A very dear friend and PGR brother has passed away, Pete "Kahuna" Pedro, who most of us knew and loved. His family has invited the PGR to honor him, and it will be our honor to do so.
Peter Pedro Jr. was born December 5, 1935 in Pukoo on the island of Molokai in Hawaii. He passed away quietly at home in Irvine on Friday, November 9, 2018, he was 82 years of age.
After graduating high school Pete enlisted in the U S Marine Corps in May, 1953 and served for over 21 years as a crash and rescue specialist until his retirement at the rank of Gunny Sergeant in January, 1975. He spent some of this time in Vietnam.
After retiring from the Corps, Pete went to work for So Calif Edison in San Onofre where he worked for 20 years and retired again. He liked to refer to himself as a "double-dipper".
Pete, or "Kahuna" as most of us knew him, loved motorcycles, mostly he loved riding them. He was a founding member of American Dresser Association, a riding group, over 30 years ago. About 10 years ago Kahuna found the Patriot Guard Riders, joined up, and began attending our missions. He was particularly faithful in attending the Veterans Without Family mission at Riverside National Cemetery every Wednesday, but also attended many other missions when he could. Kahuna was a tall man with a beaming smile and hugs that were out of this world. He was the epitome of what is called in Hawaii "The Aloha Spirit", he brought it to everyone and everywhere he went.
Kahuna also loved deep-sea fishing. Being from Hawaii he was very attached to the ocean, and loved going out in it every chance he could. His wife said he did not like fresh water fishing, he said "you don't get dirty enough".
We had been told on the first of November that Kahuna was ill, but we were hopeful. On Thursday, the 8th of Nov we were notified by his good friend with ADA, Jon, that he was gravely ill and had been sent home on hospice. Jon had spoken to Wanda, Kahuna's wife and she said more than anything he would like to hear the roar of the bikes one last time and could the PGR pull a few riders together to do this. Within about 16 hours, the next morning, 26 bikes arrived in their cul-de-sac in Irvine with the "thunder" Wanda had asked for. Kahuna was able to come out to the garage to see everyone. He passed away at 8:04 pm that night.
Pete is survived by wife Wanda, children Sam, Loriann "Nani", Robert, Michael, 10 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren. And also, all his brothers and sisters of American Dressers Assn and Patriot Guard Riders. Kahuna you have left a legacy of Aloha that will never be forgotten. Kahuna "E hele ana me ke Akua" go with God.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to the church services. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the church, we will meet you there.
There will be no interment, Kahuna will eventually be interred back home on the islands at the Molokai Vet's Cemetery, as it should be for this island boy.
Time table for Thursday, 15 NOV 18:0730 - Stage Saddleback Chapel Mortuary, 220 E Main St., Tustin, CA 92780
https://goo.gl/maps/rvMuYUYYPTL20745 - Mission briefing
0815 - Flag Line for our Hero and Brother as he is brought out to awaiting coach
0830 - KSU to Crossroad Church, 2472 Walnut Avenue Tustin, CA 92780
https://goo.gl/maps/KkhkpWXV1hD20845 - ETA at Crossroads Church
0900 - Flag Line as our Hero is brought into church
0915 - 2nd mission briefing
1000 - Viewing of our Hero begins
1050 - Viewing ends
1100 - Service begins
1200 - End of Service
1215 - Flag Line as our Hero is brought out to awaiting coach
1230 - Accompany our Hero back to Mortuary
1300 - Flag Line as our Hero is moved into building - Mission Complete
R/C Mike "Joker" Courtright
SoCal PGR - Ride Captainmokynanapo@sbcglobal.net
714-321-3356
Co R/C Angel Guaderrama
SoCal PGR - Ride Captainguad45@yahoo.com
909-452-7444
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
