FAY CALKINS ALAILIMA

Father: Birdsall Calkins
Mother: Gladys Gilkey Calkins
Sisters: Harriet (Happy) Hunter, Gladys (Junie) Keidel
Husband: Lei’ataualesā Fuimaono, Amituana’i Vaiao J. Ala’ilima

Children:

Leuga m: Joseph Turner
Grandchildren: Fetuao m: Michael Gibson, Maota, Ali’i

Gladys m: Ian Charles
Grandchildren: Mika Birdsall

Birdsall m: Marlene Jahnke
Grandchildren: Dawn m: Don Pitzer, Flora m: Mason
Martin, Conan m: Rena Henderson, Birdsall Vo’a m:
Sarah Simon, Marlene Alia
GGChildren: Dawn – Harmony-Dove
Flora – Alexandria, Mason (Potsie)
Conan – Renae
Birdsall – Riley, Morgan

Charles m: Mary Napodano
Grandchildren: Tupou m: Khalil Ghanayem, Rachael,
Calkins, Fiore, Rafael
GGChildren: Tupou – Nasif, William, George
Rachael – Romeo, Ciara
Fiore – Malachi

Marie m: Keniseli Lafaele
Grandchildren: Vaiao m: Vitoria Samuelu, Lei Marie
GGChildren: Vaiao – Vaiao, Isaac, Lymaris, Semila,
Jasmine

Fay m: Barry Rose
Grandchildren: Christia m: Mareko Tuivaiti, Lee, Gabriel
GGChildren: Christina – Maui

Cecilia m: Richard Gibson
Grandchildren: Fay, Koali’i, Kilali

3 comments:

LeNora Yazzie Bowman Lee) said...: I recently purchased "My Samoan Chief" at a gun show in Ogden, Utah. for $2.50. I have enjoyed the book and I am sad to read if Fay Ala'ilima's passing. I am a Navajo Indian from Arizona and have a great love for the Polynesian people and culture. My regards to her husband and family. Thank you; January 26, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Anonymous said...: Thank you for posting this. We were at Faye and Vaiao's wedding and regretted losing touch. We and Faye were part of the Young Friends group at Florida Avenue Friends Meeting.

We now live in Minnesota.

Our sympathy and wishes for good health to Vaiao and all the family.

Seiki and Vici (Victoria) Oshiro; November 19, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Amituanai Fuimaono Cecilia Sumuane Alailima said...: 2021: Happy 100th BIRTHDAY in heaven Mom. Thank you for making it so easy to feel close to your loving spirit in the forest, in the ocean, in family and community, and quiet meditation. Thank you for your unconditional love and legacy that inspires us to keep finding ways to make the world a better place. Love you forever., Sisi; October 18, 2021 at 3:39 PM

Memorial Guest

Leanne , Collins
Russ & Jackie , Bachman
Gladys , Alailima
Chris & Linda , Shirai
Lydia , Ranger
Sharon , Seki
Lois & Byron , Bender
Jeanne & Eric , Bunyan
Susan , Eichor
Tai , Tagaloa
Rev. Darrow , Aiona
Judith & Ioane , Nuusa
Herbert , Kaneshiro
Patsy & David , Higa
Ken & Florence , Ishima
Faye , McCoy
Elsie , Hyde
Bob & Prvoy , Potter
, Betty Gail Potur Alford
Muriel Tatsuo , Omiya
Amy , Hayashi
Gus , Hannemann
Merle , Shimokawa
Chuck & Helene , Lileikis
Rubet & Valerie , Kiste
Angela & Robert , Franco
Jorge , Baizelalto
Terry , Corpos
Arlene & Amber , Ling
Billy R. Henson , & Jamie L. Ornellas
Rick & Nicola , Szuster
Ken & Chris , Andres
Larry & Donna , Davis
Kalala , Fauolo
Sue , Verko
Rev. & Mrs S. , Tuimalealiifano
Mr. & Mrs. , Tamichi
Don , Sealey
Richard , Coleman
Tom & Kristi , Dinell
Douglas, Terza & Christina , Meller
Douglas, Terza , Meller
Faye & Peter , Fuata
Sandy , Balogh
Angie Williams , & Orson Swindle
Hauuelo, Jai, Nicole, Christopher , Paik
Son-Jai , Paik
Sheree & William , Loui
Tui , Alailima
Floyd Takeuchi & , Leris Tanahara
Wayne , Akana
Mary Jane , Dobson
John , Flecklas
Lovina & Joe , Keafoot
Jampes , Heriplia
Tusi & Linda , Avegalo
Ma'afu , Wendt
Sally , Drake
Freda , Hellinger
Evelyn , Giddings
John & Sadie , Hayakawa
Alyce , Dodge
Rev. Sam & Lily Blum , Domingo
Masina , Nuusa
Charmaine , Faleaana
Jerry & Joyce , Brower
Jo , Tsark
Sam , Tali
Ah , DrAh
Barry Morrison & , Elisa W. Johnston
Hastar , Hauhau
Solomona , Nuusa
Talavou , Avegalio
Kristen, Nicklos, Lindsey , Dudley
Timena , Brown
Twa , Aya
Leiofi, Noel & Fueilelagi , Papalii
Lei'ataua Ropati , Opa
Pacific Islands Institute Ltd. , (Andrew Lockwood)
Nuu & Semila , Samuelu
Tuugaolo Logotaeo, Toeacia & , Hose Agosto & family
Fetu , Tamaleaa
Ashley Ahloo , Tonumaipea
Leiataualesa Talapasia & , Tue Samuela
Ray & Karen , Uyeda
Suenu , Yamada
Panapa Ben & Aniata , Tuua
Florammaa , Stanishaus
Alan & Ana , Gamble
Simanu , Lui
Solomon , Kaahaaina
Bob , Franco
Kim, Piula & Salani , Alailima
Harriet , Hunter
Mark , Hunter
Berger , Nuusa
Fainuulelei , Alailima Utu
Janet , Harada
Eleen , Shiroma
Ryan , Yoneda
State of Hawaii , Civil Defense
Ruth & John , Sato
Charlette , Higa
Linda Meria , Smith
Sally , Meria
, Kaher
Dons & Roger , Ikenaga
Bob & Jo Anne , Nakata
Amy , Taniguchi
Grace , Miller
Wesley , Gods Garden Workers
Hugh & Betty , Winn

