Michael Lee Hennigan (“Mickey”) was born in rural Hayward, Alameda County, California, to Charles Hennigan and Aloha Cox on April 28, 1943. He eventually chose to leave his native state and sail to Hawaii in 1969 aboard a 33-foot sloop, the Marobi-Kai, with three others. Departing from Berkely Marina “with all sails up including the genoa,” they sailed past Alcatraz Island, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and into a quite sudden and vicious storm. “The waves are gigantic and are cresting and breaking on us,” Mickey wrote in his log that night, “At times they are higher than the mast.” A full week later, after an electrical fire, a flooded cabin, and more positively, some morale-boosting meals prepared by Mickey, the first clear weather appeared. Skipper Bing Cox, Mickey’s uncle, was able to determine their first navigational “noon fix” by sextant. Finally, they knew where they were! Good and bad weather followed, as did some quick dips overboard into the ocean to cool off and feel refreshed. “Supplies are holding out great,” Mickey wrote, “Haven’t had to skimp on water and have 60 gallons or so left. We had as much to drink as you want. Tea, coffee, milk (powder), fruit juices, beer, soda and wine. This has been a first class trip all the way. I wouldn’t mind staying out another month, except I’m anxious to reach my new home.” Two days later he noted, “The new electric chronometer stopped!” From then on, crewmates used “dead reconning,” and of all things, followed under vapor trails of jet airplanes flying southwesterly far overhead! “Picking up all Hawaiian stations on the Radio Directional finder (RDF) now. It is not accurate tho’, as we don’t have an antenna,” the log shared. Yet somehow, seventeen days after departure Mickey stated, “I spot Oahu and we head for it and at 2:00 this afternoon we dock. What a trip!” Mickey was then just twenty-six years old.
Some people’s homes are their castle, but Mickey’s might better be described as a museum of his island life. The walls and furniture are covered with simple mementos from artistic and loving friends, photos, objects related to Mickey Mouse, countless chicken motifs that perhaps comically suggest his namesake as a “Hen again,” and numerous other quirky objects. Guests and neighbors have long known of his love of music and movies by the sounds rumbling from within his living room. Throughout his garden rests an abundance of exotic plants, risqué artifacts, tattered signs or posters from bygone days, and other curiosities that were gathered through travels, community involvement, and the various restaurants Mickey has owned or managed over his long, celebrated career as a restauranteur. In each room or drawer, one might still find a joke device designed to surprise the unwary and cause a laugh, a well-worn magic trick, or an album of jokes – many of which Mickey was known to tell from memory, one-after-another, for literally hours. Together they illustrate a fun story of this man’s 50 years on Maui.
Mickey was known to say jokingly that he was “married for more than 40 years… but it took three wives.” He was predeceased by his third wife, Karen Sui Lan Lau Hennigan of Honolulu (passed Aug 17, 2013), after 33 years of marriage, and his only son, Sean Michael Hennigan (passed Jan 30, 2018), who was borne by Shannon Hennigan during Mickey’s first marriage. Mickey is a veteran having served honorably in the U.S. Military Service. He was 79 years old when he passed on January 25, 2023.
Mickey Hennigan is best celebrated by talking story and sharing with others. His ashes will be returned to the ocean that brought him here. If there is a desire to give a gift, a donation may be made to Hospice Maui (https://www.hospicemaui.org/donate), a Maui United Way agency and a 501c(3) charitable organization.
His preferred last words that he wanted shared with his many friends and loved ones were, “All pau!”
Arrangements by Norman's Mortuary
Online condolences can be made at: www.NormansMortuary.com