The Lineage of
William August Meyers, Jr.
1. William “Bill” August Meyers, Jr., son of William August Meyers of Germany and Mary
Kanuiokalani Kaukaliu of Hawaii, was born 10 November 1906 in Honolulu, Oahu, Territory of
Hawaii1 and died 11 April 1998 in Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii2. He married Chiyo Okamoto about
19313. Chiyo Okamoto, daughter of Sosaburo Okamoto and Taka Miyamoto, both of Japan, born
30 June 1908 at Waimea, Kauai, Territory of Hawaii4; died 26 April 1996 in Hilo, Hawaii,
Hawaii.5
William August Meyers, Jr. was the third child born to William August Meyers, Sr. and Mary
Kanuiokalani Kaukaliu on the island of Oahu in beautiful Honolulu.6 With two older sisters and seven
younger siblings along with the arrival of nieces and nephews, William learned the love that is sacred
between family members. That love carried over as he had his own children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren.
When Bill was young, his maternal grandmother, Pau Kahaluai, passed away in 1911, leaving
behind her husband, John Kaukaliu. Grandpa John lived by himself until two of his grandchildren,
William and Wilamina, William’s older sister, were sent to live with and accompany him in his Waikiki
home for some years. William saw what kind of man his grandfather was: hard working, classy, and kind.
In his memoir, William noted how sharp his grandfather looked.
He went to the barbers to have his hair cut. He had a big beard. Grandpa was a classy man. He
wore a black suit and a white shirt to church every Sunday…Every Saturday Wilamina and I
polished Grandpa’s car. He never had a horse and buggy. He always had a car. His car was black
and had brass lights and trimmings. We had to really shine it up.7
Grandpa John’s occupation included being the keeper of the lighthouse at Diamond Head.
William learned the value of hard work as Grandpa John took the two young children to work to help
clean the light house, which had a lot of brass that needed constant polishing because of the salty air from
the ocean, and they also kept the lighthouse yard tidy and neat.
Even though the children made mistakes or caused trouble, Grandpa John never spanked them.
But their uncle, John Kekele Kaukaliu, Grandpa John’s unmarried son, had no problem disciplining them.
Bill shared that when he made his uncle angry he would force him to stand in the corner of the room on
1
1910 U.S. census, Ewa County, Hawaii, population schedule, Waipahu, Enumeration District (ED) 0053, p. 16-A,
line #3, William Meyers; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 October 2015), citing
National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 1753, dwelling and family numbers were not recorded.
2
“Hawaii Social Security Death Indexes,” database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21
September 2015), “William Meyers Tree,” entry of William’s death date.
3
“Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 September 2015), “Chiyo
Okamoto Tree,” entry of marriage date of William Meyers (b. 10 November 1906); submitted by FamilySearch.
4
1910 U.S. census, Kauai County, Hawaii, population schedule, Waimea, Enumeration District (ED) 14, p. 20-A,
dwelling 235, family 256, line #6, Chiyo Okamoto; citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 1752.
5
“Hawaii Social Security Death Indexes,” database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21
September 2015), “Chiyo Okamoto Tree,” entry of Chiyo’s death date.
6
1910 U.S. census, Ewa Co., Ha., pop. sch., Waipahu, ED 14, p. 20-A, dwell. 235, fam. 256, line #6, William Meyers,
Jr.
7
William August Meyers, Jr., Life at the Kaukaliu’s and the Meyers’, Autobiography, p. 1-3, in private collection of
Theresa Ducre.
one foot for a very long time.8 Even though the disciplining was not pleasant, other events that followed
made the punishments from Uncle Kekele seem very small.
A few years after Granma Pau passed away, Grandpa John married a woman by the name of
Filamina Ka’aloa. She was known to be a very strict woman which caused great strain on the familial
relationships between William and his mother, Mary Kanuiokalani Kaukaliu. After Grandpa John passed
away, Filamina and William’s mother went to court and disputed over the land that belonged to Grandpa
John. “Mother got part of the property. The rest went to Filamina.” With the land that William’s family
had won over located including a place on Monserrat Avenue, Honolulu, William’s father, his name sake,
built their home. The house was a modest home. It included four bedrooms, a large kitchen, an inside
toilet, and a lanai going around three fourths of the house. On the lanai were rocking chairs, sitting chairs,
and parlor chairs made of Koa wood. The house was painted white with green trim, and a green tin roof.
