piloting commercial cargo planes on routes between Miami, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Newark, before finally returning home to Hawaii when Trans-Pacific Airlines began hiring pilots for what was to become Aloha Airlines. He was one of the first commercial airline pilots of Asian ancestry in the U.S., flying for Aloha Airlines for 25 years. At Aloha Airlines, Captain Song became a senior check pilot and helped to usher in the transition from prop planes to jets, ferrying the new British Aircraft Corporation jets from England as well as delivering the older fleet to Aeropesca Airlines in Bogota, Colombia. He was a great storyteller and enthralled his family with many stories of his flight adventures, including one harrowing tale of flying over the Bermuda Triangle. After retiring, Andy and Ella continued to travel the globe, making life-long friends wherever they went. He bought a coffee farm in Costa Rica, and lived for a time as a "Tico." He loved New Zealand, settling in Christchurch and Paihia at the Bay of Isles, and lived for a time as a "Kiwi." Later in life, he traveled many times to Vietnam with different members of his family, loving the people there, shaking his head and saying he just couldn't understand how America could have become involved in a war with such kind and beautiful people. He was happy the day Barack Obama was elected President, thinking how far America had come since the days when he lived in Tulsa where he had experienced institutionalized segregation. He was an ardent proponent of racial equality and helped to instill that view in his children and grandchildren. As he got older and could no longer travel around the globe by airplane, he became very fond of riding TheBus, circling his beloved Island of Oahu, invariably saying to whomever of his family was able to accompany him that day that, although he had traveled the World, there was no place like Hawaii. Andy was devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren, and was lovingly called "the General" by his family and friends in recognition of his key role in the Song family. Whenever a member of the family or a friend was in need, Andy was there to offer help. He was loved and will be missed by many. Andy was blessed to die peacefully surrounded by all of his children, their spouses, and all seven of his grandchildren. His last words to his family were, "I wish all of you all of the love in the World." Private services. Donations can be made in his memory to Earthjustice, Mid-Pacific Regional Office, 850 Richards Street, Suite 400, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
ANDREW "ANDY" SONG October 4, 1927 to July 7, 2016 Andrew Sung Mahn Song died on July 7th at age 88. He was predeceased by his wife, Ella Song, who died in 2004. Andy is survived by his three children, Dr. Alan Song (Malia) of Maui, Andrea Song Gelber (Stephen), and Cathy Song Davenport (Douglas) of Honolulu. Andy is also survived by seven beloved grandchildren, Dr. Joshua Davenport (Michelle) of San Francisco, Dr. Katherine Gelber of Los Angeles, Rachel Davenport Taylor (Ian) of Kailua, Samuel Davenport of Honolulu, Emily Gelber of Washington, D.C., Leina'ala Song & Alana Song of Honolulu as well as one great grandchild, Sophia Duong Davenport of San Francisco. Andy is also survived by sisters Evelyn Lee, Dr. Ellen Kang, Jessica Gelber, and their families. Andy was born in Wahiawa to Suk Soon and Bok Pil Song and was a graduate of Leilehua High School. He attended The Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK, where he and Ella were married in 1949. He continued his aeronautical training in Miami, FL, eventually becoming a flight instructor as he waited to get hired by a big commercial airline. He watched as his own students were recruited while he was told that, as an Asian American, he would never be hired as a pilot by a major airline, because passengers would be uncomfortable seeing an "Oriental" in the cockpit. Ever the optimist, Andy continued to pursue his passion for flying, piloting commercial cargo planes on routes between Miami, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Newark, before finally returning home to Hawaii when Trans-Pacific Airlines began hiring pilots for what was to become Aloha Airlines. He was one of the first commercial airline pilots of Asian ancestry in the U.S., flying for Aloha Airlines for 25 years. At Aloha Airlines, Captain Song became a senior check pilot and helped to usher in the transition from prop planes to jets, ferrying the new British Aircraft Corporation jets from England as well as delivering the older fleet to Aeropesca Airlines in Bogota, Colombia. He was a great storyteller and enthralled his family with many stories of his flight adventures, including one harrowing tale of flying over the Bermuda Triangle. After retiring, Andy and Ella continued to travel the globe, making life-long friends wherever they went. He bought a coffee farm in Costa Rica, and lived for a time as a "Tico." He loved New Zealand, settling in Christchurch and Paihia at the Bay of Isles, and lived for a time as a "Kiwi." Later in life, he traveled many times to Vietnam with different members of his family, loving the people there, shaking his head and saying he just couldn't understand how America could have become involved in a war with such kind and beautiful people. He was happy the day Barack Obama was elected President, thinking how far America had come since the days when he lived in Tulsa where he had experienced institutionalized segregation. He was an ardent proponent of racial equality and helped to instill that view in his children and grandchildren. As he got older and could no longer travel around the globe by airplane, he became very fond of riding TheBus, circling his beloved Island of Oahu, invariably saying to whomever of his family was able to accompany him that day that, although he had traveled the World, there was no place like Hawaii. Andy was devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren, and was lovingly called "the General" by his family and friends in recognition of his key role in the Song family. Whenever a member of the family or a friend was in need, Andy was there to offer help. He was loved and will be missed by many. Andy was blessed to die peacefully surrounded by all of his children, their spouses, and all seven of his grandchildren. His last words to his family were, "I wish all of you all of the love in the World." Private services. Donations can be made in his memory to Earthjustice, Mid-Pacific Regional Office, 850 Richards Street, Suite 400, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
