Thomas Coffman Obituary

THOMAS COFFMAN Thomas Lowe Coffman, noted historian and filmmaker, died on December 15, 2025 at the age of eighty-three. Surrounded by his view of Kane'ohe Bay, he was with Lois Lee, his wife of fifty years, and their children. Tom was born in Lyndon, Kansas, on November 7, 1942 as the younger of two sons to Harry T. and Eleanor L. Coffman. Tom said that he always admired his older brother James, and that Jim's wife, Sharon, was as much a sister as one could have. Together they shared a childhood of raising horses and exploring the expansive prairie. Always an environmentalist, Tom initially thought he would be a forest ranger. But after earning his degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, he instead started writing in 1965 for the United Press International in New Mexico. Soon after he was offered a position at the Honolulu Advertiser. His father had sent him a stamped coconut when he was stationed in Hawai'i during World War II. Tom often said that he accepted the job to learn more about his dad's stories. And so began Tom's lifetime commitment to storytelling and sensemaking the politics and history of Hawai'i. Tom's first book Catch a Wave: A Case Study of Hawai'i's New Politics (1972) launched his prolific career of documenting Hawai'i's political narratives. He wrote six more major works, covering the time from the U.S. illegal occupation and annexation, through World War II, and up to statehood. Tom's work delved into topics of imperialism, multi-culturalism and social justice, including Hawai'i's role in Japanese, Filipino, and Korean histories. After leaving journalism, Tom launched a multimedia company and extended his storytelling medium to documentary filmmaking. He wrote, directed and produced documentaries that complemented and stood apart from his books. May Earth Live: A Journey through the Native Hawaiian Forest (2000), for instance, gave him the chance to connect with Hawai'i's wao akua, an experience he always treasured. Tom is survived by his wife, Lois, their son Nathanael and daughter Makena (Brian Rocheleau). He was predeceased by his oldest son, Harry K. Tom and Lois raised their children on the windward side of O'ahu, with many dogs and a few cats and birds, and lots of boogie boarding at Waimanalo beach. Tom has five grandchildren - Justin, Jacqueline, Alina, Eli, and Micah - and four great-grandchildren - Mosiah, Ireti, Barron, and Eleanor. Tom is also survived by Jim and Sharon, cousin Melanie, and Aunt Gladys. A public service will be held on January 31, 2026, 10 AM, at Church of the Crossroads, 1212 University Avenue.