Dale Merville Simonsen's Obituary
Dale was a loving father, husband, friend, co worker, family member.
Dale was born in Honolulu and moved to Maui with his mother when he was young. He grew up in the Puukolii camp and went to Lahainaluna high school. After high school he joined the army where he was studying to become and electrical engineer. That path was cut short when his mother hurt herself at work and he had to come home to care for her. It’s a good thing he did, he then started working as a bellman at Kaanapali beach hotel and moved to the bar a few years later.
Dale was a bartender at Kaanapali Beach Hotel for 52 years. People would come back every year and sit at his bar and he would know them by name and drink. He loved his job very much and truly enjoyed every minute of his 52 years of bartending. It was there he met the love of his life, Martha and had two girls, Starr and Sara.
Martha started working at kaanapali beach hotel as a cocktail waitress, but had no experience at it. Dale would say he tried to get her fired because of her inexperience, but it was just harmless flirting which lead eventually being married. Dale thought he would be a bachelor his whole life and now had a wife and two daughters. His family meant the world to him untill the very end.
Dale would always say, “Auuright!”, throw up a shaka and it would put a smile on everyone’s face. He will always be remembered for the amazing, loving, caring, kind man that he was, a true Lahaina legend.
His celebration of life will be held at Hanakao’o beach (Canoe Beach) on May 14th from 9am-1pm. An American flag presentation to be at 10am where a scattering of his ashes to follow after. Please feel free to stop by and enjoy good food and good company. It will be a (BYOC) bring your own cooler, for beverages
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