Page 6 - MidWeek Windward - Aug 31, 2022

6 AUGUST 31, 2022
Beloved Windward O‘ahu Woman Has Deep Roots In Community Involvement
FROM PAGE 1
out the years. Recognized for her community in- volvement in many aspects, Hewett is also a former president of Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club.
She believes her secret to longevity is “doing a lot of work.” She recalls that she was employed by entertain- er Don Ho for 11 years, and then at Marine Corps Base
Kāne‘ohe Bay, but that her most notable career has been with the Honolulu Depart- ment of Parks and Recre- ation. She’s retired now, but for years, she kept the parks well-maintained and had the opportunity to interact with keiki.
Council honored Hewett by naming the He‘eia Neigh- borhood Park baseball grounds after her. It’s now known as the Alice Pualei- lani Kāna‘e Hewett Baseball Field.
“It was when I was in in- termediate school. My dad used to coach when he was alive — he used to coach the ladies. I used to help chase balls and then I start- ed to play volleyball with the ladies, and then I kept going,” Hewett recalls. “At Benjamin Parker School in Kāne‘ohe, we had basket- ball and volleyball and we played different schools. That’s when I was young. I was a tomboy.”
the noted kumu hula Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett.
The sharp-witted Hewett just celebrated her birth- day earlier this month and proudly sports a T-shirt sent to her by a granddaughter that reads in part “At 91 I’m Still Playing With A Full Deck.”
Exactly 10 years ago, in 2012, the Honolulu City
A passion for athletics runs deep in Hewett, who herself participated in sports starting at young age.
Although sometimes she now uses a walker or wheelchair for support, Hewett stands about 5 feet, 11 inches tall.
Summing up her approach to life from past to present, Hewett concludes with a cheerful, grateful tone.
Meanwhile, Hewett has loomed large in the neighborhood as an in- spirational figure and a positive influence for thousands of keiki and their families through-
“I’m thankful in whatever I do. I’m happy,” she says with a hearty laugh.
(Clockwise from top left) The former He‘eia Neighborhood Park baseball grounds are now known as the Alice Pualeilani Kāna‘e Hewett Baseball Field; He‘eia resident Alice Hewett, age 91, poses; Hewett in the front
is pictured with (from left) family members Kuupua, Emmalani and Kuulei; Hewett is pictured with (from left) young friends Peyton Bogus, Jaycie Kim and Paxton Bogus. PHOTOS COURTESY
THE HEWETT FAMILY