Dane Silva Obituary

DANE DRAKE KAOHELANI SILVA Traditionally trained and internationally recognized for combining native Hawaiian medicine with scientific research, Dane Drake Kaohelani Silva, 76, passed away at his home in Puna on November 27, 2022. A member since 1988 of the islands-wide council, Kupuna La'au Lapa'au o Hawai'i, his most recent article, on the proven anti-inflammatory properties of the 'uhaloa plant, was published by the National Institutes for Health in 2022. Born in Hilo in 1946, and raised in Keaukaha, Dane graduated from Hilo HS in 1964, and from UH with a BA in Biology and Biomedical Science, becoming a doctor of chiropractic and practitioner of acupuncture. He served as a Lieutenant in the Coast Guard Reserves, was passionate about martial arts, and was an 8th degree member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I. Dane learned lomilomi from his grandmother Lily Kakani Nobriga and father, Edwin Isaac Silva. He studied la'au lapa'au with Henry Auwae and Harry Mitchell. In 1998, he founded the Hawaiian Lomilomi Association, now known as 'Ahahui Lomilomi Hawai'i. He taught students from Hawai'i, Japan, Switzerland, other parts of Europe, and the U.S. continent. Dane taught at UH Hilo, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the Bishop Museum. He was an adjunct professor for 10 years at the University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing. He contributed to the books Massage Modalities, Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi, and Practical Folk Medicine. In recent years, Dane became a board member of the Puna Community Medical Campus Foundation to create a health center for the Puna community. On that campus, he led a project to cultivate a garden of Hawaiian medicinal plants surrounding an educational space focused on community outreach, learning about integrated native medicinal practices, and engagement activities, to include group ho'oponopono sessions. Dane named this space the "Kipuka Farmacy" with the goal of educating community members on how to recognize, propagate, prepare, and employ his favored la'au to include 'uhaloa, noni, 'olena, 'awa, kukui, and la'i. Friends and family remember Dane as intelligent, kind, and generous, with a gentle sense of humor. He lived in the balance of spirit, nature, and man. He often spoke about lokahi and working toward bringing people's health into equilibrium. He was a crusader for Self-Care. His love for his people, the community, and the 'aina touched all who met him. Dane was the great-grandson of the Rev. Lyons Kakani of Kukuihaele and Maui; his maternal grandparents were Frank and Lily (Kakani) Nobriga, early settlers of Keaukaha. Paternal grandparents were Antone and Nancy (Hale) Silva of Puna. His parents were Edwin and Dahlis (Nobriga) Silva and his sister was Deborah Patnaude all of Hilo. Dane is survived by his wife Pam; daughters Nicole and Shelle; son Drake, daughter-in-law Katie; grandchildren: Caitlin, Emma, Cole, Ethan, Serapia, Kalei, Clara, Victoria; great-grandchildren Hayley and Riley; brothers Duke Silva and Dustin Silva, both of Washington State, along with his cousins, nieces and nephews. Private Services.