Marie Lavaina Kapuahou Olds Darval's Obituary
Marie Lavaina Kapuahou Olds Darval “Puna” age 92 passed away peacefully on November 22, 2023 in Honolulu, HI. surrounded by her ohana. She was born on April 30th, 1931 in Honolulu to Clarence James Olds and Madeline Kehaulani Young. Her grandparents were James Olds Jr. and Anastasia Nalani Olds and Charles and Lavaina Coster.
Puna often shared fond memories of her youth when she would catch a .25 taxi from North King St. to Kailua on weekends to spend time with her grandmother Lavaina. There she would play on the beach with friends and walk to the Kailua theaters. Puna attended Sacred Hearts Academy and graduated from Punahou School, class of 1948. She attended the University of Hawaii for several years before entering the tourist industry, working for Matson Navigation Company at the Moana Travel Desk. While working for Matson, she met Alfred Bernard Darval who also worked for the company. They were married in 1952. After Al got the opportunity to transfer to Matson’s corporate office in Oakland, California, they moved to the Bay Area and bought a home on the water in the beautiful community of Foster City, San Mateo. They later moved to Minnesota, before coming back to Hawaii in 1965 and buying the home on Apua Place in Hawaii Kai to raise their 5 kids.
Puna resumed her career in travel with Trade Wind Tours and became the Manager of Group Tours. Never one to sit idle after retiring from Trade Wind Tours, she worked at Locations Real Estate and cleaned houses with Reney Ching, all of this while dabbling in real estate, investing along with her girlfriends, her sister Annette, and her daughters.
Puna lived out her life surrounded by her family and neighbors (Mahoes, Tehos, Sunadas). This community of families helped in raising the 17 kids of Apua Place, with some continuing to raise their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren there. Our mom, Puna, was most proud of the values she instilled in her children: honesty, integrity, kindness, having fun, working very hard and helping other people.
Puna is survived by her five children, Phillip Darval (Ressie), David Darval (Mary), Diane Almadova (Bryan), Denise Darval-Chang (Earle), Dana Higa (Kevin), ten grandchildren, Andre Darval (Taylor), Liane Darval, Tanner Vaughan Darval (Hiwa), Tatum Shimabukuro, Breland Almadova, Bashalei Almadova Dold (Nick), Kainoa Darval-Chang, Makana Darval-Chang, Kahanui Higa, Kama Higa, and 11 Great Grandchildren, Nohea, Moana, Nakahili, Kahula Vaughan-Darval, Tahiti and Tahje Beaupreu, Tama Shimabukuro, Max and Olivia Darval, Mia Darval-Jansen, Kaiao Dold. She is predeceased by brothers Charles M. Olds 1930, James C. Olds 1998, and sister Annette N. Olds Ebinger 2018.
A celebration of life will be held Friday, January 19, 2024 at Diamond Head Mortuary visitation at 3 pm and service at 4 pm. Aloha attire, no flowers.
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