SP4 Lester Alipio, February 18, 1971

Lester was from Down Camp Hakalau.  He went to Hakalau School and later graduated from Hilo High in 1967.  His father was a machinist for the Plantation. In 1967, when Lester was a drafting student at Hawaii Tech, he won 1st place in designing a model home.  He later worked with the Department of Public Works as a draftsman until he volunteered for the Army.
 
SGT Alipio went to Vietnam in 1970 with the 213/510th Engineer Detachment where he designed a pocket patch then worn by each soldier as the official unit insignia.  Although his death in Vinh Long, Vietnam on February 18, 1971 was due to a stroke, he was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions, posthumously.

A Requiem Mass was held at the Hakalau Catholic Church in February 1971.  He is buried at the Veterans Cemetery in Hilo.
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SGT Lester Alipio
A Requiem Mass was held at the Hakalau Catholic Church in February 1971.  He is buried at the Veterans Cemetery in Hilo.
For the Hakalau Kuleana, our responsibility is to care for the land, the people, and the culture. We are guided by cultural values of YESTERDAY: Engage in collective effort. Look out for each other. Honor hard work. Show respect for those who came before us. Aloha and Mālama `Aina. In 2021, Akiko Masuda added two more values to the list: Consistently show up. Whatever has to be done, jump in and do it!