City Council To Name Heeia Field For ‘Auntie’

At age 81, Alice Hewett is finally getting her own ball field — and she doesn’t have to rake up the leaves.

The Honolulu City Council honored “Auntie Alice” Hewett Aug. 15 with a resolution to name the Heeia Neighborhood Park baseball field after her. The action lauds her half-century of tireless service and dedication to youth sports leagues in Kaneohe and her steadfast support of family recreational activities.

A lifelong Heeia resident, Hewett has nine children, 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren — all involved in sports in some way.

“One of my boys played T-ball at the Heeia ball field when he was 6 or 7,” Hewett recalled. “Now he’s 48!”

She’s also retired from the city parks department, where for years she kept the grounds of Ahuimanu, Kahaluu and Kualoa parks clean while sharing her wisdom and advice with the people she’d meet.

“Her influence and inspiration have touched the lives of more than 500 keiki each year,” stated City Councilman Ikaika Anderson at the presentation ceremony, “not only teaching them the values of teamwork, but also providing them with guidance, reassurance and many valuable learning resources.”

Active in sports herself, Hewett graduated from Ben Parker High School and went on to volunteer with Kaneohe Little League, Kaneohe and Kahaluu Pop Warner Football, Kaneohe Bobby Sox, Kaneohe Canoe Club and Police Activities League. She previously was honored by Kaneohe Neighborhood Board, PAL and the Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club for her contributions.

She’s the mother of kumu hula Frank Kawai-kapuokalani Hewett, and former sumo champion Chad Rowan is in her family tree. These men can now say they’re related to the woman behind the Alice Pualeilani Kana‘e Hewett Baseball Field.

“By the way,” she added, “PAL Basketball League will have registration every weekend in September at Kaneohe District Park.” Stay tuned for details.