Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 6, 1 June 1987 — Native Hawaiian Homesteader, 78, Honored as Mother of the Year [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Homesteader, 78, Honored as Mother of the Year

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A 78-year-old Nanakuli native Hawaiian homesteader has been honored as Mother of the Year by Kemoo Farm Restaurant during its regular Tuesday luneheon May 5 at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel. A framed Certificate of Achievement naming Esther Kaleinani DeFries Smythe as "Kemoo Farm of Queen Kapiolani Hotel's Mother of the Year" was presented at the luneheon by Richard H. Rodby, president of the Wahiawa landmark restaurant whieh recently brought its Charles K.L. Davis luneheon headline entertainment to Honolulu. "Love your neighbors, love your fellow man and try to do some good in your life every day," is the advice given by this mother of five— three sons and two daughters. She has been a widow since Mar. 25, 1970, when her husband, Isaac Smythe, died at age 64 while working for the federal government in Thailand. She loves and reveres her husband who worked 41 years for the government. This soft-spoken matron speaks highly of her husband of 39 years whom she noted attended Lahainaluna and graduated from Maui High School and the University of Hawaii. "My kane was a beautiful man and he spoke Hawaiian so fluently," she recalls.

Aunty Esther, as she is known in family circles, remembers in 1964 that while her husband served as president of the Oahu District Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, he was responsible in the organizing and chartering of five clubs, including Prince Kuhio, Queen Emma, Pearl Harbor, Puuloa and Waikiki. "I don't think anything like this has been matched thus far," she declared. Aunty Esther herself is a member of the Pearl Harbor club whieh this year is headed by John Kekuhaupi'o Kamalani. This Mother of the Year, a sister of the late Kahuna Lapa'au Aunty Emma DeFries, is a remarkable woman for one her age. In addition to the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, she is active in Hale O Na Ali'i, 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu, Hui Aloha and the Daughters of Hawaii of Queen Emma Summer Home. She still drives her own car and bowls regularly onee a week in the Gals in Green League at Kam Bowl in the Kamehameha Shopping Center. She explains that the league is composed of Girl Scout leaders and mothers. Aunty Esther drives herself everywhere in a handsome well-kept 1965 Buick four-door sedan whieh has become the envy of many a meehanie. "There have been so many people who want to buy my car but I tell them I am not going to part with it because this one is very special to me," she explained. She is a retired federal civil service employee, having worked 26 years in accounting, auditing and personnel. Aunty Esther attended Waikiki and Ka'ahumanu Elementary Schools, Normal Training School and

Punahou from where she graduated in 1927. She also attended the old Phillips Commercial College. Her two daughters — Patricia Moana Birch and Rebecca Kaleokoi MeEwen — are also Punahou graduates. Her three sons — Orrin Hugh, James Grant and Mervin Leroy — matriculated first at Cathedral School and then Waianae High School from where they graduated. Pat is employed at St. Francis Hospital, Becky at Hawaii Newspaper Agency, Mervin with the federal government, James with the State Department of Transportation and Orrin is self-employed in the automotive and electronics business. Aunty Esther has 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is a daughter of John Alexander Liholiho DeFries and Rebecca Kaleokoi Kua DeFries. Aunty Esfher, her two daughters, Mervin and a grandson were among the nearly 300 ohana members who honored Dora Koleka Kepani May 10 on the occasion of her 100th birthday. ' Her husband was Koleka's half-brother. She has been a Nanakuli homesteader since May 15, 1952. One of her sons also lives on Nanakuli homestead land directly behind her.

Esther Forsythe shows off plaque given by Richard Rodby at Mother of the Year ceremonies.