Aloha Billy: Family, friends, community gather to celebrate life, legacy of former Hawai‘i County Mayor Billy Kenoi

There was a strong desire by many on the Big Island to celebrate former Hawai‘i County Mayor William “Billy” Punapaia‘alaikahala Kenoi right away after he died Jan. 26, 2021, at the age of 52 following a lengthy battle with cancer.

But out of concern for people’s health and well-being, he asked his family to hold off on any kind of memorial event until the COVID-19 pandemic had largely passed. His ashes were scattered where he asked his family to do so and there were small gatherings, but nothing was open to the public.

The former mayor — who served from 2008 to 2016 and was also a lawyer, teacher, coach and public servant who loved to surf — also laid out how he wanted a potential celebration to happen, who he wanted to speak on his behalf and musicians he wanted to play during the event.

“What Dad truly wanted wasn’t necessarily a funeral,” said the Kalapana native’s son Justin Kenoi. “He didn’t want it to be that type of day. He wanted a celebration, a party, music and all of his friends and family coming together, sharing stories, laughing.”

On Saturday, his father’s wishes were granted 3 years and one day after he died as family, friends, supporters and the community came together to Aloha Billy during a celebration of the former mayor’s life from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.

There were no formal speakers, but there was plenty of laughter, hugs, music and food, with a few tears; it was almost like a family reunion of sorts, exactly how Billy Kenoi’s youngest sister Kina Kenoi Sai said her brother would have wanted it.

Hundreds of people were already inside the stadium before the celebration began, which was organized by family with help from the community.

The Kenoi ‘ohana was humbled and grateful for the outpouring of love, friendship, generosity and prayers.

Justin Kenoi said it was beautiful to see everyone come together, including many people he and his older brother and younger sister have known since they were growing up, just being together again in celebration of his father and sharing memories.

“That means the most, to hear these stories,” Justin Kenoi said. “That’s what keeps him alive.”

He even heard a few stories Saturday he hadn’t heard before, allowing him to learn even more about his dad.

The family feels blessed by everyone who walked alongside Billy Kenoi throughout his life, helping him achieve his dreams and build his legacy.

Justin Kenoi became emotional as he spoke about how his father is always in his family’s hearts. They will always celebrate and remember him.

He said Saturday’s event finally gave everyone a chance to come together, hug and really embrace and remember his father. Hearing all the stories and what people were sharing, Takako Kenoi was happy her husband was able to touch so many lives.

“I’m glad he was able to do all that stuff for the community and people he loved,” she said.

Nancy Carr Smith, a resident of Waimea who is president of the Waimea Community Association and founder and principal broker of Aloha Kohala Realty, moved to the Big Island in 2002. She met Billy Kenoi when he started his first campaign to become mayor in 2008.

The two got to know each other well through the years, especially since she and her husband helped with both of his mayoral campaigns. During Saturday’s event, Carr Smith called him extraordinary.

“He treated me like a sister, and I think he did that with everyone,” she said as her eyes welled up with tears. “He made everybody feel so special. Not very many people have the ability to do that genuinely.”

When Kenoi went to Waimea and met with community groups during his campaigns, Carr Smith said he wasn’t there to talk about himself. He was there to talk about other people and ask them about their lives.

It was his heart and the way he treated people “that really set him apart,” she said. Kenoi called her two weeks before he died just to say hi.

She said it was nice to come together Saturday with people who loved and supported her friend and agreed the celebration would have been just what he wanted: “Everybody’s just celebrating him, happy; although, it’s really hard not to shed tears.”

Sai said her brother never really met a stranger because once someone met him, he was their friend.

“He knew how to engage with someone regardless of their status, regardless of where they lived,” said Sai. “He could meet someone in surf shorts at the surf break in Honolulu and just be instant friends. He could meet someone across a conference room table or in an agency meeting at the Capitol and he would just create this long-lasting friendship and memory off the same meeting.”

Kenoi’s was a life well-lived. One filled with family, friends, supporters and community. Many of them say Kenoi epitomized the spirit of aloha — love, affection, compassion, kindness — and selfless service that make Hawai‘i so special.

“As we reflect on Billy’s life, let us remember him for his selflessness, dedication and the positive changes be brought to the lives of those he served,” wrote Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green in a special message honoring the “remarkable individual” who was Kenoi. “May his legacy inspire us to continue the pursuit of justice, compassion and community betterment. His memory will forever remain in our hearts, a beacon of service and love that continues to guide us.”

Kenoi’s legacy will live on through the lives of all those he touched — in person and from afar — as well as the work he did while serving as the Big Island’s top executive creating recreation centers and parks for keiki and ‘ohana.

He lives on in those places, especially William “Billy” Kenoi Park in Pāhoa. He lives on in his extended family and he can still be seen every day in the faces of his children and the love of his wife. He lives on in the stories people share about him, in their memories and words, and in the places he lived, worked and played.

Kenoi also continues to live on the internet. You can find many of his speeches and other appearances with a search on Google or YouTube.

“He is such an inspiration,” commented Alana Ibrao on a YouTube video of the former mayor giving a commencement speech in 2014 at Hawai‘i Pacific University in Honolulu. “This speech makes me feel like anything is possible. Hawai‘i will miss such a beautiful soul. Rest in love, Uncle Billy. A hui hou, mālama pono.”

Ibrao offered those words three years ago after Kenoi’s death. Her father showed her the video when she graduated from high school in 2014 and anytime she struggled, she would come back to watch it: “I had to come back to this video after hearing about his passing.”

In that speech, Kenoi told graduates to take their education, their dreams and their lives and go out into the world, yes, but most importantly, share aloha.

“Love, aloha — it doesn’t cost any money and it doesn’t take any effort,” he said. “And the most amazing part? The more you give, the more you get. And the more you give, the more you have, and you never run out.”

Those who were unable to attend Saturday’s celebration can also share their memories and stories about Kenoi and bid him aloha by visiting the Remember Billy Kenoi website.