CORRECTION: In a previous version of this story, the late Daniel Midel’s name was reportedly incorrectly. The Tribune-Herald regrets the error and apologizes to the ‘ohana.
The granddaughter of Irene Midel said her “Nana” “was more than a grandmother — she was the heart that brought everyone together.
“She showed how to love deeply, carry oneself with pride, and find joy in life,” Hulali Stevens said about “Aunty Irene” — one of Hilo’s most colorful and visible kupuna, who died at 97 on March 27.
Midel was a native speaker of Hawaiian who was born in Honolulu but moved to Hawaii Island in her youth and lived in Keaukaha for decades.
Short in stature but huge in aloha, Midel was a grande dame at the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition and other cultural events. An interview with Midel was a must for the K5 Television broadcasters every year.
“The TV people loved her. She was so vibrant,” said Luana Kawelu, the Merrie Monarch Festival president. “Hawaiians call it ‘ano’ — the insides, she was so clean and sharing and loving. People just were drawn to her. She was a giving person full of love.”
Midel always sat in the same seat in Section N Row 1 of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium during the hula competition. Asked how long Midel had that seat, Kawelu replied “forever.”
“I don’t know, actually,” she said. “Those were her seats, and she would always ask for them. And she would make sure that she had her (ticket application) in on time, because she didn’t want anybody to namunamu, to grumble, to say, ‘How come she has the same seats?’
“She really loved the festival. She always was on time. She didn’t take advantage. I appreciated that. She will be missed.”
Stevens described her grandmother as “beautiful inside and out.”
“She carried herself with confidence, always well-dressed in her signature high heels, red nails, and lipstick, often adorned with flowers in her hair and her favorite jewelry,” she said. “People admired not just her appearance, but the dignity, pride and care she carried within herself.”
Midel retired from the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel in 2024 after working there for 55 years.
“Nana had a boundless energy and spunk that inspired everyone around her. She could put the Energizer Bunny to shame,” Stevens said.
Some of that energy went into gardening, with Midel growing many of the flowers she wore.
Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, a former County Council member, wrote on Facebook she went to school with Midel’s daughters “but became friends with their mother over our mutual love of all things Hawaiian and flowers!”
“Oh the flowers! She would scold me whenever I didn’t deck my hair in flowers, the more, the better,” Leithead Todd posted.
“She always enjoyed herself, but she also worked hard,” said Carlene Wolf, a friend of Midel. “She was always with us, at all the events, at the Crown Room and the Ho‘olaule‘a.
“She was always smiling. I never saw her frown — ever,” Wolf said.
Midel loved dancing and danced hula, although she wasn’t formally trained, and also enjoyed katchi-katchi.
The former Irene Nohokaha Simeona, she was the widow for more than four decades of Daniel Midel. She bore eight children, and had 24 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
“She loved music, could play the ukulele by ear, and had a special talent for weaving beautiful lauhala hats,” said Stevens. “The Merrie Monarch Festival was always close to her heart, as were the simple joys of gathering, talking story and sharing love with others. Her laughter, smiles and zest for life made every moment brighter and left a lasting impression on all who knew her.”
News of Midel’s passing spread quickly via social media.
“Hawaii has lost a true gem. E moe malie, e ‘Anake Irene,” Hoku award-winning singer “Sistah Robi” Kahakalau posted on Facebook, which translates to “sleep peacefully.”
Four-time Grammy winner Kalani Pe‘a posted on Facebook that Midel was one of his late maternal grandmother’s closest friends. He called her “Hilo’s queen.”
“We love you Aunty. E moe me ka maluhia me Niolopua, me ka malu o ke akua mana loa,” Pe‘a wrote, which translates to “Sleep in peace with Niolopua (the deity of sleep and dreams), protected by the almighty God.”
Services are pending.
Email John Burnett at john.burnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.