Biography

Distinguished Pacific author, political scientist, scholar and educator, Dr. Fay Gilkey Calkins Ala’ilima passed away peacefully at her home on Pia Street in Honolulu, Hawaii at 11:00 am on Sunday, August 1, 2010 at the age of eighty-eight. Born September 24, 1921 in Auburn, New York of a family with strong Puritan, Quaker and Methodist traditions, Fay was the eldest of Gladys Fay Gilkey and James Birdsall Calkins’ three daughters.

Fay Calkins received a Bachelors of Arts from Oberlin College, Ohio in 1943, a Masters of Arts from Haverford College, Pennsylvania in 1945 and a Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Chicago in 1951. A lifelong passion for travel combined with service landed her a job with the United Nations relief and rehabilitation team relocating Jewish inmates from German concentration camps in Austria and teaching them desert agriculture and auto mechanics. In 1947, she was an organizer for the Textile Workers Union of America, an experience that was later to be a cornerstone of her doctoral dissertation and first book, “The CIO and the Democratic Party” (1952, University of Chicago Press).

In January 1952, in Washington, D.C., Fay married Vaiao John Ala’ilima, one of Samoa’s first graduates to return to progress his country’s transition to independence. Vaiao convinced his American wife that together they could make a significant contribution to Samoa’s development. The decision was an easy one for Fay. Vaiao’s good looks, a promise for adventure, and new areas for cross-cultural research were more than sufficient incentives to leave the developed world for a developing one.

In 1955, they cleared, planted and established Lafulemu, one of the country’s top producing banana plantations at the time. Following Samoa’s independence in 1962, Fay was employed as an instructor at Pesega College and later at Samoa College, the national high school. She was instrumental in the initial establishment of US Peace Corps in Samoa. Fay’s second publication, “My Samoan Chief” (1962, Doubleday) was required cross cultural reading for all US Peace Corps Volunteers serving in the Pacific. Vaiao, “the chief” had been bestowed the titles of Lei’ataualesā from Manono Island and the Amituanai from Lotofaga. He was also serving as the newly independent country’s first Public Service Commissioner.

Vaiao and Fay’s contribution to Samoa’s future also included more than a half a dozen off-spring; five daughters and two sons. Fays appointment as a Senior Scholar and Vaiao a Fellow at the East West Center at the University of Hawaii in 1964 afforded an opportunity for the family to relocate from Samoa to Hawaii to further the children’s education. East West Center and the University of Hawaii provided the support and environment needed to pursue their life long passion; research and writing about Samoan families (Hawaii; Samoa), Samoa’s history, political and social system. Fay also began working on her third book Aggie Grey: A Samoan Saga (1988, Mutual Publishing); a biographical portrait of one of the Pacific’s most beloved hospitality entrepreneurs and a good friend. Internationally renowned author James A. Michener, also a good friend of Aggie’s, wrote the foreword. Hamilton Library Pacific Rooms currently serves as repository for Vaiao and Fay’s numerous published and unpublished works as well as their collected source materials.

From the early 1960’s until her retirement in June 1984, Fay returned to teaching in Hawaiian schools and Universities. She specialized in innovative approaches to urban problems and cross-culture communications as education coordinator for the Model Cities Program in 1965. She later took a position as Social Science instructor at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu (1965-1968). In 1967 she was granted a Fullbright Fellowship to study education in Southeast Asia.

Fay was Assistant Professor in Social Science at the Hawaii Loa College prior to becoming the Human Service Instructor at Leeward Community College (1970-1984). Her achievements at Leeward Community College included developing a program to train and place human service paraprofessionals into social service agencies.

In recognition of her accomplishments, Fay was bestowed the Haverford College Award in October 1973 as a person “whose contributions so clearly demonstrate that the educated individual of strong social conscience can indeed spur the progress of humanity”.

Fay and Vaiao returned to Samoa in 1986 to an active political life together. For nearly a decade, Fay served as Vaiao’s personal secretary following her husband’s appointment as a cabinet minister for several portfolios including Minister of Justice, Labor, Public Service and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Fay retired as Research Fellow from the Institute of Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa in 2007 where she was working on her final book; “Samoa’s Changing Chiefdom”. She and Vaiao returned to Hawaii for health reasons.

Dr. Fay Gilkey Calkins Ala’ilima is survived by her husband Amituanai Lei’ataualesā Fuimaono Vaiao Ala’ilima, their seven children, twenty-two grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren in Hawaii, Samoa, American Samoa and the USA-mainland. She is also survived by her sisters Gladys (Junie) Keidel and Harriet (Happy) Hunter. Fay will be remembered by her family for her devotion to her husband, her love for the outdoors and travel, her storytelling and humor, her ability to provide for so many, particularly her children and grandchildren.