Charleen Madali Obituary

Charleen "Vai" reminds me of Ma (Grandmother who lived in Makaha)--spunky, expressive, spirited, outspoken, fun, strong, beautiful. She will always be my baby cousin... A cherished memory is when I glossed clear polish onto her fingernails when she was around 6 years old. She grew impatient and was not as impressed as I was when Noe, an older cousin, did the same to my nails when a youngster. That was perfectly alright--Charleen had better things to do at Ma's! She was always playful and attuned to her surroundings. Charleen "Vai", Edgar, Filo, Raleigh, Jr., Tracy, Butchie and I loved it when Ma told us scary stories of Hawaii. Remember the magical vana? And, boy, all those awesome days out in Makua--big tub(s) of ice and soda, ono manapua and other foods, the adults mainly talking story and we kids in the rocky pools or in the ocean or meandering among the rocks. Wonderful times! When I left Oahu in 1985 with my then-husband, David, Charleen "Vai" was a young woman of the islands with long natural wavy black hair and a flower tucked behind her ear, smiling like sunshine. A beauty. She seemed to always shine. My daughter, Rachel, and I saw and talked story a bit with Charleen last May when we gathered for my Dad at Mililani Memorial Park. It had been many years since we last saw one another. Sure, we were older but, Charleen, only a little bit, still vibrant, witty and beautiful. That smile... She "scolded" me for calling her "Charleen"--she preferred "Vai"... Vai has left behind a grieving family, her son, Reidy Boy, who is now a handsome young man with a purposeful countenance, her husband, Bartholomew "Robin", and the rest of the loving ohana. She is now with Heavenly Ohana and perhaps dancing the hula with a flower tucked in her hair, smiling for always ~~~ Loving Aloha and Mahalo Plenty for Blessing Our Lives ~ Vernie

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.