Share your condolences for Lisa Matsumoto

[online]

Lisa Matsumoto, one of Hawai'i's most popular playwrights, died after a collision on the H-1 Freeway. Share your condolences to her family and friends.

[maui gal]

Wow. How tragic. My condolences to the entire Matsumoto ohana on their tragic loss. It's also a loss for the entire state and the creative arts world to have her bright star extinguished at such a young age. We'll never know now what future plays might have been written by this very talented woman.

[Lyn]

My condolences to the family of Lisa Matsumoto. I've never met her personally, but I know she has touched lives of my own family and friends.

[Ann Brandman]

I didn't know Lisa personally, but so many of us in Hawaii were touched by her. My heartfelt condolences for your loss.

[Elissa Josephsohn]

A bright and creative light has gone out! Lisa's untimely death will touch the many people of all ages that delighted in her shows and special events. She was always a delight and will be much-missed by everyone who worked with her.

[D Bachman]

My condolences to the family for your loss. An amazing person.

[k kealakai]

Aloha and auwe to the ohana of matsumoto. I personally would like to know why it had to happen? Will there be some type of explanation as to the reason for her untimely death for all of the people of hawaii to understand and have some closure as well as her ohana???

[lolo]

Our prayers are with the Matsumoto Ohana

Aloha,
Mid Pacific Institute '02

[Steve Wagenseller]

I knew Lisa. Not as well as many, but I admired her greatly.

I took classes with her at UH/M and we performed together in plays--one of which she wrote. I can't think of anyone else in my circle of theater acquaintances with as much creativity, heart, compassion, wisdom, humor, and business savvy. She was the epitome of what a theater person here can be and an example of what a theater person here can do. Hawaii has lost a golden daughter, a talent, a queen, and a friend.

[Cari Taira]

When I was in the 5th grade, Lisa Matsumoto helped write our Kipapa Elementary School play, Deep in a Hawaiian Rainforest. I have admired her ever since. She had such great talent and will definitely be missed. My condolences go out to her family.

[Cilicia Laboy]

Our prayers of comfort, strength, and understanding envelope the Matsumoto family during this time. Lisa shared her incredible gift with the State of Hawaii. We were blessed to have witnessed such extraordinary talent and vision. Aloha O'e.

[Cilicia Laboy]

The State of Hawaii was blessed to have an incredible gifted woman. May God comfort the Matsumoto family wih peace, strength, and understanding during this time. Aloha O'e Ms. Matsumoto. Until we can laugh, cry, and sit in awe watching your next production in Heaven.

[irene]

Ms. Matsumoto's gift to inspire will live on through her plays. Her influence in this world does not end with her death. I mourn her loss and hope her family find solace through the lives she has touched.

[Koauka]

This is hard to understand. But I will miss a very talented and outstanding playwright who always made me laugh.

[David Duffy]

My condolences to her family and ohana.
I have always showed Ohia production videos to my classes on their last day at UH. Forest Fashion Show, Four Little Birds, and my personal favorite Sylvester Silversword were so elegantly written that they appealed to school children, teachers and their parents. It is said that "Four Little Birds" could reduce an entire room of teachers to tears.
In 2001 we asked Ohia Productions to perform at a national meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology in Hilo. A bunch of academics, what did they have to do with a bunch of puppets? By the end of the show they were like little kids.
Lisa had such a deep love for the land and the talent to write both for children and for adults, while at the same time incorporating the best science so that we all learned from her shows.
There is one less bird singing in the forest tonight and we are all the poorer for it.

[Allison]

I am so sad to hear about what happened to Miss Lisa. She was a wonderful lady who had so much aloha. I remember her when I was 7 years old doing On Dragonfly Wings and she always smiled at me. I am so grateful that I got to know Miss Lisa and I know she is singing in the Parade in the Sky.
Love,
Allison your Winnie waterbug

[Valerie Toyama and Family]

When my daughter was 3-1/2 years old, my husband and I struggled with how to help her understand why her grandfather would soon be passing away. I recalled reading a newspaper article about Lisa Matsumoto's book, Wailana the Waterbug, and the story of Alana Dung. I purchased the book and began reading it to her that day. A few days after he had passed, my daughter said that she knew Grandpa was going to be okay. He would be safe with Wailana. Hearing her say this helped to ease not only her loss, but the rest of ours. Watching the evening news and hearing about what happened to Lisa, my daughter (now 10 years old) ran to her room and returned with the Wailana book in hand. She sat and read the story aloud. As she finished the last page, our eyes met and she smiled. "Don't worry, Mom. Lisa Matsumoto will be okay. Wailana and Grandpa will be there to take care of her."

[Ainahau]

`Aue. What a great talent. Aloha to Lisa's `ohana all who loved her.

[southswell]

God Bless

[Tracy]

My heart goes out to everyone involved in this tragic accident. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends to Ms. Matsumoto.