A Special Moment with Irene Midel
“He Lei Ho’oheno O Hilo”: A Cherished Adornment of Hilo
By Ku‘ehu Mauga
Irene Midel is the epitome of aloha. If her striking floral hairpieces don’t leave a lasting impression on you, her effervescent personality will. At the age of 89, she shows no signs of slowing down. Affectionately known as “Aunty Irene,” many consider her true Hilo royalty.
Born Irene Nohokaha Simeona on October 13, 1928 in Honolulu, O‘ahu, Irene lived on Kukui Street (to be exact). Irene moved to Hawai‘i Island to be raised by her grandmother (surname a Kama‘u Hulihe‘e) who lived in Kalaoa-Kona.
Irene’s love for flowers began at a young age. “When I was 7, I used to use red hibiscus. My grandma always said, ‘Better to wear the flowers when you alive; when you dead, you will never enjoy the flowers. She always said, ‘He u‘i nō ka wahine me ka pua.’ (A woman adorned with flowers is truly beautiful.)”
Staying true to her grandmother’s words of wisdom, flowers—orchids especially—became an iconic statement for the hairpieces Aunty Irene is known for creating.
Change came when Aunty Irene met and married her husband, Daniel Midel. After having worn flowers on the right side of her head since she was a little girl, she now shifted them to the left, as some would a wedding ring. Irene and Daniel moved to the Hawaiian homestead of Keaukaha where they raised their eight children.
The Epitome of Aloha
Aunty Irene has dedicated more than 45 years to Hilo’s hospitality industry. First, she started working at the Hilo Lagoon Hotel, and after three years was transferred to the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, where she has been employed since 1975. To this day, she still works 8-hour shifts in the Housekeeping Department. “I love it. I have good bosses,” says Irene.
Aunty Irene also shows her support for many Hawaiian events in our community, including the annual KWXX Ho‘olaule‘a and the Merrie Monarch Festival.
When asked about Merrie Monarch, Aunty Irene says, “Oh yes, I’ve been going every year. I never did miss. I love the hula, and I love the people. They recognize me when I go to Walmart. They always tell me, ‘Aunty, I met you at Merrie Monarch, and you look so elegant.’”
One could assume that Aunty Irene would be a prime contender for the Merrie Monarch Queen; however she literally came up a little short. When asked if she was ever invited to be in that role, Aunty Irene replied, “Aunty Dottie [Dottie Thompson] did, but my height. She measured me, [but] I was too small. Aunty Dottie was a good person. I was too short, so my daughter said, ‘Why don’t you wear high heel shoes?’ You had to be tall, but I was only 5 feet. No, [I] promise, she [Aunty Dottie] did, she measured, from the back. She was so sweet.” Aunty Irene was still too short for the role.
You can find Aunty Irene in her same seat every year at the Merrie Monarch Festival thanks to Aunty Dottie Thompson. Irene says, “I told [her], ‘Aunty Dottie, can I sit behind you?’ Aunty Dottie replied, ‘Why you want to sit behind me?’ ‘Cause I can watch. You have a TV, ah?’ and she said, ‘Okay.’ She was so good to me.”
Aunty Irene still resides in Keaukaha, where she has lived for more than 60 years. Both her flowers and family continue to grow. In 2018, she has a garden of 24 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Aunty Irene is also a mānaleo (native speaker) of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, Hawaiian language being her first language/mother tongue.
When asked if she grows her own flowers, she replied, “Yes my orchids, but not as much now. When my husband was alive, he used to raise a lot of orchids. I’ve been [a] widow for 34 years.” Since her husband’s passing, Aunty Irene has kept herself busy with her family and her work.
Finally, let’s not forget Aunty’s love for jewelry. Some items are one of a kind. When asked which her favorites are, she replied, “All of them.”
In October of this year, Aunty Irene will turn 90 years young, and she is as healthy as ever. Her advice to the next generation for living a life of longevity is simple, “Be happy, be nice to people, and always keep smiling.” ❖
