Betsy Elaine HoSoon Hinau

Betsy Elaine HoSoon Jhun Hinau passed away on March 4, 2026, in Hilo. Born on November 28, 1932, in Palolo, Oahu, to Mary Santiago of Kula, Maui, and Bong Kee Jhun of Seoul, South Korea, she was the 20th of 21 children. Known for her feisty spirit, sharp opinions, and abundant love for her ‘ohana and deep faith in the Lord, Betsy brought warmth and vitality to everyone around her.

She moved to Lahaina, Maui, as a teenager and attended Lahainaluna High School, where she excelled as a member of the National Honor Society, the cheer squad, and as a gifted Latin student. It was there that she met and married Sheridan Kekinomakani Hinau. Betsy was an active member of Maria Lanakila Church choir and the Sacred Hearts Society. A beloved West Side entertainer, she performed with the Ka’anapali Trio at the KBH, served as hostess for the Sheraton Maui luau, and traveled extensively for the Maui Visitors Bureau throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan. She was a founding member of the Na Mele O Maui scholarship and Keiki song contest, and she especially cherished her role as emcee for the Hyatt’s Aunty Emma Farden Sharpe hula festival. She also served as a Maui Police Department commissioner.

Betsy was deeply respected as Kupuna Hinau with the Department of Education at Kihei Elementary and Lokelani Intermediate. She received numerous accolades for her work perpetuating Hawaiian culture, most recently an honor for ‘Olelo Hawai‘i from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in February. Above all, she was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She was predeceased by her husband Sheridan, all 20 of her siblings, and many nieces, nephews, and close friends. Betsy is survived by her daughter Sheri-An Kaleinani (Robert “Butch”) Tam Ho, her son Neal Kealohamakua Hinau, her grandchildren Mikala Hinau Nanod (David Jr.), Alaina Hinau (Jacob), Jaime Hinau Kobatake (Kaleo), Xan DeCambra (Dennis), Ryssa Tam Ho (Mika), Scott Hinau, Liko Ardino, and Sara Dobashi (David), and her great-grandchildren Jordan, Josh, Jahliyah, Kalo, Kanaloa, Hi‘iaka, Jaede, Joe-Mitchell, Elyana, Xayden, Denna, La‘ahiwa, Kuihewa, Bella, and Valerie, along with hundreds of beloved nieces and nephews. Her ‘ohana, including the Duenas, Jhun, and Hinau families, as well as her closest friends who became family, remained by her side with steadfast love and support.