‘Maui Treasure’ Ed Lindsey Dies

During his final days, hundreds of family, friends and well-wishers stopped by to pay their respects to Lindsey, who was recognized by the Maui County Council in mid-May as a “beloved Maui treasure.” Lindsey and his family are well-known for their tireless contributions to the preservation and restoration of Hawaiian culture and lands. Though Lindsey founded or was involved with many organizations on Maui, his primary focus was on native land restoration projects, Malama Honokowai Valley and Malama Kaheawa-Hana’ula, and Hui O Wa’a Kaulua, an organization that is currently constructing a double-hulled voyaging canoe, Naleilehua, named in honor of Ed’s father, Ned Naleilehua Lindsey. Malama Honokowai Valley and Malama Kaheawa-Hana’ula are both under the purview of Maui Cultural Lands Inc., a program spearheaded by Lindsey that focuses on education about Hawaiian lands and culture, as well as restoration, stabilization and preservation of native flora, fauna and archeological sites.

For the Lindsey ‘ohana, the shifting tides of Ed’s passing have not shifted the focus from the legacy left by Ed and his parents, Ned and Pua Lindsey.

Lindsey’s wife of 45 years, Puanani, said she will maintain the physical part of the work Ed has been doing.

Ed “Ekolu” Lindsey III, Ed’s eldest son, is confident that his father’s vision will be perpetuated. “We’re probably going to do it the same way, the same thing he was doing,” he said. According to Ekolu, his father had prepared for lifelong community service during his 25-year teaching career. Lindsey taught for four years in Hana, then later at ‘Iao Intermediate School in Wailuku, specializing in Hawaiian and Social Studies.

A gifted communicator, Lindsey was consistently approached for his input on handling a wide range of social and environmental issues. He would constantly stress that one must be worthy of the work they are undertaking. In an interview shortly before his death, Ed expounded on the importance of intentionality when embarking on any project.

“You have to be correct; you have to be pono from the get-go,” he said. “It is important that anything [you] do, do it for the right reason. It’s only in doing things for the right reason that your project can move forward. If you cannot do things for the right reason and you are doing it for the me’s, my’s and I’s, that project will suffer great consequences… It’s the culture that will suffer. If you are pono, you are not afraid of being corrected. If I was trying to present something and I’m not pono, I want to be corrected.”

Ekolu reflected on his father’s talent for creating harmony within a situation: “He was able to look at a problem from a 360-degree view, and no matter where you were standing within that problem, he could put it in perspective for you and find a win-win situation. That was part of his gift—building bridges and bridging the gap.”

Ekolu said that he will strive to emulate his father’s talents. “One of his key characteristics was always looking for the good in people.

“If you know what you are doing wrong and someone calls you on it, don’t feel that they need to be ridiculed…,” said Ekolu. “Ridiculing… doesn’t bring the goodness out in them. It doesn’t bring out the aloha.”

Echoing values taught by his father, Ekolu continued, “Realizing where the bad exists helps you stay away from the bad, but cultivate the good in that person… concentrate on their strengths, not their weakness. Everyone has a weakness, so if you play to their strengths you get more accomplished.”

As far as carrying on Ed’s legacy, Rose Marie Duey is currently heading up the administrative aspect of Maui Cultural Lands.

Lindsey’s son, Jonathan, is at the forefront of the fieldwork on the projects. Lindsey’s daughter, Lahela Constantino, said that she will be next in line to head up the project, and for now she will prepare for the responsibilities that lie ahead.

“I will be working side by side with Auntie Rose Marie and learning from her and absorbing her mana and information into my own, and eventually I will be at the front line doing exactly what Dad has been doing…,” said Constantino. “We will be slowly branching out and getting involved in all these other organizations that Dad was involved with so we can live up to Dad’s legacy tenfold.”

“He taught me a lot—spiritually, mentally—everything,” Lahela added softly. “Dad was my teacher. He was everything. I’m going to miss his physical presence—his strength, his smile. I’m going to miss him. He’s my dad.”

A public memorial for Ed Lindsey will be held on Friday, July 3, at 4 p.m. at Waiola Church Hall in Lahaina. Services will begin at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers or food, the family has requested that donations be made to Maui Cultural Lands to help continue Ed’s legacy.

To volunteer or donate to Maui Cultural Lands, visit mauiculturallands.org for more information.

© All articles, events, letters, etc. Maui Weekly 2007