Cynthia Mae Kapahu

July 8, 1942 - May 20, 2019

Ma was born on July 8th, 1942 in Kokomo, Maui to the late Manuel Bras Santos and Mary Lou Rodrigues. She was the middle child with older sister Frances "Chanoke" and brother John "Buzzy". Her younger siblings are Louise, Paul and Zoe. Ma grew up on Maui and was lifelong friends with the Akina ‘Ohana of Kihei. During her high school years they relocated to O’ahu where she graduated from Kailua High School. Upon graduating she left for the mainland where she meet Daddy. To provide for her growing family Ma attended school to become an X-ray technologist. She eventually returned to Hawaii with 5 children in tow, Leonard Jr. "Sonny", Tanya, Manuel and twins Daniel and Vincent. She settled back in Kailua, O'ahu and worked at the Queens Medical Center until she retired in 1988. She accepted a position on Kwajalein Atoll where she met Carroll Mahealani "Bear" Kapahu. When close family friend Vernon & Florina Rodrigues passed away their children Anthony, Veronica, Junior and Evalani joined the Kapahu household. Ma also has four grandchildren Aisa, Manuel “Kekoa”, and twins Maile and Kaiya who passed away in 2010. In 2001 they retired, relocating to Makaha where they built their dream home. After a year of retirement, Ma went back to work at the Waianae Coast Health Comprehensive Center until September of 2016. She worked tirelessly caring for her family and the communities of O’ahu and Kwajalein Atoll. Due to her declining health the decision was made to relocate her to an assisted living community in California where her daughter Tanya and son in law Chris Brookhart could help care for her. On May 20th, 2019 our mother Cynthia Mae Santos Kapahu passed away with Tanya and Chris at her side. Please join our family to honor her life on Saturday, June 22nd from 0900 to 1100 at O’ahu Mortuary Chapel, located at 2162 Nu’uanu Avenue. Prayer service will be celebrated at 1100 with lunch to follow on the lanai. Ma will be laid to rest next to her parents at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery at 2pm. Mahalo for being apart of her life