Trained to fly in service to his country, Holbrook Bertram "Bert" DuPont devoted the greater part of his life to higher callings.
The distinguished Air Force officer, church leader and father to more than 30 foster and adopted children died Dec. 4 at the age of 80.
"He had such a big presence," said DuPont’s daughter-in-law Holly. "He was big physically. He had a big personality. Everything about him was big, especially his spirit."
DuPont was born in Waialua and raised in Wahiawa. He attended Kamehameha Schools as a boarder starting in the eighth grade and later attended the University of Hawaii before moving on to the Air Force Academy. He returned to Hawaii in 1955 as a commissioned Air Force officer and married his high school sweetheart, Amanda Kuulei Kwai How.
DuPont served during the Korean and Vietnam wars and was later stationed in Bogota, Colombia, where, among other things, he successfully repelled three kidnapping attempts.
After 25 years of service, DuPont retired from the Air Force and accepted a position as a pilot for First Hawaiian Bank’s new corporate Learjet, a job he would hold for another 13 years.
Throughout his various assignments and undertakings, DuPont and his wife remained active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in a variety of leadership roles in Hawaii and abroad.
DuPont was the first Native Hawaiian to serve as a mission president, heading the church’s Chile Santiago North Mission from 1990 to 1993.
He also served as a counselor in the Temple Presidency at the Madrid Spain Temple in the early 2000s. Over the years, DuPont also held positions as a temple ordinance worker, bishop of the Kaimuki Ward, member of the Honolulu Hawaii Stake High Council and counselor to the president of the Hawaii Honolulu Mission.
Before his death, DuPont had been serving as a gospel doctrine teacher at the Manoa Ward.
Wherever they went, the DuPonts opened their doors to those in need of a home, friends said. The couple had two children and fostered 32 others, many of whom came from difficult circumstances.
Holly DuPont recalled her father-in-law as a loving and outgoing man who drew strength and happiness from his service to others.
"He was straight as an arrow," Holly DuPont said. "There was no deviation. Obedience was his main things; he always believed that obedience leads to happiness."
DuPont is survived by his wife Amanda, brother Lyle, sons Dwight Kealii (Uilani Mossman) and Douglas Kauluwehi (Holly Ho Chee), two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Dec. 22 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Beretania Street. Public viewing from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial at 2 p.m. at Hawaii Memorial Park Cemetery.
