Remembering Edythe Kaanapu
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hamilton Library community mourns the loss of Edythe Kaanapu, Supervising Library Technician for Circulation in Access Services, who died in Las Vegas on May 26, 2026. For more than 36 years, she dedicated her career to serving UH students, faculty and staff at the UH Libraries.
A quote from former UH University Librarian Carl Stroven (1943–1966) could always be found in Kaanapu’s email signature:
“… a library is not simply a static storehouse of teaching materials, but the abode of vital human beings dedicated to service.”
Kaanapu embodied this philosophy. She was a shining example of the vital, service-oriented people Stroven spoke of during the May 1956 dedication of Sinclair Library—the building where Kaanapu spent much of her UH career.
Hired as a billing supervisor at Hamilton Library in January 1990, Kaanapu later joked that she never really wanted the job. Encouraged by a mentor to apply, she said she tried to sabotage her interview. Little did she know then that she was about to find her professional home and a community that would become central to her life and legacy.
In August 1993, she was promoted and moved to Sinclair Library, where she became the de facto building manager, along with handling countless other “duties as assigned,” including serving as security timekeeper and furniture mover. Her flexibility and dedication were recognized when she received the 1994 Civil Service Award at the UH Library Award Ceremony on March 23, 1995.
Kaanapu remained at Sinclair Library until it closed in December 2019. She played an important role in coordinating the move to Hamilton Library, where she spent the remainder of her career.
“She faithfully served the library community well and was, indeed, a feisty force to be reckoned with,” recalled her supervisor, Jean Thoulag, Access Services Chair and Public Services Division Head.
“Despite the many health challenges she faced over the years, Edythe was determined to do her share and was known to never back down from a challenge,” Thoulag added. “When needed, she did not shy away from speaking her mind and ‘telling it like it is.’”
With institutional knowledge spanning decades, Kaanapu helped guide the library through multiple library system migrations—from ALOHA to CARL, Voyager, and Alma/Primo—and assisted with the implementation of CARL in the ’90s. She also assumed the role of library historian, carefully preserving photographs, stories, and memories of the UH Library community.
Though deeply knowledgeable about library operations, Kaanapu remained focused on students. In a 2021 Sacred Hearts Academy alumni profile celebrating her 30-year career at UH Mānoa, she reflected that working with students had been “the most rewarding experience” of her career.
“Ms. Edythe was one of the best supervisors I’ve had in my working experience,” said Kurt Wong, a student supervisor who worked directly under Kaanapu. “Her commitment to centering students in her leadership always showed through.”
Wong, who is a senior majoring in biology and minoring in English, remembers, “She would always ask for input from her student supervisors and was a person we could turn to for help.”
Kaanapu’s commitment to service extended beyond her daily responsibilities. She organized Admissions Day picnics, worked on staff development initiatives for civil service employees, and became known as a dedicated Staff Association event planner, helping to foster a sense of community across the UH library system.
She embraced the social side of library life wholeheartedly.
“Being a great party planner, jingle-writer, picnic organizer, and food caterer—those were her true callings. Her generosity of spirit and her enthusiasm in applauding the accomplishments of others were gifts we were blessed to receive,” remembered her longtime friend and Access Services colleague, Patty Tanoue.
“Before the current semester would end, before the last huge assignment was completed, Ms. Edythe would be plotting ways to celebrate department accomplishments, student assistant staff, and all.”
Colleagues remember Kaanapu for her warmth, humor, and generosity. A proud member of the Sacred Hearts Academy Class of 1971, she remained active in its alumni community throughout her life, often hosting friends at her table during the school’s Academy Uncorked fundraising events. She also volunteered with Catholic Charities and the Catholic Youth Organization and was known for her hospitality, frequently opening her home to family and friends.
Kaanapu had a creative spirit and a love of music. She sang, played the piano, and even helped write song lyrics for the library’s 1993 promotional video, Libraries Can Be Fun! She loved Disney films, faithfully collected NCIS episodes on DVD, and had been working on writing a mystery-thriller novel.
Kaanapu will long be remembered as a dedicated colleague, mentor, historian, and friend whose kindness, humor, and steady presence shaped generations of library staff and students. Her legacy remains woven into the history and spirit of the UH Mānoa Libraries.
“Edythe’s contributions are seen and felt throughout the walls of the library and in the lives of her students and colleagues,” said her longtime friend and Access Services colleague, Carla Hose. “Her loud whispers will continue to be heard in the hearts and minds of many.”
Family, friends, and colleagues are invited to celebrate Kaanapu’s life on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Mililani Mortuary Downtown. Viewing will be from 9:30 to 10 a.m., and the service begins at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Information about flowers, donations and directions will be available through Mililani Memorial Park and Mortuary beginning July 5, 2026.
