Hannahbelle Anderson Obituary

HANNAHBELLE HALI'IPUA ANDERSON JANUARY 5, 1935 JANUARY 30, 2025 Born in Honolulu on January 5, 1935 Hannahbelle (Hannie) Hali'ipua Anderson was the fourth of five children of Alexander Rice Sr. and Thelma Rice. Raised in the established O'ahu neighborhood of Kaimuki, Hannie attended St. Patrick's School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1952. Growing up with two older brothers, Hannie learned early on how to hold her own. Her brother, the late Woolsey Rice, would regularly pit his sister Hannie in boxing matches against the tough Kaimuki boys in the Rice front yard while their mom and dad were at work. And yes, Hannie regularly bested the boys in these "scraps." Hannie's love of swimming and of the ocean led her to take up sur ng in the waters of Waikiki in the 1950s, which resulted in her spending countless days and nights as a Waikiki beach girl. Hannie came to join the Waikiki Surf Club (WSC) and found the sport she would come to love the most; Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. The famed WSC Senior Women's crew, of which Hannie was a member, won races throughout the then Territory of Hawaii in WSC's storied koa canoe, Malia. In 1954, Hannie and two of her WSC crewmates hitched a ride on a boat from O'ahu to Moloka'i to personally experience the men's Moloka'i to O'ahu canoe race across the Ka'iwi Chanel; in those days the Ka'iwi was considered too treacherous for women. This experience convinced Hannie that women could indeed conquer the channel. Hannie was a driving force that led to the founding of Na Wahine O Ke Kai, the women's Moloka'i to O'ahu canoe race, 25 years later. On January 18, 1958 Hannie married Whitney Anderson, a friend since childhood. Their loving marriage would endure for 65 years. Their only child Kimberly was born a year after they wed. A recognized leader in Hawaii's travel industry, Hannie was employed at Hawaiian Airlines for more than 40 years but also served in a managerial capacity at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel in the 1970s. Hannie's final private employment was at Kamehameha Schools, from where she retired in 2000. Over the years, Hannie and Whitney founded several businesses; Honolulu restaurants Blue Hawaii and Sunrise Inn; a Kaneohe bar called Whitney's; Hali'ipua Flowers in Kane'ohe; a cleaning business; and a janitorial supply company. Despite their entrepreneurial endeavors, they still had time to share their lives with animals. They raised German Shepards and were avid horse lovers. Hannie served as princess and queen in pa'u horse units in many community parades including Aloha Festivals. As the matriarch of a family in which community stewardship were inherent to family values, Hannie was a force as Race Director of Na Wahine O Ke Kai, President of the O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, and the Race Commissioner of the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. She also served as president of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, and as a coach for the Kailua Canoe Club. Hannie's husband Whitney predeceased her in 2023, as did her brothers Alexander Rice Jr. and Woolsey Rice. Hannie is survived by her daughter Kimberly and son-in-law John Puchalski; sisters Thelma Faria and Lurline Hall; grandson Ikaika Anderson; granddaughter Trisha Hali'ipua Koa (Jovin); granddaughter Kanani Cusson (Stephen); 12 great-grandchildren & one great-great-granddaughter. The family of the late Hannie Anderson extends a sincere mahalo and their aloha to the Calaruda 'ohana- Nelle and her daughters Shawn and Alohi- for loving and caring for Hannie as though she were their own Tutu. You all brought so much joy to her as she progressed to life's ending stages; we love and are grateful for all of you. Services are open to the public and will be held on Sunday, March 2 in Kaneohe at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Services, 45-425 Kamehameha Highway: visitation from 10:30 to Noon; eulogy at Noon; funeral service at 12:15 pm officiated by Father James Joseph, and burial service at 1 pm.