Dana Anderson Obituary

DANA K. ANDERSON Dana Kirsten Pulelehua Anderson passed away on December 21, 2025 in Maunalua, Oahu where she has resided at The Ivy senior living community for the past eighteen months. Dana was born on May 24,1941 in Whitefish, Montana to George Henry Anderson and Frances Bickerton Anderson. The family moved to Edmonds, WA, where Dana spent her childhood until moving to Hawaii where she lived in the Nuuanu home of her mother's youth. A lifetime scholar, Dana graduated from Punahou School in 1959 and received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master's from Boston University. After eight years as a professor of English at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, MA, she moved to Martha's Vineyard where she served as an Edgartown selectman and finance committee member, prior to the opening of Bickerton and Ripley's, her co-owned bookstore which thrived for 26 years. Dana also served as Senior Warden of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. After the bookstore was sold, Dana returned in 2008 to Hawaii and Nuuanu, immediately becoming involved in the community. Passionate about the wellbeing and safety of underserved youth, she was a founding member of RYSE (Residential Youth Services and Empowerment). It is now five years old and expanded from one shelter for homeless youth to more than nine buildings and multiple education and training services. She was also a board member of NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) here in Honolulu for nearly 20 years, and enjoyed long-time membership and current service in the vestry of St. Clement's Episcopal Church. Dana loved Hawaii, her pali and her beaches, her music and her people. Her given Hawaiian name, Pulelehua, is the Hawaiian monarch butterfly which she loved and thought perhaps was her aumakua as they frequently visited her Nuuanu home. A celebration of life will be held at St. Clement's Church on Saturday, February 28th, visitation at 9:30am, service at 10:00am. Reception to follow at the Parish House.