This homemade beauty was called home for the Meyers family.9
A few years later, after living in their beautiful home, tragedy struck the Meyers family, and especially
William. Wilamina died in a freak accident at a blow hole in Hawaii. She was only 14 years old on June
28, 1916.10
Despite the death of his beloved sister and the grief that accompanied him, William become lifelong best friends with one of his younger brother, Carl August Kekele “Charlie” Meyers. Often, the boys
would laugh together, stand up for each other and help each other in good and bad times. After the death
of Wilamina passed away, Abigail “Abbie” Manuhealii Meyers left the home to get married to Robert
Kaipo11. That left Charlie and William at home with their mother to help care for the home by cooking,
cleaning, washing, raising young babies, and changing diapers.
Because they were the oldest children in the home, Charlie and William took care of the kids
which proved to not be their favorite task. Sometimes, while changing diapers, William would “slip” and
“accidently” poke the babies with their diaper pins. They would cry and Mother would scold him.
Anytime the boys fought, their mother would send them outside to obtain a stick so that she could spank
them with those sticks. When they collected their own sticks, they would look for the smallest sticks,
therefore they would not receive the harshest punishment because of the miniature size of the chosen
sticks. But their mother caught onto their game and soon would send one brother to get a stick for their
other brother to be beaten with. No sooner did they find the largest sticks outside for the other brother to
be beaten badly with.12
Kanui, William’s mother, had a great impact in his life. She was the first person in their family to
be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Just like her father, John Kaukaliu, she
originally a member of the Kawaehao Church. After the death of both of her parents, Kanui joined the
LDS faith as an official member. Both William and Charlie were baptized at a local chapel located in
Punchbowl on Liliha Street at the ages of thirteen and nine. John “Johnny” Kaukaliu Kawaiokeola
Meyers, a younger brother, was blessed in the Church. In November 1919, the Meyers family traveled to
Laie to celebrate and attend the ceremonies surrounding the Laie Hawaii Temple dedication. It was a
historic moment in the LDS church because this was the first temple built outside of the continental
United States. It brought many blessings to the people of Hawaii, including the Meyers family. Later in
his life, William Meyers Sr. was baptized as a member in Kaimuki in the 1940s.
8
Life at the Kaukaliu’s and the Meyers’, Autobiography, p. 3, in private collection of Theresa Ducre.
Life at the Kaukaliu’s and the Meyers’, Autobiography, p. 4-5, in private collection of Theresa Ducre.
10
Life at the Kaukaliu’s and the Meyers’, Autobiography, p. 10, in private collection of Theresa Ducre.
11
1920 U.S. census, Honolulu County, Hawaii, population schedule, Honolulu, Enumeration District (ED) 18, p. 27-B,
dwelling 250, family 250, line 37, William Meyers; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :
accessed 21 September 2015), citing National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 2035.
12
Life at the Kaukaliu’s and the Meyers’, Autobiography, p. 10 in private collection of Theresa Ducre.
9
Despite the goodness that came into their lives from joining the gospel, William left the LDS
faith after his mother passed away. Lack of interest and personal conviction took over and he never
thought about returning the faith of his youth.13
As William grew older, he soon found the love of his life, Chiyo Okamoto of Waimea, Kauai14.
She was a very short and beautiful Japanese young lady that brought great joy into his life. The couple
were married in William’s hometown of Honolulu at about 193115. William worked at a fertilizer
company downtown Honolulu where he was shortly transferred to the small town of Hilo on the island of
Hawaii. It was there on Hawaii island that Chiyo was first introduced to two missionaries who came
knocking on the Meyers’ door. Eventually, she decided to be baptized.16 As the Church scrambled around
records to locate his baptism record, the missionaries came back to the Meyers family and reported that
William’s baptism records were nowhere to be found. The couple were baptized together and confirmed
members of the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hilo, Hawaii at the old Kukua church.
