Herbert Iopa Paleka Jr.

Herbert Iopa Paleka Jr. passed away on March 23 at Kona Community Hospital with his family by his side.

He was born on Nov. 30, 1945 on Molokai to Herbert Sr. and Eliza (Enos) Paleka. He would often share stories of being raised on Molokai, feeding the pigs and working in the kalo patches.

Herbert attended school on Molokai and in 1964 graduated from Molokai High School. He married Hinano Hapai on April 10, 1971 and raised his family on Oahu. He was a truck driver for Gaspro and a member of the Hawaii Teamsters Local 996 for over 35 years.

His passion was baseball. He taught and played for many years. He was the first softball umpire for Hawaii recognized by the International Softball Federation and was inducted into the Hawaii Officials Hall of Fame in 2019.

For the last six years he lived in Kailua Kona so that he could slow down and enjoy being closer to his grandchildren. He loved working in his garden and growing beautiful varieties of hibiscus.

He is survived by sons Herbert (Melia) Paleka III of Kailua Kona and Mo’ikeha (Pua) Paleka of Waipi’o, Oahu; grandchildren Ha’enaomana, Skyla, and Ha’inoa; and sister Erma Jean ‘Aikala of Seattle along with many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on June 29 at the Ke’ehi Lagoon Memorial Park at 2685 North Nimitz Hwy, Honolulu from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.