Born in ‘Ewa to plantation workers, Sadie (Yasui) Kaya had the best childhood ever. Her memory of growing up there is so strong today, at the age of 103, that she sang a childhood song to me: “Ewa is our happy home. Yes, yes, oh yes. Never from her shall we roam. No, no, oh no. Oh how happy now are we, when we see the DPD. Soon the waters we shall see. Sing, children, sing.”

Sadie, her four brothers and a sister enjoyed ‘Ewa’s playgrounds, gyms and baseball fields. Like her brothers, Sadie was quite an athlete. Her sister Lorraine owned the Ewa Tavern with husband Eddie, who Sadie said was a great cook. This well-known restaurant had patrons coming from as far as Barbers Point for delicious meals and pies.

Sadie married and worked at the Ewa School’s cafeteria on Renton Road. She told me that the “Lincoln, the Frontiersman” statue was donated by Katherine Burke. My research showed Katherine McIntosh Burke was a teacher and principal there from 1919 to 1927. The statue was unveiled on February 12, 1944 and a celebration is held every year on Lincoln’s birthday in front of it.

Her great memories of ‘Ewa make Sadie very happy. She is called the “Ewa Queen” by her friends and the staff of the Care Center of Honolulu. I thanked her for sharing those memories, which she said “many Ewa people will remember too.”

Stories for and about seniors and their caregivers are always worth sharing, such as 100th birthday announcements. Send stories and photos to Sherry Goya.
808-722-8487 | sgoyallc@aol.com