HOOLEHUA, Molokai >> Friends remember Gregory Giles Helm as the kind of person who brought people together to get projects done on Molokai. GREGORY HELM / COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER
Active leader helped
kick-start many
Molokai projects
See also: Obituaries
By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comHelm died in his sleep at his home in Hoolehua Sunday. He was 59.
"It's a tremendous loss. He was an all-around good guy," said Molokai activist Walter Ritte Jr. "He just had an even-keel way of dealing with issues that allowed a lot of people to have a great respect of him."
Before his retirement a few years ago, Helm served as the project director for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on Molokai and helped to establish Kalana 'Oiwi, a complex used by a number of Hawaiian service groups.
Many residents also remember his work in the community, including his help in bringing a Stanford-University of Hawaii volleyball game to Molokai last year and in establishing an enterprise zone for start-up businesses on the Friendly Isle.
He served in the Molokai Jaycees for a couple of decades, becoming a director and later a president, and worked also as chairman of the organization's fair on the island.
Molokai physician Emmett Aluli said Helm had been holding meetings and looking at ways to solve long-term nursing home care on the island.
"He was truly a leader and role model," Aluli said.
Take's Variety Store owner Ralph Kanemitsu said Helm helped to organize and was nearly finished with restoring facilities at Kiowea Park, known for its coconut grove.
"He really liked to help people and improve Molokai. That was his style," Kanemitsu said.
One of Helm's brothers, George Jr., died in waters off Kahoolawe in 1977 when he was involved in an effort to stop the Navy from bombing the island.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. today at St. Sophia Church in Kaunakakai, with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Kanakaloloa Cemetery in Hoolehua. Molokai Mortuary is assisting with the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife Roberta "Cookie" Helm; two sons Gregory Jr. and Malcolm; daughters Yvette and Noelani; brothers Larry, Zack and Adolph Helm and Bill Puleloa; sisters Stacy Helm Crivello and Georgia Mae Helm; and four grandchildren.
