Robert Kaialau

Robert (Bobby) Holi Kaialau Jr., 71 years old from Nanakuli, Hawaii passed away on February 4, 2021 at Centennial Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and family by his side.

Bobby was born on February 3, 1950 in Honolulu, Hawaii to parents Robert H. Kaialau Sr. and Dorothea V.L. Kamaiopili.

Bobby grew up in multiple places including Waimanalo and Waikiki, Hawaii and the Territory of Guam. He attended McKinley High School in Honolulu. The only boy with multiple siblings, he was raised with a heavy emphasis on hard-work. As a youth, he worked multiple jobs including newspaper delivery, restaurant worker, meat delivery, and service-station attendant before landing a job with Pacific Cement & Aggregate (later becoming Lone-Star Cement and finally Hawaiian Cement.) While in high-school, he met the love of his life, Darnell M. Saffery. They married in 1969 and enjoyed 51 years of marriage together. He raised his children in the same way he was raised, strict with no-nonsense. The kids would be raised to be tough and appreciate hard-work. Crying wasn’t allowed. Living in multiple neighborhoods growing-up, the kids would be required to have “boxing” matches with the neighbors! As hard as he was, he raised resilient kids who loved their dad. Bobby was known by family and friends as the most big-hearted and generous man, while also being one of the most “hard-headed”. He loved classic cars from an early age and cruising around the island with his wife. He loved the Raiders, fishing, enjoying all kinds of foods, spending quality time and talking on the phone with John Iokia, Harold Tanaka, Mel Sato, Frank Barretto, Brian & Danny (dispatch), Tim, Koki, sis Berta and many more.  Later in life he enjoyed spending time with his three grandchildren. His grand-kids are his pride and joy and made him a big softy. Bobby retired from Hawaiian Cement in 2010 still driving a mixer-truck (number 0805) after working 41 years in multiple roles from laborer to driver. He was a proud member of the Hawaii Teamsters Union Local 996. Not long afterward, Bobby and Darnell moved from Hawaii to Las Vegas to enjoy retirement. They both enjoyed spending time playing Keno at The Cal, playing slot machines, enjoying numerous buffets, and spending time with both old and new friends on the “ninth-island”.

Preceded in death by his parents, Bobby is survived by his wife Darnell M. Kaialau, son Robert H. Kaialau III, daughter Barbie M.K. Hatcher (son-in-law David), daughter J. Lani M. Evangelista (son-in-law Dwayne), Grandchildren; Britani K. Kaialau, Tiarre C. Ortiz (AJ) and Gunner S.K. Hatcher. Siblings; Viola Barretto (Manny), Roberta Mahoe, D. Michele Shiroma (Clyde), Maxine Chang, Brenda Kaniaupio (Blaine) and Donna Hogan. Too-many to count: nieces, nephews, aunties, uncles and cousins, along with all of the hanai ‘ohana (Hawaiian-kine adopted).

Bobby’s ‘ohana wishes to extend our sincerest Mahalo to the nurses of Centennial Hospital, a special heartfelt aloha to night nurse Ben, and nurses Naomi and Laurie. Matthew D’Orio at Davis Funeral Homes & Memorial Park and the emergency responders of Centennial Hills. We would also like to recognize some of Bobby and Darnell’s most cherished friends: Valerie and ‘ohana, Annette & Lionel and ‘ohana, the Akiona ‘ohana, the Rivera ‘ohana, Kathi & Harry Carvalho, the Devera ‘ohana, the Aveiro ‘ohana, the Ortiz ‘ohana, Dave (Buddy), Michael Hama, the McDonald’s & Don Quijote coffee gang, Greg, Lauranell, Joey, Joan, Rick, Athena, Janis and Edward.

Special aloha to our friends and workers at Hawaiian Cement and the California Hotel and Casino.

We appreciate all the love and support through this difficult time. We love each and every one of you. As dad would say, “No cry, pau already.”

Celebration of Life to be held in Nanakuli, March 27, 2021. Casual attire, no flowers. Email at bhatcher10@gmail.com for detailed information on location and times.