Leiala Ewalika

Leiala Rose Ewaliko 

February 3rd 1935 - December 15, 2025

In life Leiala was born a country girl, raised in Hilo, Hawaii by Rose and James Wilia. Her family moved to Oahu and she became the city girl for most of her life. She remembered as a little girl, heading to school and looking to the sky to see these planes with red zeros on them. Soon everyone was running back home to find their families; the attack on Pearl Harbor. Wars would deeply impact her life and the men she married. She married Clarence Akana a (medic, Korea) and gave birth to Candace and Clarence Jr. Her second marriage to William Ewaliko III (seaman, Korea) and brought Judson Ewaliko to the family. As Judson grew their Hanai family grew to include Cameron, Andre, and Kevin. The family moved to California, Leiala made picnics that could feed small armies for fishing trips, in hopes of sashimi. Family life was filled with laughter and struggle—one being the coping skill for the other.

Always a hostess, from her work managing the SpenceCliff restaurant at the Kewalo Basin and in sales in Los Angeles for Buick, Porsche, and GMC. She wove her Aloha into every greeting, beautiful and charming.

Leiala passed away in White Rock, NM, and will forever rest in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. We love to picture her gathering will all her friends and family on the other side.

Persons who will greatly miss her are: Candace Wall, (Thomas) Stacey Kaimoana Reva Gartz (David), Hannah Leiala, Norah Noelani, Edward Lonomakua, William Puakea, Sarah Aulani and Levi Kai Gartz(s) Judson, Sierra Ewaliko Cheyenne Ewaliko Denise, Jessica, Jacob Rathburn, Kalani Wilia, Andre, Cameron.

Those passed before: James and Rose Wilia, Clarence Akana, William Ewaliko, brothers: Charles Halemau, James Alani Wilia, and Philip Wilia.

The family of Leiala Ewaliko has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home T& Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.  505-747-7477