Mālama Mānoa founder Mary Moragne Cooke passed away peacefully at her beloved home, Kuali`i, on Saturday, June 25, surrounded by her family. She was 86.
In 1992, she founded Mālama Mānoa as a non-profit community organization and led it for five years as its first president. In 1996, she and her husband Sam founded the non-profit Mānoa Heritage Center to preserve and protect their historic residence, Kuali`i and the adjacent Kūka‘ō‘ō heiau, and to educate the public about the rich history of Mānoa.
Mary was an extraordinary woman and leaves behind a rich legacy of achievements for the betterment of Mānoa and all Hawai`i. She was a kind and humble person, always quiet and softspoken, and made everyone feel appreciated. In her own charming way, she could get you excited about something and enlist your help however it was needed. And you were always happy to do so.
Born on Kaua`i, Mary graduated from Punahou School, where she later served as a longtime trustee. She was also a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Among many other community efforts, she and Sam established a preservation fund in their name with Historic Hawai`i Foundation.
We owe Mary and Sam a tremendous debt of gratitude for their vision, commitment, and dedication in protecting and preserving Hawai`i’s cultural heritage and history.
Mary will truly be missed, but Mālama Mānoa, the Mānoa Heritage Center and her many other community efforts will live on as her enduring legacy and to always remind us of her.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Mālama Mānoa has established the Mary Cooke Memorial Fund in her memory. Tax-deductible donations may be made on the Mālama Mānoa website [malamaomanoa.org], or mailed to: Mālama Mānoa, P.O. Box 283046, Honolulu HI 96828. The fund will be used to further activities related to her passionate interest in historic preservation.
