Roland K. Alo

Roland Kamakau Albion Alo, 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Cedar Hills, Utah on Monday, January 4, 2021.

Roland was born November 2, 1926 to Samuel and Cecilia Alo in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii. He was the youngest of 11 children! Roland often spoke fondly of his growing up years on Maui. He loved the island life! He loved to go swimming in the river, roller-skating and exploring. To make extra money he polished shoes and collected slop for the pig farms. He was sent to St. Anthony’s Catholic school when he got into trouble at the public school. At St. Anthony’s Roland loved playing basketball. In addition to basketball, Roland loved mountain ball and ping pong. He had over 20 championship trophies for ping pong.

After the United States entered WWII, Roland got permission from his parents to join the Army when he was seventeen and served for 3 1/2 years. He later attended BYU where he met his first wife, Dorothy Pettit. They lived in Manhattan Beach, California as he started working for Chevron in 1955 at the El Segundo Refinery. He got transferred to Hawaii and was excited to move to Ewa Beach on the island of Oahu. They had five children together but later divorced.

In 1966 Roland married Mary Ann Van Leeuwen Robinson, who had lost her first husband to cancer.  With Mary Ann’s two children they lived in Ewa Beach.  Soon, they added another son to their family. They lived in Ewa Beach for 8 years and then transferred to El Segundo, CA where they added their last child to the family. Roland retired from Chevron in 1992 after 37 years of dedicated service.

Roland was very social. Sometimes the family would have to wait for an hour to go home after church because he was still visiting. His favorite vacations were going to the family reunions so that he could visit and catch up with family members.

Roland was proud of his Hawaiian heritage and loved it when his children and grandchildren took an interest in his Hawaiian culture. He told the haole (white) grandchildren that they were 10% Hawaiian. Roland especially loved playing the ukulele and carried it with him wherever he went. He played it often and had a beautiful singing voice. His family loved it when he would pull out the uke and sing whenever they were gathered together. Roland also loved to perform and often recruited his family to dance and perform with him. He especially loved performing with the Ulu Ohana club after he retired.

Roland always wanted to make sure that his sweetheart was safe, like walking around the house and making sure it was locked up – even locking her out sometimes!

Roland served in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including three Bishoprics, Elders’ Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader and others.  He loved family history and has several volumes family history albums.  He took his calling of Home Teacher seriously. He was always assigned to widows to take care of them. His testimony of Jesus Christ was unshakable and he often shared it with others, especially family.

Roland is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Ann, son Alden (Diana) Alo, daughter Shawn (Gordon) Bailey, son Kyle (Lola) Alo, son Roland (Sheri) Alo, daughter Glenda (Randall) Simper, son Kelley (Teri) Robinson, son DeVan (Gina) Alo, daughter Kelani (Jason) DeBritz. Roland was preceded in death by his parents and siblings and son Tris Alo and his wife Maria.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, January 10, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah. Due to Covid restrictions, the in person funeral services will be invite only. Those wishing to participate virtually can watch the services on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:00 am at the following link: https://youtu.be/s-GG-0jCvho

Interment will follow the services at the Lake Hills Memorial Park Cemetery in Sandy, Utah.