There’s Only One Uncle Earl: Uncle Earl Regidor at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco

Greeted by an engaging smile and embracing hug, the word Aloha takes on its true meaning as a seed is planted in the hearts of those who meet Uncle Earl. His stately presence, reminiscent of the kanaka (male) chieftains, is matched by a hint of a local beach boy from the iconic Duke Kahanamoku days. This Hawaiian style Renaissance man is Earl Kamakaonaona Regidor, a man of humble beginnings and deep connection to his birthplace in Pa‘auilo, Hawai‘i Island.

Growing up on a sugar plantation on the Hāmākua Coast, the youngest of 12 children, Earl worked every area of the plantation, as a child through adulthood. Earl smiles with a reminiscent gaze, reflecting before he speaks, “our whole family worked on the plantation, it is what we did.”

Working alongside his father and siblings during the summer months, Earl recalls this was the foundation of his family values and work ethic that is present with him today. In this village lifestyle where everyone knew one another, the ‘ohana (family) spread far and wide; parents watching over the village children and the children playing from one yard to the next. Ever so simple, yet bound by the hard work and dedication to provide for the family.

The Family Values

Earl shares the story of his father, John Regidor, emigrating from the Philippines to Hawai‘i Island in 1919. At 19 years of age, John followed the many immigrants coming to Hawai‘i for a better life. Settling in Pa‘auilo, John fell in love with Mary Mahuna, a full-blooded native Hawaiian woman, which began the lineage as Earl describes, “From two we became 12, from 12 we became over 100,” adding, “My mom and dad were the two, they had 12 children, those 12 children had children, and now we are over 100.”

At a 2015 family reunion, Earl fondly recounts that multi-generations of their ‘ohana were present to talk story, play music, sing, hula, cook, and eat from morning to night, just as on the plantation.

In a moment of reflective emotion, Earl honors his mother for instilling in him the importance of the Hawaiian culture, music, language, and values.

As a balance to the labor intensive plantation life, music was ever present in the Regidor home. Earl remembers when he was six years old, listening to his mother talk with auntys outside the house, and knowing now was his chance to sneak into his parents’ bedroom to find his mother’s ‘ukulele. “I loved listening to my mother play the ‘ukulele and sing,” says Earl, who in that moment resembled a barefooted keiki strumming away at the revered ‘ukulele. Earl stops in mid-sentence, eyes big and leaning to look behind him, he says, “I felt someone watching me, and slowly turned around and saw my mom.”

At first startled and feeling like he would get in trouble, Earl speaks warmly of his mother asking instead if he wanted to learn to play the instrument. Eager to learn, Earl watched as his mother taught him three chords. “That’s all,” he says, “three chords, that’s all I knew for a long time.”

Practicing those chords at every chance he could, Earl began to branch out, mirroring the music played at family gatherings and in the plantation community, while being tutored at his mother’s side.

Coming from a family of musicians, singers, and dancers, it wasn’t long before Earl started singing in the church choir. Practicing for the high mass at Christmas, the choir director gave twelve-year-old Earl his chance at a solo. Not saying anything to his family, he watched as the parishioners gathered into the church that bright Sunday morning, Earl’s family sitting in their regular pews, the choir positioned in the balcony overlooking the congregation. Midway through the mass, quietness veiled over the parish as the service gave way to the choir. From silence to a golden resonance, Earl began to sing “Ave Maria.”

As if in a time of dualities, Earl is singing the same song during our meeting to express the sentiment of the moment. His voice fills the room and time stands still. He begins to talk of how his mother and siblings were in awe, turning to look at him, his mother’s eyes filled with prideful tears, and while he is talking, the echoing sound of “Ave Maria” is still in the air, holding the imagery and sacredness of this memory.

“Mom and Dad were our pillars,” says Earl, regarding how his parents instilled values and tradition into their children.

Earl laughs and shakes his head as he admits to having a short fuse in his teenage years. Yet, his parents always had wisdom in their words for him. His father would say, “It takes more energy to hide from work than it is to do the work.”

Followed by his mother’s insight of, “We come with nothing but love and we leave with more love because of what we have shared here.”

It wasn’t until Earl was a grown man that he fully understood the value of these proverbs. Whether his parents had gone through the experience or it was handed down to them, they passed along their na‘auao (wisdom). A priceless gift in today’s world and one that Earl shares in volumes.

Uncle Earl, the Educator

After graduating from Honoka‘a High School in 1968, Earl enlisted in the United States Navy. His four years of military service included three tours in Vietnam and traveling internationally.

