Masayo “Rose” Hamada Mahi
Born on June 14, 1941, in Honoka'a, Hawaii Island, and raised in Wahiawa, Oahu, Masayo went home to to be with the Lord on the 24th of May, 2019. A graduate of Leilehua High School in 1959 and an alumna of Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, she began her 40-year career in Willamina, Oregon, as a 7-8 language arts teacher. After two years, she returned to her alma mater. Over the span of 35 years at Leilehua High School, she taught English Language Arts and LA Gifted and Talented, as well as many language arts electives; worked on the graphic arts and the tourism-hospitality academies; chaired a school accreditation team; worked on school improvement as a member of the Research and Development Council. She also had the pleasure of serving for many years as Head of the English Department and Coordinator for the Program for the Gifted and Talented. Prior to her retirement in 2003, she worked for three years as a K-12 resource teacher for the Leilehua Complex, Central District. One of the highlights of her teaching career was her selection as a fellow by the National Endowment for the Humanities in D.C. with 49 other English teachers from across the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico for a month-long study of "William Shakespeare in the Classroom" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. "Aunty Rose" was an active member of Central Oahu Bible Church in Mililani. She felt so blessed by her church family, who supported her in countless number of ways. Over the years, she prayed that the Lord would give her opportunities to serve Him as well as others. God's truths and His promise of eternal salvation helped her tremendously in appreciating a life of peace and comfort. She served as a testament to Christ Jesus by her faith and trust in Him. Preceded in death by her husband, Moseley, Masayo is survived by daughter, Robynne; son, Blaine, of Maine; and grandson, Gabriel, currently stationed at Schofield Barracks. She is also survived by brothers, Shogo (Catherine) Hamada, Robert (Elaine) Hamada, and Itsuo (Gail) Hamada; and sisters, Barbara (Harry, dec.) Sasahara and Jean (Eugene Okino) Hamada; sister-in-law, Shirley Hamada; and nieces and nephews and their families. Her parents and her brothers Nobuichi and Hiromi preceded her in death. A private service with family and friends was held.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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