Edward Kato, outstanding
By Mary Adamski
citizen from Kalaupapa
Star-BulletinEdward Kato of Kalaupapa said it was the proudest accomplishment of his life when he took part in the 1995 burial of a relic of Father Damien DeVeuster beside the Kalawao church built by the 19th century missionary. “I told him, ‘You demonstrate what Damien was in many ways. No matter what curve ball is thrown at you, you can do your utter best. You endured with grace and great style,’” said the Rev. Joseph Bukoski, head of theml6 Edward Kato commission that coordinated local participation in the beatification of Damien by Pope John Paul II that year.
Kato, 80, who lived at Kalaupapa since he contracted Hansen’s Disease at the age of 19, died Sundayin Hale Mohalu hospital after a long battle with cancer.
He was retired as manager of the Kalaupapa Store. He was an artist who depicted the place where he lived and the church Damien built in numerous paintings, most of which he gave away to friends and acquaintances. And he became a world traveler as soon as the mandatory quarantine of patients was lifted in the 1960s.
“He tried to touch bases all over the world,” recalled Edward Lau of Honolulu, Kato’s friend and
fishing companion. “He had a lot of friends all over the world. The only place he didn’t go was South America and the Middle East. He was unique for someone who comes from Kalaupapa. No one traveled, they were afraid to. He kind of spearheaded the idea.”
“Ed was one of driving factors that kept the Lions Club going,” Lau said. Kato was secretary and treasurer of the Kalaupapa chapter of the service organization for many years. “He always helped the community, he did all the sign-painting for the community.”
Kato was named the Maui County Outstanding Older American Man in 1996 in recognition of more than 50 years of volunteer service.
“He would never talk bad about anyone in all the years I knew him,” said Lau. “He was generous to a fault, an all-around good guy.”
The Rev. Arsene Daenen, former pastor of St. Francis Church at Kalaupapa, recalled Kato as “devoted to the church and the church community.” Kato acted as sacristan and served at Mass, and formerly sang with the choir.
“He knew a lot of the history of the place and liked to talk about that,” said Daenen. “He was always talking about Damien, and comparing life then and now. He loved Molokai and the settlement.
“He had the soul of an artist, not just painting but music and anything that pertained to beauty.”
He was not the kind of person to talk about regrets, said his sister, Janice Kupelian of Honolulu. One of those unspoken disappointments was in 1994 when Kato was slated to meet the pope and participate in the Damien beatification.
The event was postponed at the last moment because the pope was injured in a fall. By the time the event was rescheduled, he was unable to travel, but was happy with the hometown celebration.
“He was a person who, even with his own pains and hurts, smiled forth with God’s goodness. I can picture his beaming smile,” said Bukoski.
A funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. March 5 at St. Pius X Church in Honolulu. Friends may call after 9 a.m. A memorial Mass will be held Monday at St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa. His fishing companions will scatter his ashes in the water off Kalaupapa.
Kato was born on Maui. He is survived by four sisters, Evelyn Ibara, Martha Ibara, Eleanor Kinoshita, all of Maui, and Janice Kupelian of Oahu, and two brothers, Joseph and Martin Kato.
Wendell L. Aio, 63, of Honolulu is survived by brother Gabriel and sister Marie Chan. Incorrect information for an obituary published Wednesday provided by the mortuary.
