From Peggy Chong, The Blind History Lady

Below you will read about some of Hawaii's blind men and women from the past who, while rarely mentioned in history books, deserve historical mention because of their ability to confront and triumph over significant challenges simply to survive. These determined individuals set goals for themselves which many people thought were impossible to meet. Their positive belief in themselves and their determination turned possible defeat into success.

Johnny Kameaaloha Almeida (1897–1985)

Known as the Dean of Hawaiian music, mentored and inspired Hawaiian musicians for over a century. He began playing music publicly by age 4 on his ukulele. At age 17 he played for Hawaiian royalty on a regular basis. Johnny performed at Queen Liliuokalani's funeral in 1917, in the Royal Throne Room of Iolani Palace as Hawaii's last monarch lay in state. On the Matson Cruise Lines from 1922-1927, he was the lead musician. Johnny had a regular radio program on KGU in the 1930s. He is credited with composing over three hundred songs, including "Iesu Me Ke Kanaka Waiwai," "Tuberose Hula" and "Green Rose Hula."

Thomas Hioki (1896–1967)

A graduate of the Territorial School for the Deaf and Blind, Thomas worked as a musician, landing a gig as a performer on steamships in the 1920s and performing on the radio regularly. He was also a member of the Blind Men's Glee Club, formed by the Association for the Adult Blind. Thomas was an excellent typist and got a job with the Sight Conservation and Work for the Blind agency. In 1936, he became the first librarian at the Hawaii Library for the Blind. He created a Braille catalog system that lasted for decades.

Milton Koja (1945–2020)

Born in Hawaii, he lost his sight after cataract surgery at age 9. Milton began to play the ukelele at an early age. While in College he was a founding member of the Laughing Kahunas, a musical and comedy group that performed across the country until it was disbanded in 1979. He moved to New York where he earned a living as a musician up until his death, playing regularly at night clubs and restaurants. Milton began putting the lyrics up on a screen over his piano when performing so the crowd could sing along with him.

Jules Martin (1900–1978)

Blinded in a mining accident in Nevada in 1934, Jules returned to Hawaii and began learning braille. He transcribed books for college students for three years before becoming a newsboy for the Honolulu Advertiser, selling newspapers at King and Alakea. He learned to make leather belts that were sold at Liberty House. He was a founding board member of the Eye of the Pacific, the only guide dog school for the blind on the islands. Jules was an international, award-winning canary breeder. He invented an emergency water supply barrel to keep water fresh during emergencies.

Helen Mignon Claire Gray Nawaa (1919–2010)

Helen was the first blind student to graduate from McKinley High School in 1936. She attended Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts to finish off her education and learn how to be a secretary. Eva Smyth, a well-connected blind educator, got her a job as a Braille transcriber. Helen served as President of the Oahu Association for the Blind during 1939. In later years, she was the only representative from Hawaii on the National Braille Association Inc., traveling across the US to present at its meetings. She served as the Transcription Supervisor for the Hawaii Library for the Blind, retiring in 1978.

Milton Ota (1952–2026)

Milton was a self-taught musician and access technology for the blind expert. He began to appreciate reading when he learned braille in his later elementary school years. He got a job as a proofreader at the state library for the blind and became their go-to person on access technology for the blind. He opened Island Computer Access Now as a business to help others. Milton was active in several blind consumer organizations, the Lions Club, the Civitan Club, the North Dakota Assistive's Consumer Advisory Council, and his church.

Demeteria Pierce (1867–1907)

Born in Siberia, he came to Hawaii when he was five. Demeter was educated and worked for the Pacific Advertiser. Demeter learned to speak Hawaiian to communicate with his friends and coworkers. He contracted Leprosy and was sent to Kalaupapa. He was appointed Clerk of the Kalaupapa Leper settlement on Molokai by the supervisor for the Department of Health. Demeter translated for non-English speaking lepers when dealing with the colony officials. He represented other lepers as the first blind lawyer for criminal and civil cases.

Dolores Quinto-Perina-de-Verya-Allado (1917–2011)

She was the first blind student to graduate from the University of Hawaii with a teaching degree and went on to earn a master's degree from Columbia University. After her first marriage, she worked as the Braille Librarian for the Hawaii library for the blind. She moved to California and taught English to sighted high school students for 12 years, one of only six blind teachers in the state. After she retired, she became a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador teaching mothers of blind children how to help their child become more independent.

Eva Smyth (1891–1969)

The history of the blind of Hawaii begins with Eva Smyth. Her influence continued for decades past her death. Born with limited vision, she attended McKinley High School but was not given a diploma as officials felt that a blind student could not have done it on her own. She began teaching braille at the Territorial School for the Deaf and Blind where she helped found the Association for the Adult Blind. After attending the Perkins School for the Blind to obtain credentials for teaching, she returned to Honolulu, began a braille transcribing unit of sighted women, helped to found the Hawaii Library for the Blind, and was a major part in legislative actions to aid the advancement of the Blind of Hawaii for the next 50 years.

Elias Torre (1926–1959)

Blinded at 17, the orphan reached out to find blindness orientation classes to return to work and support himself. He practiced braille repeatedly to become proficient. Elias secured a vending location and grew his business to become a vendor at the airport. Being a poor traveler with his cane, he longed to have a guide dog. When the Eye of the Pacific guide dog school formed in 1955, he became a board trustee to help build an organization that he hoped would benefit him personally. Elias was one of four blind Hawaiians to be the first to receive a dog through the Eye of the Pacific.