By 1940, William and Chiyo were the delightful parents of three children, Valerie, Bruce, and
Helene17. All seemed well in Hawaii Nei for the Meyers family until the 10th of December 1941. Pearl
Harbor had been bombed by the Japanese18 and all would not be the same again. For years, William’s
father who was a worker at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in their electric plants in the Navy yard. Before
the bombing, William Sr. retired before Japan hit Pearl Harbor. By this time, Kanui passed away and
William Sr. was living with his second wife in the Monserrat home.19
On May 1, 1942, Sylvia Lei, was born into the Meyers family20. Three years later, on April 1,
1946, William woke up early and went straight to work at 6:30 am at the Pacific Chemical Fertilizer
Company located at the water front in Hilo. As he was working, his mechanic approached him and stated
that he wanted to go home. His reason was that he could see that the ocean was getting rough and that
there was a tidal wave coming. William was not convinced but his mechanic insisted that there was a real
tidal wave coming and that he needed to go home. Still unconvinced of a tidal wave approaching, William
relieved his mechanic of his responsibilities.
After he left, William went on the roof of the fertilizer company to see the ocean. “I observed the
ocean there and I noticed I could see Coconut Island…[The] water was going out. The ocean, instead of
coming in, was going out. I said, “Say, there must be something wrong.” Then I remembered the
mechanic had told me, “There is a tidal wave coming; I’m going home.”” After racing off the of the roof,
William arrived on Kamehameha Avenue on Silva Street to safely get as far as he could from the tidal
wave. Chiyo and her children were safe from the tidal wave and were not swept away or killed unlike 159
other people. 21
Time did not stop nor did the growth of their children. Soon, every child of William and Chiyo
were married to their beloved sweet hearts and began to have children. Bruce, their only son, married a
13
Life at the Kaukaliu’s and the Meyers’, Autobiography, p. 7-8, in private collection of Theresa Ducre.
1910 U.S. census, Kauai County, Hawaii, population schedule, Waimea, Enumeration District (ED) 14, p. 20-A,
dwelling 235, family 256, line #6, Chiyo Okamoto; citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 1752.
15
“Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch.org, “Chiyo Okamoto Tree,” for marriage date of William and Chiyo.
16
Kenneth W. Baldridge "Oral History of William and Chiyo Meyers," transcript, Brigham Young University – Hawaii,
p. 26-28, in private collection of Theresa M. Ducre.
17
1940 U.S. census, Hawaii County, Hawaii, population schedule, Hilo, Enumeration District (ED) 1-27, p. 16-B, line
#85-87, Valerie, Bruce, Helene Meyers; citing National Archives microfilm publication T627, roll 4582.
18
“Pearl Harbor,” website, History.com (http://www.history.com : accessed 9 December 2015), date of bombing.
19
William August Meyers, Jr., Life at the Kaukaliu’s and the Meyers’, Autobiography, p. 5, in private collection of
Theresa Ducre.
20
“Family Tree”, database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 September 2015), “Sylvia
Meyers Tree,” entry of birth date, LDS Church Membership.
21
Kenneth W. Baldridge "Oral History of William and Chiyo Meyers," transcript, Brigham Young University – Hawaii,
p. 26-28, in private collection of Theresa M. Ducre.
14
lovely Hawaii native named Theresa Maunhina Kalama22. She helped to bring forth five beautiful
grandchildren to William and Chiyo. By the age of 38, Bruce was a successful branch president, school
teacher, and father to all those around him and his family on Molokai island which undoubtedly brought
great joy into the life of his aged parents. But life ended shortly when Bruce died of a brain hemorrhage 23.
His parents were devastated and grief stricken but because their belief in Jesus Christ, they were able to
move forward with hope that they will see their son again one day.
William and Chiyo lived out their lives together in their little home in Hilo, Hawaii. Having
raised good and industrious children, Chiyo died peacefully on April 26, 1996.24 Two years later, William
followed his wife to the grave25, to be reunited with her in heaven along with their beloved son, Bruce.
