Student of Hawaiian culture, Franklin Pao was Marianist religious brother for 52 years
By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald
Conservator and teacher of his beloved Hawaiian culture, Marianist Brother Franklin K. Pao, whose powerful chanting opened many special liturgies and celebrations over the years in the diocese, died after a long illness on the morning of Oct. 12. He was 72 and had been a brother in the Society of Mary for 52 years.
Brother Pao was born and raised in Honolulu. In 1952 he decided he wanted to be a Marianist and finished high school at Chaminade Preparatory High School in Culver City, Calif., before starting priesthood studies at St. Mary’s College in 1955. In 1957 he was reassigned to be a Marianist working brother.
Brother Pao worked in various positions in the Marianist community on the Mainland including secretary to the Marianist Novitiate in Santa Cruz, Calif., and secretary to the Provincial residence in Cupertino, Calif., an artisan at the Marianist Art Center in Santa Cruz, director of the Santa Clara Valley Marianist community in Cupertino, and an administrator at Villa St. Joseph, also in Cupertino.
By the time he returned to Hawaii in 1982, he had developed a strong desire to learn more about his Hawaii heritage and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii in 1985.
From 1985 until the spring of 2006 when he retired, Brother Pao was a registrar at Saint Louis School. He served as director of the Center Marianist community from 1991-1997. He was also a member of the Diocesan Vocations Forum.
Brother Pao was often called upon to chant at Chaminade University and diocesan events. He chanted at the 2005 installation of Bishop Larry Silva and at many of the diocese’s Red Masses.
He was a Kahuna Nui of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I from 1988 until he retired in October 2005. Brother Pao was also a kumu hula of Halau Mele and a member of Hale O Na Alii. In May 2007 he was awarded the Kalani Alii Award by the four Hawaiian Royal Societies in recognition of his contributions towards the advancement of the Hawaiian people and culture.
In his later years, Brother Pao mentored young Marianists, both religious and lay, in how to integrate the Hawaiian culture and values into the Marianist charism.