Lahela Dollie Roback, 85, of Makawao, Maui passed away peacefully at home on October 20th, 2022. She was born on August 23rd, 1937, in Honolulu to Esta Kuʻuleialoha Pung and Anthony Tennis. She often reflected fondly on her childhood in Kakaʻako and Ewa Beach with her Pung cousins and family. She was a proud 1955 graduate of St. Andrew's Priory. Soon after graduating high school, she moved to San Francisco where she became a professional hula dancer and eventually met and married her husband August Fred Roback of Honolulu. At Lahela's insistence, the two returned to Hawaiʻi to raise their children. As a hardworking and loyal wife and mother, her love and devotion for her family was without end. She was a devout Christian, a faithful servant of Christ and a proud member of Po’okela Church. After many years of service, she retired from the Maui Water Department. She helped to coordinate the annual Hawaiʻi Marine Corps gathering in Las Vegas, where she loved trying her luck. She enjoyed traveling throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the continental United States.
Funeral services will be held in Makawao, Maui at Po’okela Church on Saturday, December 3rd with visitation starting at 9:30am and service beginning at 10:30 am. Another service will be held on Oʻahu at Diamond Head Memorial Park on Saturday, December 17th beginning at 10 am. Both services will be followed by lunch.
She is survived by her husband August Fred Roback; six children, Anthony (Jackie) Roback of Kula, Maui; Tracy (Robert) Yuhara of Haiku, Maui; Ryan (Kaleialoha) Roback of Ewa Beach, Oʻahu; Jarret (Tina) Roback of Paia, Maui; Moani (Owen) Furuta of Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi; and hānai son Jim (Cindy) Nees of Eugene, Oregon; 18 grandchildren, Pono (Grace) Roback, Lahela Yuhara, Tiare Yuhara, Kekoa Roback, Gabby (Ian) Pascua, Kaleohone Roback, Mikiʻoi Roback, Kaʻanoʻipua Roback, Malia Yuhara, Kapuaonaona Roback, Puʻuwaialoha Roback, Kamālamalama Roback, Kamalei Roback, Kuʻuleialoha Roback, Keola Roback, Healani Roback, Piʻikea Furuta, and Leimana Furuta; nine great-grandchildren, Hōkūlani (Darryn) Kongphan, Zara Māhealani Roback, Braedon Biho, Kaleikaumaka Roback, Pōhaikealoha Roback, Nainoa Okamura, Mālia Roback, Kuahiwi Roback, Keanu Pascua; and one great-great-grandchild, Keahi Kongphan.
The family would like to send a heartfelt mahalo to the kind and caring staff of Hospice Maui.