On December 9, 2012,  in the early hours of a beautiful Hawai‘i morning, when her beloved Ka‘ahumanu sisters were perhaps readying for Ali‘i Sunday for King Lot Kapuāiwa, Kamehameha V, a beautiful Hawaiian spirit slipped the bonds of ka ‘āina and went home to Akua. Auntie Donna Lei Smythe has left us. Auē, auē, ka ua hala. Aloha ‘oe, Auntie Donna Lei Smythe. You will be missed, forever. Aloha nō wau iā ‘oe.

Donna Lei Smythe, 2011 kalani Ali’i Awards