Jones E. Kaohelaulii

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Remembering Bruddah  Originally from the remote island of Ni’ihau and of pure Hawaiian decent, Jonesy was always so quiet, you wouldn’t know if he was in the same room as you. He worked hard at everything that he did for most of his life.

Yvonne and I got to know Jonesy during our tour of duty while stationed at HQ, Kwajalein Missile Range (KMR back then). We had the opportunity to work together, along with the rest of his Kwaj Ohana (Family) and friends, while undertaking the project of saving/ renovating the Pacific Club on Ocean Road. With command approvals given, Jonesy was able to operate all of the heavy equipment necessary to build an Oceanside break wall with the numerous concrete slabs strewn about the shoreline. With his guidance, we were able to place the huge concrete slabs with precision. Precision only comes from having a professional operator on the machine to make it happen. He was awesome, to say the least!!! A man of few words however; an abundance of action. Tell him what you want done but don’t tell him how to do it. He is articulate enough to figure out the best, fastest, and safest way to get the job done with minimum of effort.

Having worked construction in the past, I enjoyed operating the 80 pound jack hammer with him. He was always surprised and laughed at all others for I was the smallest guy operating the jack hammer where everyone else found something less stressful to do.

Jonesy loved his seafood, and reef fish he can never get enough of. One day Jonesy overheard me saying that I was looking for a partner to dive with me for the elusive tako (octopus). He was game and said that he didn’t now how but would like to go with me and see what it’s all about. He always used to use a throw net to catch fish. Now, he was in new territory, not knowing what to expect. Every chance we had, we were in the ocean looking for tako!! Having umpteen years of tako hunting experience, I carefully molded him into a seasoned tako diver.

We also had many opportunities of skipping our usual Sunday golf day because the weather was so nice, we couldn’t pass up putting our fishing nets in the Japanese ponds near the golf course. He would always say that after golfing, he can’t eat golf balls, but with fishing, you can eat them afterwards.

His wife Brenda called him one day and asked if we could send some tako in to Honolulu for their granddaughter’s first birthday party/luau. Jonesy and I went diving on a 3 day holiday weekend and picked up more than 80 pounds of tako. If you could see the big smile on his face!!!! A picture is worth a thousand words!!! We froze it and sent it home to Hono in time for the celebration.

Bruddah Jonesy was family to us. If he wasn’t at work or in his BQ/Trailer, he was at our house. Our hale (house), was his hale, and he loved being with us rather than sitting alone in his BQ/Trailer.

We had numerous Kwaj Ohana socials at our place and bruddah Jonesy was always the first to know what’s going on and always there to help with setting things up. Whenever we’d take our annual vacation, he’d watch our trailer and when we got home, he always had lunch or dinner waiting on the stove or counter so we didn’t have to cook something when we got home from the long plane ride.

This man was our bruddah in more ways than one. Many who have had the opportunity to know him, knew that occasionally he would have a short fuse and his temper was one that you wouldn’t want to be around for too long. Since his acquaintance with us and the many years we’ve been together, even his wife Brenda says that he had changed so much since he started hanging around with us. He has come a long way and we’re so very proud to have had Jonesy as our bruddah and absolute friend.

We, and so many others who have known bruddah Jonesy will surely miss his presence. He is in a heavenly place and if there’s a job needed a heavy equipment operator, they just need to call on Jonesy. And finally, if the Good Lord has the cravings for some raw fish or tako poke, bruddah Jonesy can definitely be called upon.

Brudda Jonesy - A Hui Hou ame Malama Pono

Till we meet again in the next life ….. Our warmest love and aloha for all eternity.

 Howard & Yvonne Duarte
 
Dedicated and Talented Worker  To the Jonesy's family,:

I recall vividly the day when Jonesy's actions saved the ERIS Program from a serious delay and kept things on track. He was operating the crane on the barge alongside the dock at Meck Island. When he lifted the 40 ton environmental shoulder to the dock the barge tipped and we almost lost it all. He stayed with the crane and kept the load as steady as possible down to the dock in spite of the danger of the barge tipping. His steady actions in the face of danger saved the environmental shelter from serious damage and other team members were able to make minor repairs and continue on scheduled operations. He was a dedicated and talented worker. I am honored to have worked with him.

John Watson, Meck Site Operations Manger, 1989-93, Johnson Controls
 
Nerves of Steel  Jonesy was the Crane operator and did a lot of work for us on Meck Island loading the missile into the silo etc. He had a cool hand and nerves of steel.  Roger Priest
 
So sorry about Jonsey   We sure had fun with him. I was able to spend one whole morning on the crane with him as he operated it offloading the Islander Barge that brought in the Kwaj Goodies from Hono. Arlene was on the other crane with Billy Atkins. Those two Hawaiians had a no nonsense approach when it came to the operation around that barge. Japan open golf play on sundays was another great time spent with him, especially the 19th hole. Aloha brudda and God Bless. May he rest in peace.  Komol, Arlene & Bill R.
 
A tribute to Jonesy  Jonesy and I first met when he came to work for Boeing on Meck Island. He was one of the hardest working, most dedicated employees I’ve ever known. Jonesy loved to operate and maintain his heavy equipment, and you would be hard pressed to ever find even a spot of rust on his crane. He loved that crane like it was his child and he was truly a master with it. He emplaced all of our missiles in the silo, and he would always say: “Mine ones always hit the target. I put ‘em in straight and they come out straight.” Jonesy was very quiet around strangers but he had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh and talk story with his close friends. He became a regular part of our fishing crew and we built a lot of great memories on trips to Lib Island and around the atoll. Jonesy became part of our family and we became part of his Kwaj ohana. Our boys loved Uncle Jonesy and still have very fond memories of him. One of the saddest days of my life was when Jonesy took us to the airport when we PCS’d back to the States. I knew that I would miss one of the very best friends I ever had. I know that he is now in a better place where it never rains on the golf course, the equipment never rusts, and every fishing trip brings back a big marlin. Aloha, Bruddah Jonesy.  Steven D. Moore
 
 
Shermie at the Piano