Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 2, 1 February 1988 — Benson W. K. Lee Sr. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Benson W. K. Lee Sr.

It is with deep sympathy to his family that the Hawaiian Civic Club movement and the Hawaiian community mourned the sudden passing on Jan. 19 of Benson Waldron Kealaokamalamalama Lee Sr., president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Lee, 47, who resided with his family at Pacific Palisades, was born at Hoolehua, Molokai, a product of Hawaiian Homes Land. He was a machinist foreman at the Pearl ** Harbor Naval Shipyard Shop 31. Lee and his wife, Antoinette L. Lee, are among the founders and charter members of the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, one of the most active in the Association. Lee served on many committees in the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, including the Oahu District Council as president before ascending to the top AOHCC post where he was serving his third term. In addition to his wife, he is also survived by sons, Benson W. K. Lee Jr., Brendon K. Lee and daughter, Brook A. M. Lee. Also brothers, William K. Lee, Wendell K. Lee, Walter O. Lee, Wilford L. Lee and sisters, Mrs. B. J. Fuller, Mrs. Mike N. (Leah M.) Ellis.

Lee, who was to lead the procession of his Hawaiian Civic Club members into Aloha Stadium as part of the Jan. 23 Ho'olokahi opening ceremonies, was viewed Jan. 21 at the Mililani Downtown Mortuary by hundreds of his fellow members, ohana, workers and friends at Pearl Harbor and a few legislators. Moses K. Keale Sr., chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees, was among the many who stood in a long line that spilled into the mortuary parking lot and *• never let up until the 9:30 p. m. closing. Among state lawmakers paying their respects were Governor John David Waihee 111, Reps. Mitsuo Shito, Joseph Leong and Whitney Anderson and Congressman Daniel K. Akaka.