The children of William and Chiyo (Okamoto) Meyers are as follows:
i.
VALERIE MEYERS, born 1935 in Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii Territory, United States26; Living.
Married.
ii.
BRUCE KUNIO MEYERS, born 7 November 1937 in Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii Territory,
United States; died 11 March 1976 at the age of 38 at Ho’olehua, Moloka’i, Hawaii, United
States27. He married THERESA MAUNAHINA KALAMA on 9 September 196028.
It is commonly known through oral tradition that in fact, Bruce Kunio Meyers, was the son of William
August Meyers, Jr. and Chiyo Okamoto. With the help of multiple reliable sources, it can be concluded
that:
 Bruce Kunio Meyers was born on November 7, 1937 at Hilo, Hawaii29.
 Bruce married Theresa Kalama on September 9, 1960 at the Laie Hawaii Temple.30
 On the 11th of March, 1976, Bruce K. Meyers was pronounced dead at the age of 38, due to
“cerebral hemorrhage due to, or as a consequence of hypertension. Other significant conditions:
conditions contributing to death but not related to cause given: obesity, ventricular
enlargement.”31
There was some controversy with Bruce’s birth date. On the 1940 census, the date of birth that was
recorded was “about 1940.” But it is proven in official records of his marriage and death certificates.
There was no location of an obituary or other sources that could verify his birth date, therefore, it would
be safe to say that Bruce’s birth date was in deed November 7, 1937.
22
“Certificate of Marriage,” digital image, Theresa M. Ducre’s personal belongings; citing State of Hawaii
Department of Health, certificate number 60468; scanned image of the original document.
23
“Certificate of Death,” digital image, Theresa M. Ducre’s personal belongings; citing State of Hawaii Department
of Health, certificate number 1311; scanned image of the original document.
24
“Hawaii Social Security Death Indexes,” database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21
September 2015), “Chiyo Okamoto Tree,” entry of Chiyo’s death date.
25
“Hawaii Social Security Death Indexes,” database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21
September 2015), “William Meyers Tree,” entry of William’s death date.
26
1940 U.S. census, Hawaii Co., Ha., pop. sch., Hilo, ED 1-27, p. 16-B, line #85, Valerie Meyers; citing National
Archives microfilm publication T627, roll 4582.
27
“Certificate of Death,” digital image, Theresa M. Ducre’s personal belongings; citing State of Hawaii Department
of Health, certificate number 1311; scanned image of the original document.
28
Bruce Kunio Meyers and Theresa Maunahina Kalama marriage certificate. License no. 60468 (1960), Territory of
Hawaii Department of Health Bureau of Health Statistics.
29
1940 U.S. census, Hawaii Co., Ha., pop. sch., Hilo, ED 1-27, p. 16-B, line #86, Bruce Meyers; citing National
Archives microfilm publication T627, roll 4582.
30
“Certificate of Marriage,” digital image, Theresa M. Ducre’s personal belongings; citing State of Hawaii
Department of Health, certificate number 60468; scanned image of the original document.
31
“Certificate of Death,” digital image, Theresa M. Ducre’s personal belongings; citing State of Hawaii Department
of Health, certificate number 1311; scanned image of the original document.
iii.
iv.
32
HELENE M MEYERS, born 1940 in Hawaii.32 Living. Married.
SYLVIA LEI MEYERS, born 1 May 1942 in Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii Territory, United States33,
died 22 March 2005 in Provo, UT, United States at the age of 6234. Married.
1940 U.S. census, Hawaii Co., Ha., pop. sch., Hilo, ED 1-27, p. 16-B, line #87, Helene Meyers; citing National
Archives microfilm publication T627, roll 4582.
33
“Family Tree”, database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 September 2015), “Sylvia
Meyers Tree,” entry of birth date, submitted by LDS Church Membership.
34
“Family Tree”, database, FamilySearch.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 September 2015), “Sylvia
Meyers Tree,” entry of death date for Sylvia Meyers (b. 1 May 1942); submitted 26 March 2015 by Ipo Tuinei
Hemaloto, contact name information ipotuineihemaloto1.