Katherine Bernice McCullough (Iwata) passed peacefully at home in the early hours of December 7, 2023.

"Kapalaea" was born on January 26, 1934, in Puunene, Maui, Hawaii. She was the fourth of six children born to Francis, Sr. and Roseline Iwata of Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, with three older brothers and two younger sisters. Her early years were greatly impacted by the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the ensuing buildup of military personnel and equipment to their once sleepy isle. Many stories from her childhood of escapades with her brothers were with these events as the backdrop. She had an ear for music and taught herself how to play the guitar and ukulele, loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. Music was always front and center in her life and her ukulele accompanied her everywhere.

Katherine graduated from St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, Maui, in 1953. She wanted to join the military and enlisted the aid of their parish priest to convince her Father to agree to her plan. Her first time away from Maui was her induction into the U.S. Air Force which took her first to Honolulu and then to Lackland A.F.B., Texas. She really enjoyed serving her country and it was at Mather A.F.B., CA, that she met her future husband Jerome (Jerry) McCullough. They were married in early 1957 for 48 years, until Jerry passed in 2005. They traveled with the USAF and had their four children in four different locales from Hawaii to Okinawa to California and Texas. They had a memorable station in Grand Forks, North Dakota, which for an islander like herself, was very challenging to say the least! The upside of that locale was the relative closeness to our McCullough family and roots, where my mom's penchant for entertaining at gatherings hit full swing. She loved sharing her Hawaiian culture through song and dance and those times made life in ND more bearable.

When her youngest child, Kiki, started grade school, she took the opportunity to finish her education by enrolling in college. She graduated from La Verne University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice in 1975. She parlayed her education into a career as a social worker with the County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services – Child Protective Services. She was truly devoted to helping those with the least voice; the children to whom her job directed her towards. She sometimes loathed the system and paperwork she represented but always kept the children at the forefront of her attention. After retirement she founded Ohana Programs, Inc., that operated Ohana House, a group home here in Lompoc for teenage girls who had been removed from their families of origin. In subsequent years, as needs and funding changed, it became a transitional home for youth aging out of the foster care system and was a vital resource in the community. She was a social justice warrior, always fighting for better welfare and outcomes for these children. She did this all with an aloha centered heart. It's truly how she approached everything in life.

Around this time, she and Jerry volunteered to start up a new American Legion Post - Vandenberg Post 125, created in 1972 - both charter members. She was commemorated this year with 50 continuous years of membership and service to the American Legion. She was a dual Unit 125 Auxiliary member and served in many capacities, not the least of which was Post Commander as recently as 2019. She also served as Finance Officer and was well known throughout town as the Clubroom Manager for the Post. The clubroom was where her Poker Club met weekly for the better part of 20 years. Mom enjoyed playing cards and was a wicked good Texas Hold'em player. She was also an instrumental voice and veteran's representative on the committee to renovate the Lompoc Veteran's Memorial Building. It was through the hard work of this committee that the funds were secured and work completed to restore the building after years of neglect. It's restoration and local landmark status is a living testament to their efforts.

These activities are some of what led to her being chosen "Lompoc Valley Woman of the Year 2003."

"Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono" – The life of the land is perpetuated by righteousness

Katherine lived pono.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Jerry; her parents Francis, Sr and Roseline Iwata; her brothers Robert, Francis, Jr. (Fire) and Charlie, Sr. Iwata. She is survived by her children William (Lori Manieri) of Sacramento, CA, Leilani (Wayne  Costa), Charles (Inga), and Kiki (Grant Matthews); her grandson Jacob Davis (Alyssa); great grandchildren Maci and Brady Kehlani all of Lompoc, CA; her sisters Rosalie Kauhaahaa and Betty Mercado (Dave) of Anaheim, CA; her sisters-in-law Kay Iwata (Walnut Creek, CA) and Winona Iwata (Wailuku, Maui, HI); and numerous nieces and nephews whom she adored.

A Celebration of her life will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 12 noon at the Veteran's Memorial Building 100 E. Locust Ave., Lompoc, CA. All are welcome to join us.