Milton Cha Obituary

MILTON Y. CHA 88, passed away, very peacefully on June 9, 2025 at the Arcadia in Honolulu. He is survived by his wife, Peggy, and son, Christopher. Milton was born in Hilo, HI, the son of Sung Hyun Cha and Eleanor Sonbee Inn Cha. He and his sister, Doris, graduated from Hilo High School. Milton attended MIT in Boston and Washington University in St. Louis, graduating from WUSTL with a B.S. in physics. He then returned home to attend UH Manoa where he earned his M.S. and PhD. in physics and astronomy. Milton and Peggy met at the Institute for Astronomy, while he completed his PhD. and she worked in the Institute library. They recently observed their 55th wedding anniversary. After completing postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Milton returned to research work at the UH, primarily at the Institute for Astronomy in solar physics. He also taught undergraduate courses in physics and math. After the birth of their son, Milton and Peggy moved to Kaua'i where Milton taught a variety of science, math and computer courses at Kaua'i Community College. He also oversaw the computerization of the campus in both instructional and administrative areas doing everything from pulling cable to wire every building on campus, to setting up and breaking down the facility for electronic registration each semester. Milton, his student helpers (and a sometimes sleepy Chris) literally pulled the campus into the computer age. Notwithstanding red toads in the conduits and wasps in the ceilings. As long as he had his coffee in the morning. Milton also tenured at Maui Community College where he was one of the early adopters of distance education, offering students on Moloka'i, Lana'i and in Hana a chance to take their required lab science course even if they could not easily get to the main campus in Wailuku. While he delivered lectures via the UH educational tv system, he developed a set of "portable" labs that could be packed into a few containers, which he would take with him to the learning centers at the other Maui locations. In 2007, Milton retired completely, moving to Colorado to be closer to their son. Peggy followed in 2008. In retirement, Milton found an entirely new fascination with history and anthropology, as well as continuing his interests in astronomy and math. He also began to learn Korean in order to accomplish his dream of visiting Seoul, which he did in 2016. Friends who would like to remember Milton are asked to contribute to the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges or to the Hawai'i Humane Society. Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary