Isle priest was devoted to education

The Rev. Canon Darrow L. Kanaka­nui Aiona, an elected member of the state Board of Education for 20 years and an Episcopal priest for nearly 50 years, died of heart failure Dec. 20 in Hono­lulu. He was 77.

Born in Honolulu in 1935 and raised in Wai­ma­nalo, Aiona graduated from the University of Hawaii with a bachelor’s and master’s in sociology. After receiving his graduate degree, he went to New Zealand on a Fulbright scholarship to research Christian nativistic movements.

Having graduated from ‘Iolani School, Aiona was interested in the Episcopal Church and went to the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif., where he received a master’s degree in divinity. He was ordained in Hono­lulu in 1963.

"Darrow was a person with deep ties in two worlds," said his wife, Christine "Teena" Urban. "He saw no real conflict between Christianity and Hawaiian spirituality."

After his ordination, Aiona served as an assistant priest in churches in New Zealand and New York City before returning to Hawaii.

Soon after Leeward Community College was established in 1968, Aiona was hired there to teach sociology, religion and Hawaiian studies.

"He was very devoted to his teaching at Leeward," Urban said. "He tried to involve his students, urging them to be active and do things, and he had a lot of compassion for those who had difficulty. He helped a lot of people, more than I’d realized."

Aiona’s desire to improve education in Hawaii led him to run for a seat on the Board of Education. As a member from 1976 to 1996, he supported the establishment of Hawaiian immersion schools and worked to provide quality education to all students.

"Because he got a good education, he saw the value of it," Urban said. "He wanted that for everyone, especially Hawaiians. He thought that with his background in education and in the church, he could bring a different dimension to the board, which I believe he did."

While teaching at LCC, Aiona was asked to help out at St. Johns by the Sea Episcopal Church, where he was a priest for 15 years. That was followed by an 11-year stint at Waikiki Chapel.

In 1996, after 20 years with the BOE and nearly 30 years with LCC, Aiona became pastor of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where he stayed for 11 years until he retired at the age of 72, as required by canonical law.

After retirement, Aiona continued his involvement in the church and ran, unsuccessfully, for a BOE Oahu at-large seat in 2008.

Aiona served on several boards and committees for organizations such as the Queen’s Medical Center, Catholic Charities and All Believers Network.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by sister Ellen "Hau­nani" Aiona.

Visitation will be at noon Wednesday at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. The service begins at 1 p.m. No flowers. Private burial. Donations suggested to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, St. John’s by the Sea Episcopal Church or the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. Online condolences at www.borthwick­oahu.com.