City Council Bestows Official Birthday Wishes On Freitas, 100

The City Council honored 100-year-old Ida Freitas (center with lei) during the group’s May 9 meeting at Pali Golf Club. With her are (from left) daughters-in-law Peggy and Diane Freitas, City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, niece Patsy Santos, daughter-in-law Annie Freitas, (back) sons Tom and Alfred Freitas. Not pictured: son Eugene. Photo from Gail Myers.

Born a century ago on Maui, Ida Barboza Freitas celebrated her 100th birthday at the Honolulu City Council, which recently commended her for living “a long and bountiful life.”

Windward City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, a mere 34, shared Freitas’ history with his colleagues on the council at its May 9 meeting at Pali Golf Course, declaring that “we are blessed to know her and be with her today and be part of this celebration.”

Freitas and her husband Alfred took care of the CYO camp in Hauula for many years, and then were given a place to live at St. Stephen’s Seminary by the bishop. Freitas still lives there today at the quiet retreat center near the Pali tunnels.

And she’s not twiddling her thumbs. She makes 500 jars of preserves and chutneys each Christmas, helps the nuns decorate the chapel, and attends Kaneohe Senior Citizens regularly. Her friend Frank De Lima even calls her “his competition.”

Accompanying her to the council meeting were two dozen members of her ohana.