Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 38, Number 3, 1 Malaki 2021 — AUGUSTA-HELEN GUSSIE LIHUENUIAHANAKALANI RANKIN BENTO [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AUGUSTA-HELEN GUSSIE LIHUENUIAHANAKALANI RANKIN BENTO

SEP. 8, 1932 - NOY. 3, 2020

Honolulu, O'ahu - Augusta-Helen "Gussie" Bento, age 88, passed away Nov. 3, 2020. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Hany; sons Padeken and Kakela; and sister Sherilyn Iona. She is survived by sisters Aulike Pacarro and Dayna Wright; sons Aukai (Desiree), Keolu (Luann); and daughters-in-law Stephanie and CindyLou; by 11 grandchildren; and by 18 great-grand-children. She was a proud 1950 graduate of Kamehameha School for Girls. After graduating from UH, Gussie began working for

Kamehameha Schools in various positions, eventually finding her home at the Bernice Pauahi Heritage Center where she dedicated herself to doing what she loved: teaching and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, values and traditions. Gussie spent her younger years playing golf with her husband and friends at Moanalua Golf Club. She loved reading, teddy bears, butterflies and anything purple. Gussie was a collector of things that made her happy calling them her "treasures." In her later years, her joy was found surrounding herself with her mo'opuna. Gussie was a master Hawaiian quilter and feather lei-maker. She enjoyed fellowship with friends during her weekly quilting classes at Queen Emma Summer Palaee. Gussie was a member of the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club where she initially learned the craft of Hawaiian feather lei making and went on to teach others. Gussie always had some sort of arts and crafts project going on. Gussie always said she lived a good life and was thrilled with her life experiences over the years. Her life's mission was to share her knowledge, whieh she accomplished. Gussie will join her husband at Hawaiian Memoi'ial Veteran's Cemetery. Due to the pandemic there is no memorial service at this time. I