Returning home to Pa‘auilo, now married and needing to provide for his family, Earl began work as an equipment operator at the same sugar plantation he grew up on. During his time in the service, Earl saw parts of the world that he never thought he’d see, and in a defining moment, he decided to further his education at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo.

He graduated with a teaching degree and in 1980 was hired as a Physical Education teacher for the Alternative Learning Center of Kamehameha Schools, Hōnaunau Hale O Ho‘oponopono. Due to the small teaching staff and nature of the school, Earl was able to expand his role to broaden the students’ knowledge of Hawaiian culture.

As he sees it now, this was his kuleana (responsibility), his true purpose, to pass along the knowledge and perpetuate that which was given to him by the generosity of his ‘ohana.

The Alternative Learning Center of Kamehameha Schools in Hōnaunau closed in 1996, leaving a void in the community, as well as Earl’s professional life.

With destiny calling, Earl was invited to interview at the newly developed Hualālai Resort in West Hawai‘i. Earl began as a security guard and was quickly asked to transfer to the new Interpretive Center opening on the property. Earl laughs with innocent reflection saying that he told management he’d be happy to join that department except he didn’t know how to interpret anything; he only spoke English, Hawaiian, and a whole lot of Pidgin.

Earl’s pureness of heart, sense of humor, and cultural stature placed him as one of the mea ho‘okipa (hospitality ambassadors) at what is now the Ka‘ūpūlehu Cultural Center. Earl leans back and with a reminiscent gaze that stretches for miles and quietly says, “My teaching career had not ended, the students had changed.”

A Legacy at Ka‘ūpūlehu

Celebrating 20 years at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai in August 2016, Earl is the Manager of the Ka‘ūpūlehu Cultural Center and winner of several community and company awards. Ever present is Earl’s smile, his Aloha, and genuine nature to serve.

Violet Terawaki, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Hualālai Resort, has known Earl for 17 years and comments on Earl’s ability to share true Aloha with the new and returning guests, “Earl is very gracious with our guests. If they hear a song from him or talk with him, they have a feeling and memory of unconditional love. Earl does that all the time.”

While Earl’s primary responsibilities include leading his team of mea ho‘okipa at the Cultural Center and overseeing the many programs, Earl seems to be everywhere on the property. On any given day, you can find him playing ‘ukulele and singing in the lobby of the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, entertaining guests at the Beach Tree Restaurant, presiding at a wedding underneath the Wedding Tree, blowing a pū (conch shell) at sunset, or chanting an oli.

In between, Earl is always sharing a bit of cultural significance about the ‘āina (land), the people, and the richness of life as it once was at Ka‘ūpūlehu. “Every inch of this land was important for our kūpuna (elders), as it is to us and our generations to follow. We have respect for the ‘āina, ancestors and spirits who are here.”

In private moments, Earl is known to counsel and guide people in their time of grief. As an ordained kahu (minister), he provides a pu‘uhonua (safe place) for people to express their feelings.

Kumu Hula Michelle Kaulumāhiehie Amaral reflects on the celebration of life services they have participated in together, “His message is so simple. He has a presence. When people hear his leo (voice), they really listen to what he is saying.”

Kaulu mentioned a day they were both in the lobby of the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai greeting guests, when they were informed of a family who had tragically lost a loved one during their visit. Earl immediately consoled and mālama (cared for) the family by strumming his ‘ukulele in the most loving and gentle way, while singing a song. Upon finishing the song, a family member tearfully expressed she just experienced a moment of healing that she will remember for the remainder of her life.

Full Circle

Time has come full circle for Uncle Earl, now an alaka‘i (leader) for his multi-generational family. His cousins, nephews and nieces, and their children, look to Earl to share the family stories and the values of tradition. Earl explains with pride, “Learning values, the values that help move you forward in life, is important. I do my best to instill in the minds of my younger family, with the help of their parents, those values.”

A proverb maker himself, Earl states, “Times have changed, but the teachings are the same.”

Among his many accomplishments, Earl is also a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha Ekahi Moku o Kona, board member of Hawaiian Legacy Hardwood, former crew member of the Hōkūle‘a and Makali‘i, and past Mo‘i (royalty) of the Royal Court for Aloha Festivals. Amidst all this, Earl remains an avid fisherman, golfer, and some say, makes a mean chicken papaya.

“I never thought I would leave the plantation, as that was our life. Akua (God) has a plan for everybody.”

“We meet different challenges, but always need to look towards that power. If you try hard enough, it will come to be. I feel so fortunate to do what I do and be where I am in this part of my life. With my family, with my work, I’m in a good place.”

E mālama pono Uncle Earl. ❖

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Contact Earl Regidor