Leina’ala Ann Teruya Drummond, the previous Miss Hawaii whose picture helped popularize the enduring decades-old Hawaiian Airways brand, has died.
Drummond died of most cancers on Monday in Hilo, Hawaii, in keeping with a press release issued by her household. She was 77 years previous. Drummond was 18 when she labored for Hawaiian Airways in 1964, the identical yr she was topped Miss Hawaii.
“Her life shall be cherished and remembered each day by spreading the identical love, gentle and style that she shared with everybody,” her household mentioned within the assertion.
The “Pualani” or “flower of the sky” brand has adorned the tails of Hawaiian Airways planes for many years, and has been repeated a number of occasions through the years. The present model of the well-known island woman, which intently resembles Drummond, dates from 1973.
Hawaiian Airways mentioned in a press release that its Palani brand was not particularly modeled after Drummond or anybody else. As a substitute, the airline mentioned a black-and-white picture of the sweetness queen standing subsequent to the tail wing of one in all its planes exhibiting an earlier model of the island woman “helped additional promote what’s now an internationally acknowledged image of our model.” Heat and welcoming Hawaiian hospitality.”
“Our aloha goes to Mrs. Drummond’s ohana,” the airline mentioned.
Drummond was born in Ponini on Might 28, 1946. She was topped Miss Hawaii in 1964 and was among the many high 10 contestants in that yr’s Miss America pageant.
The Miss Hawaii group mourned Drummond’s dying in a social media submit, writing that she had “misplaced an icon, a legend, and a really stunning soul.”
“The gorgeous magnificence from Wailuku, who carried out a monologue, positioned within the high 10 within the Miss America pageant and is without end acknowledged because the inspiration behind the enduring Hawaiian Airways face that symbolizes aloha all over the world,” the submit learn. “Relaxation in love and Aloha – your gentle shines brightly for the remainder of the world to see. Our prayers and ideas are with Aloha throughout this troublesome time.
Drummond was additionally one in all Danny Kalekini’s three hula dancers and co-owner of Ian’s Restaurant and Deli in Pukalani, Maui, along with her husband, John, who died in 2000, in keeping with a household assertion. She was additionally an ordained minister and served as a member of the Maui County Council from 1990 to 1992.
For the final three years of her life, Drummond lived along with her daughter on the Massive Island, her household mentioned. She loved strolling round her neighborhood, purchasing on the farmers market, and swimming at Richardson Seashore.
Drummond is survived by her son, Kawika Drummond. daughter, Christina Drummond; Brother Asa Teruya. sisters, Leona Asako Medeiros, Iwalani Buske, Doreen Yamashita, Darlene Atai and Cindy Savery; and her granddaughter, Hawke Drummond Smith.
