Charles "Charley" W Whittle

It is with overwhelming sadness and immense gratitude that we say Aloha Nui Loa to our beloved father and cherished husband, Charles "Charley" W. Whittle. We take comfort in knowing that Charley passed peacefully, in his sleep, with his family by his side—just as he had wished. We will miss him deeply. He was 74 years old.

Charley was born in 1951 in the Territory of Hawaii, and grew up on the shores of Waikiki Beach watching his father, a local beach boy for the Outrigger Canoe Club. He was proud to be a native Hawaiian, and thoughtfully passed on his cultural knowledge and wisdom to any who were willing to learn. He grew up in Honolulu, where he attended Punahou School before graduating from the University of Hawaii. After college, Charley was part of the first National Science Foundation research project in the Hana rainforest.

In 1975, Charley became the backcountry Park Ranger/EMT at Haleakalā National Park, where he met his wife, Meg, who was also a National Park Ranger. They married in 1976 and spent 48 wonderful years together.

In 1977, Charley completed a year-long Mobile Intensive Care program, which led him to start the first ambulance service on the island of Maui through Pacific Ambulance. He served as the island coordinator from 1978 to 1980 before joining the Hawaii County Fire Department on the Big Island. There, Charley worked as a Senior Mobile Intensive Care Technician/Paramedic and, later, as Fire Captain/Paramedic at a station responsible for fire, water, and helicopter rescue. He retired in 2010 after a distinguished career.

Aside from his professional career, Charley was an avid waterman and hunter, spending countless hours with family and friends surfing, body surfing, diving, bird hunting, and enjoying the natural beauty that Hawaii has to offer. Whether riding the waves, exploring the underwater world, or hiking through the islands, Charley’s deep passion for the outdoors, history, ecology, and geology was a constant source of joy and fulfillment in his life.

In 2016, Charley and Meg moved to Boise, Idaho, where they continued to be surrounded by family and friends.

Charley is survived by his loving wife, best friend, and partner of 48 years, Meg; his son, Ian K. Whittle of Seward, Alaska; and his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Brian Stuhr of Boise, Idaho. He was a proud grandfather to Maren and Ira Stuhr. Charley also leaves behind his niece and nephew, Noelle and Ivan Sim of Greenville, South Carolina; his niece, Nicole Nikaido of Honolulu, Hawaii; and two grandnieces, Scout and Sailor Sim. Cousin Woletta Kim of Honolulu. Family meant everything to Charley, and he was the heart of theirs.

We will celebrate Charley’s life with an informal gathering at 5:30 p.m. on July 25th at Hapuna Beach, Big Island, HI. If you feel moved to do so, we invite you to attend, and or share a favorite memory or a classic "Charleyism" in the comments on his obituary.

Our worldly loss is Heaven’s gain. We will miss him deeply.

Psalm 23:6 – “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”