“Uncle George” served his community for over four decades with dedication and aloha
Recognizing over 40 years of service to Windward O‘ahu and beyond, the campgrounds at Waimānalo Beach Park were officially renamed in honor of George Ke‘a Mahoe Jr. yesterday during a heartfelt ceremony.
On a gusty, tradewind afternoon, fronting the canoe hālau where the park caretaker home once stood and the Mahoe ‘ohana once resided, dozens of George’s descendants and Waimānalo community members gathered to unveil the new campground signage and share stories of the late City employee. Including George’s son, Kealii, who reminisced on how his father cared for the land, the people who enjoyed it, and the honor he and his ‘ohana felt seeing their name prominently displayed along this scenic shoreline.
“It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful feeling,” said Kealii Mahoe. “First thing that comes to mind is gratitude, being grateful, but right behind that it proud. Something that we can be proud of, because some people say ‘what’s more important than your name?’. So for my dad to have that impact on this community and the park, and to know that I have the same last name, makes me feel good and want to do something good as well to make an impact.”
Fondly referred to as “Uncle George”, he was widely known for his hard-work, hospitality, integrity and aloha spirit as a fixture in the Waimānalo community and dedicated employee for the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Beginning as a groundskeeper at the Pali Golf Course in 1957, he relocated his maintenances skills to the parks in Waimānalo four years later. He and his family eventually moved into the groundskeeper’s residence at the 37.56-acre Waimānalo Beach Park in the late 1960’s.
While he primarily helped maintain Waimānalo’s beach parks from Makapu‘u up to Hūnānāniho, Uncle George commonly assisted with parks in mauka areas of Waimānalo and along the Windward Coast up to Kualoa Regional Park.
Uncle George’s legacy is not measured in the geographic area he tended, but in the people for which he cared. He was known to mentor and inspire at-risk youth towards a life of community service, while also caring for those who sought shelter along the Waimānalo shoreline. He also supported numerous community events, from wa‘a regattas to carnivals and sports league games.
Eventually, Uncle George and his ‘ohana moved to the Waimānalo Homesteads, as the groundskeeper’s residence was replaced with the beach park’s canoe halau standing today. Even with the added travel time, Uncle George continued to service the beach park bathrooms at 5 a.m., often playing his radio to let campers and park users know Uncle George was available if you needed him. Officially retiring from City work in 1998, Uncle George continued to serve his community through volunteer efforts until he passed away the following year. It was this sense of support, assurance, and aloha which truly exemplified Uncle George’s dedication and love of his community.
This recognition of Uncle Gorge culminates efforts from the Waimānalo Neighborhood Board and Councilmember Esther Kia‘āina, who officially renamed the facility through City Council Resolution 24-252.
Waimānalo Beach Park offers 10 campsites available for five-day camping from Friday afternoons through Wednesday morning. Book your online reservation this coming Friday at 5 p.m. by visiting camping.honolulu.gov
We hope everyone continues to enjoy the George Ke‘a Mahoe Jr. Campground at Waimānalo Beach Park, and mahalo Uncle George for your inspiration!
If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.
—PAU—
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