A Brief Family History

. Ohana o Ka'aimoku . . . . . Aloha Kakou . . . Koa Branches

Brief Family History

How we got here . . . .

It is a most difficult decision to decide which major link of the family lineage to begin the family history when, in truth, the family roots began as parallel growths in contrast to a singular, "linear" transition. There are a minimum of four family base-roots to every individual. Selecting one of four initial starting points without a preferential bias can be a perplexing decision in itself. What criteria to use in finalizing a decision may only complicate the process and delay the inception of the genealogical narrative. Every journey, regardless of the distance to traverse, starts with the first step...this is the first step of that journey.

Family roots seem to symbiotically reach for nourishment wherever it can be found within the foundation of the family. Much like the kalo grows, my initial view of present generation family roots began with Jacobs and Kekua/Ka'aimoku on my Father's side, and Kurluk and Pasuk on my Mother's side. Beyond my nuclear family, the family genealogy has been somewhat of a obscure mystery for the majority of my childhood and adult years. It was not until the passing of my parents, aunts, and uncles that I realized the impact of the loss and the extended family that existed; past, present, and future.

This website is the result of family genealogical research which began with Lincoln Jacobs of Vermont/Massachusetts area and his documentation of the family line (William Brewster) from Old England to New England via the Mayflower landing at Plymouth Rock, and subsequent years in the New England states. My brother, Keakua, continued Lincolns' research in the mid-1970s from Maryland. Keakua circulated that information from the East Coast, West Coast, and to Kailua, Kona, Hawaii collecting and sharing the knowledge that was developed and documented; facilitating others' research efforts as he went along.

Without a doubt, Mauna of Kona had completed and compiled a monumental amount of research and documentation which substantially supplemented previous efforts. He extended his research from the Jacobs line back to a duplicit connection to the original Mayflower descendants transversing a broad spectrum of Hawaiian heritage along the way. This was done at a time when sophicated technological tools were not available to streamline the enormous manual effort.

After retirement and at the age of 70, Charles Jacobs Sr. with an intent on retiring and living on Maui, continued the research in the late 1970s and early 1980s with somewhat of an independent focus on research. Time proved to be a formidable adversary for him, and the complexity of the task exhausted the fuel of his ambitions earlier than expected. In the late 1980s, Charles Sr. provided me with "copies" of his hand-written data that he had accumulated and with instructions to continue and complete his efforts. I began to retrace his foot-steps along a very long path of research. I was soon prevented from continuing and the research was to remain dormant for more than a decade. Charles Sr. passed away in September 1990 and his sisters (my Aunts) either had preceded him or followed shortly thereafter. Along with their passing went a wealth of family history.

In September 2004, my brother Keakua and I revitalized this research with a visit to relatives in Kailua, Kona, Hawaii. We met with our cousins and expressed our interest in knowing the roots of our family. We were provided with family photographs and some cursory history of our grandmother Sarah's lineage at that time. It was with this seed of knowledge that my brother and I proceeded to continue to follow the family genealogy trail. Cousin Mauna highly recommended that I visit his brother in Honolulu; which I eventually did in December 2004 and again in January 2005.

On Maui in January 2005, I began following "blind-leads" to the Ka'aimoku, Enomoto, Ah Chan, and Lum Ho family line. I made several "cold-calls" and contacts some of which directed us back to meet with others on Oahu. I made a trip back to Oahu and visited other family members and also revisited the State Archives in Honolulu. After that short visit and meetings on Oahu, I decided to return to Maui and remained there for an additional three weeks. This proved to be a very beneficial decision for my research. I was able to make contact with cousin Wilbert at the Baldwin Park near Pa'ia, Maui. During our conversation Wilbert arranged a meeting for me to meet with other sisters whom had more knowledge about the family genealogy.

While visiting the Kahului Family History Center, I met Myrna and
Dale. I had mentioned that I was searching for the family of Ka'aimoku, Kekua, Ha'o, etc. They mentioned a connection with their family line, also. That chance meeting was a significant connection to the Maui family. I later met and spoke with Margaret, a daughter of Emma Ka'aimoku Poopaa. Her words and shared memories that she personally knew my Aunty Momi and others was a contact I will forever highly regard. I regret that I did not spend more time with Maggie because, at age 95, Maggie passed away the following month. I also had the pleasure of meeting with Miki and Pulama who clarified some of the misinformation I had regarding the family lineage, and provided a more coherent outline.

Many of you are seeing the results of the research here on the website and in the portion of the documentation that I have circulated. My purpose for sharing this information is to pass on to those living today much of the history of the past that is not known or has been fogotten. By this example, I hope that those of today will pass this history on to the generations that follow and breath a fresh air of life into our family that have passed on. Regardless of where the roots of our families may lead us and what paths they take, like roots and branches of the Banyan and Koa trees whether the roots go deep, shallow, or rise above the surface, we all serve a purpose for being and have meaning because each of us are an integral, nourishing part of the family....

The family genealogy is very much intertwined with the cultural history of the world. Much of the historical developmental process of Hawaii is shared with many island nations of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and, in some ways appearing to be a "continent" in its' own right. How true it is that history repeats itself. Our family has been well rooted in this development for centuries.

The Jacobs' side reaches deep into the islands of Hawaii on his mother's side (Sarah Kekua Ka'aimoku Jacobs). His father side (Charles Olney Jacobs; English/Irish) extends from Old England, New England, and to Hawaii. My Mother's side both parents reach back into Belarusa (White Russia) with very little history known of them beyond the shores of America?

