Gerrit Pang Obituary

GERRIT JUJU PANG 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, December 14, at his historic home in Honolulu. Born in 1939 in Honolulu to Florence and Allan Pang, Juju attended Hanahau'oli and Punahou School before spending a formative year at Lawrence Academy on the East Coast. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University in Massachusetts. These early experiences sparked a lifelong curiosity for travel, culture, and food. Juju's life was marked by extensive global travel. Beginning in the 1960s, he journeyed overland through Europe and Asia. He later spent many years moving between Asia, South America, Africa, and Bali, where he lived for extended periods and worked in real estate and fashion. While in Bali, he helped develop a clothing line, Pink Dragon, with garments sold to select retailers throughout the U.S. A man of deep curiosity, Juju pursued a wide range of interests, including painting, photography, sailing and skiing. And he loved all things "tech". In the mid-2000s, he embraced life on the road again, traveling across the United States and Canada in a rare Sprinter Westfalia campervan, forming lasting friendships along the way. In his later years, Juju returned to his home in Honolulu, where he was surrounded by a close community of friends and longtime tenants. He was an avid collector of art, artifacts, and people, and his enduring legacy is that of a quiet connector, someone who effortlessly brought others together and fostered lasting bonds. Juju is survived by his son, Gerrit Pang Jr.; his grandchildren, Natascha Paukert-Pang and Christopher Vergara; his great-grandchildren, Travis and Tristan; his sister, Beverly "Bebe" Zecha, and her husband, Adrian Zecha; his nephew, Ajai Zecha; and many close friends. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Juju's life are invited to make a donation to: The Humane Society; The Salvation Army; or The Historic Hawai'i Foundation. Arrangements Provided By: Oahu Mortuary