Congratulations to Maui Nō Ka ʻOi our featured Volunteer of the Month for February, 2021! We’d like to recognize him for his volunteer work on the island of Maui. This has involved not only photographing headstones, but also translating them. In addition, he has transcribed over 8,000 photos for other members and taken on challenging headstone photo requests.
While looking at headstone photos from Maui, we were struck by the beauty of the lei’s draped or decorating the stones, shown below. A lei is given when greeting someone or when parting from them and is used to show support and love during funeral services. Laid across the graves or headstones they represent remembrance, love and respect for that person and their life.
Maui Nō Ka ʻOi created a virtual cemetery of memorials where he translated the headstone, located in Maui. The unique examples below are from a couple of those cemeteries and are made from stones carved in their natural state. The variation found in headstones of materials, symbols, iconography, placement, etc., all contribute to the history of those who left that stone behind and the most importantly the person for which it memorializes. Every stone has a story to tell and what is found on that stone can open the door to additional genealogical research.
Our accolades to you for your extraordinary work in cemeteries! We are so glad that you are a Find a Grave member and appreciate all your efforts in recording and memorializing those that have passed.
We welcome your suggestions for Volunteer of the Month. If you’d like to submit a volunteer for consideration in future months, please send an email with details of their work to feedback@findagrave.com.