Not just Maui, but the world has lost a gentleman and a scholar. Kris Kristofferson was the definition of a renaissance person.
Poet, scholar, teacher, soldier, musician, actor, performer, father, husband and friend to all who knew him.
Although he was celebrated and achieved some of the highest honors in his fields of endeavor, he had not an ounce of ego in him. His genuine humility and care for others was one of his hallmarks.
I had the opportunity to review a play his sons were doing in Hana the summer of 2003. He wrote me the only hand written card, thanking me for my words, I have ever gotten from anyone in the more than two decades I have been reviewing performances here on Maui. I cherish it to this day.
He will be missed. The likes of one such as he are rare and we are lucky to have been here with him for his time.
“…Yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow’s out of sight
Lord, it’s bad to be alone
Help me make it through the night.”
Mahalo nui loa, sir.
Paul Janes-Brown
Pukalani