At 43 years of age, Charles Olney Jacobs Sr., arrived in Hawaii (Kahului/Wailuku, Maui) from San Francisco in 1900 on the ship, "SS Australia", on his way to Australia. He was originally from Massachusetts and it has been said he also made a "short stop" in Texas. Notes from Aunty Josephine stated that he did not continue his journey to Australia after arriving in Hawaii because he was offered a job as an Accountant/Clerk (this may have been associated with him being the manager at the Kahului Store on Maui). In 1904, he married Sarah Kekua Ka'aimoku at Pa'ia, Maui. They had five children: Josephine Mikahala, Charles "Kamuela" Olney, Grace Momi, Pearl Naomi, and Lorna Lelilani Jacobs; all born in Nihiku, Hana, Maui. My grandfather planted and began the first rubber-tree plantation and later started the first "soda works" and ice plant in "Hana".

Grandmother Sarah Kekua Ka'amoku Jacobs, was the daughter of "Keliipoka Ka'aimoku" (daugther of David Kekua and Kailiino Ha'o Kekua) and John Ka'aimoku. Family history in this area is very vague, scarce, and inconsistent. Photographs are almost non-existent. Sarah Ka'aimoku had five sisters (Mary Kamaka, Mileka, Emma, and half-sisters Dora Kapika, & Ana) and three brothers (William, Sam, & half-brother Peter). As many of you are well aware, the family line from Ka'aimoku continues primarily from Emma, Sarah, Mary, and Dora. The family research does not include very much information regarding the other siblings. I will eventually (sooner than later) have a brief narrative section for each lineage from my perspective or from information that anyone else may be able to provide.

It has been said that William and Peter at later times became merchant seaman and relocated to the Mainland on the East Coast; New Jersey and New York areas, respectively. Peter died in the late 1960's in New York and records show his last residences to be in "Bowling Green or Govenor's Island, New York?

Maternal grandparents David Kurluk and Agnes "Agatha" Pasuk, met at the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church and married in 1913 in Baltimore, Maryland. They had six children: Nicolas, Olga, Sophie, Nadie, David, and Eva; all born in Baltimore, Maryland. David and Eva were twins and both died as infants. David Kurluk immigrated to America in 1910, and his wife to be arrived about three years later (1913).

Sophie Kurluk Jacobs, was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1919, and her husband, Charles was born at Hana, Maui, Hawaii in 1907. They first met and married in Baltimore, Maryland in 1940. They had six children: Olga Anne, Annie Ane, Charles Olney, James Keakua, David Christopher, and Sophie Norma Jacobs; all born in Baltimore, Maryland. Annie passed away at age 24, and the other siblings are still living and all reside in Maryland except for Charles who is residing in California.

Pasadena, Maryland

Pele & Norma

Ka'aimoku Sisters (1943-55)

Lorna Leilani, Grace Momi, and Pearl Naomi Jacobs

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

Hula History

Maui, Hawaii

Maui Highway

Kailua, Kona, Hawaii

Kalei

Kailua, Kona, Hawaii

Lynnette

Hihimanu Street; Waimanalo, HI

Kalei, Pony, and Aala

Fort McHenry - Baltimore, Md (Star_Spangle_Banner)

Mom and Dad (Married - 1940)

Nadie, Olga, & Sophie (1940)

Kailua, Kona, Hawaii

Kaleimanokahoowaha

Alameda, California

Kamuela Mario J. (2002)

Kailua, Kona, Hawaii

Kalikolehua

One Year Old

What happened!?

South Pasadena, CA. (1984)

Momi, Josephine, Charles, & Naomi

Baltimore, Maryland (1913)

David & Agnes Kurluk

Baltimore, Maryland (Abt.1947)

Jim & Tony Scardina

Bel Air, Maryland

David, Jr.

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

Amy Leinaala Roy Bruhn Skye

I may include a map of our family's place of origin in this area of the page.

Surnames: Ah Chan, Akana, Aluli, Among, Bacon, Barry, Bekeart, Billetter, Bisbee, Blackshear, Borkoski, Bowlin, Boyer, Brewster, Bruce, Bruss, Carvalho, Chessman, Ching, Chow Poi, Chun-Shee, Clark, Clement, Cup Choy, Cushing, Davis, Dunsmore, Deaguiar, Decker, Delaries, Eames, Eells, English, Enomoto, Farden, Fernandes, Flye, Foglesong, Foster, Franco, Garcia, Gardner, Genovia, Gillman, Glushenko, Goldman, Guy, Hansen, Hao, Heintz, Helm, Heulu, Ichiberi, Jacobs, Jardin(e), Johnson, Johnston, Ka, Kaaimoku, Kaanaana, Kaholokula, Kaiama, Kakaio, Kalaaupa, Kalanimanookahoowahaaheulu, Kalele, Kalohelani, Kamakapahoa, Kaonohimaka, Kaumualii, Kaupalolo, Kawaimaka, Keakua, Keanini, Kekua, Keliiaa, Kenui, Kilinahe, Koko, Kuma, Kurluk, Lamar, Lee, Lincoln, Locklear, Lum Ho, Lyman, Mahi, Makaoi, Makapahoa, Makekau/Makakau?, Martin, Mia, Middleton, Minton, Mullen, Muller, Naeole, Needham, Nelson, Norton, Oak, O'hara, Oldham, Otis, Palakiko, Paleka, Panui, Paris, Pasuk, Paulo, Po'opa'a, Purdy, Rasmussen, Robinson, Roy, Sacapanio, Sakamoto, Scardina, Sharpe, Shaw, Shipman, Sisco/Sysco, Smith, Sniffen, Snyder, Somblon, Souza, Spencer, Starr, Stevenson, Stobie, Strauss, Szymanski, Taketa, Tanner, Thomas, Thommasen, Thurston, Toler, Tui, Turner, Vida, Waakau, Wassman, Webster, Welakaili, Wright, Yamashiro, Yap, Yoshisato, Zoll