By Flo McPeek | Special to the Herald
On the day he turned 100, Sunday, Oct. 21, Florencio Alegre of Kukuihaele on the Big Island woke up at 4 a.m. to get ready for church and wake everyone else in the house.
Needless to say he was excited about this milestone. He and his wife Mikiyo and others in the family gathered for 10 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Honokaa where the assembly sang “Happy Birthday.”
About 40 family members and friends then gathered at 1 p.m. for a party at the Alegre residence in Kukuihaele. The festivities began with the blessing of the food that family and friends prepared, and a champagne toast to the man of the hour, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Everyone then joined in the feast except Florencio who was too excited to eat. He did like the birthday cake, however, after blowing out the candles.
Family and friends then talked story and enjoyed each other’s company until late afternoon.
Grandpa Alegre left the Philippines for Hawaii at age 18. He never returned home but worked for the Honokaa Sugar Plantation for 38 years, retiring in 1972 as a field supervisor in charge of weed control for the entire plantation.
He and Mikiyo, who turned 94 in August, will celebrate their 74th wedding anniversary on Dec. 22.
Almost every morning, Grandpa walks out to retrieve the newspaper, which he reads on the porch. He then rides his stationary bike for a few minutes before breakfast.
He has been a strong influence on all members of his family and is much loved by all of them.
Flo McPeek is the wife of deacon Bill McPeek. Both recently retired as co-directors of the permanent diaconate formation program.