Hal Kaluhiokalani Matthews, a popular entertainer at Lake Chapala, where he played the ukulele and sang Hawaiian songs at clubs and restaurants, died suddenly November 30. He was 78.
Kaluhiokalani and Margie, his wife of 45 years, first visited Lake Chapala five years ago. He often said that the Lake Chapala communities reminded him of Kanehohe, the small town on Oahu where he grew up.
Kaluhiokalani graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1954, where he boarded from seventh to twelfth grade. He would say that his first big break in life came with gaining new friends at school, fellow Hawaiian classmates who continued to be close throughout his life.
His second break came at age 21 when he was hired by the industrialist Henry J. Kaiser as a chauffeur and body guard. Hal always praised Mr. Kaiser’s generosity for sponsoring his attendance at the University of Southern California where Hal graduated with a degree in business.
Kaluhiokalani often said his third big break was meeting his wife Margie in Oregon in 1968. He asked her to marry him one week after they met and three months later they were married. It was truly “love at first sight” for both of them, Margie recalls. She says Hal sang to her in his romantic voice every day until he died.
Margie tells how her husband brought into their marriage his adorable four-year old son Hal Jr. and two years later in 1970 their son Knute was born in Kailua, Hawaii. Their greatest tragedy was suddenly losing their son Hal Jr. at the age of 43 in 2008.
Kaluhiokalani retired after 30 years of working in the wood industry as a lumber and plywood broker and export manager for several companies in Oregon. Then Hal and Margie retired to Makaha, Hawaii for 10 years before moving to Lake Chapala two years ago.
Kaluhiokalani loved following the activities and successes of his nine grandchildren, ranging in age from seven to 20. In addition to his wife Margie, Hal is survived by their son Knute, daughter-in-law Stacy and their four children in Oregon, and by daughter-in-law Tara and five children in Alabama.
Contributions can be given in Hal Matthews’ name to Chapala Cruz Roja, the charity where he volunteered and contributed. Aloha Oi and Adios!