A celebration of life will be held March 12 for Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, founding chairman of the then- Department of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Blaisdell, a pioneering advocate for Native Hawaiian sovereignty and access to health care, died of respiratory failure Feb. 12 at age 90.

The celebration of life, dubbed Hoolewa, will be held at UH’s John A. Burns School of Medicine. Visitation begins at 9 a.m., services at 11 a.m. and Na Halia Aloha will follow the services.

“Dr. Blaisdell inspired every generation of physicians trained at the medical school with his tireless devotion to producing highly qualified, culturally sensitive doctors for Hawaii,” medical school Dean Jerris Hedges said. “Our alumni, faculty and staff overwhelmingly want to bring Dr. Blaisdell’s remains home to JABSOM one last time to give him our aloha.”

Blaisdell’s family and private donors will cover expenses.