Biography

by Jimmy Mapu

On November 9th, 1981, Maryann and Simi Mapu were blessed with a brand new baby boy. They decided to name him after two of his uncles: Mom's brother, Uncle Daniel Pili, and Dad's brother, Uncle Jackson Mapu. So, as Daniel Jackson Mapu he made his debut into the world from Kahuku Hospital.

Young Daniel Mapu Daniel went to Laie Elementary School and was awarded the Super Citizen award every year for the six years he was enrolled there. His teachers and classmates loved him (especially the girls) because he was soooooo cute. (Editor's Note: Many people say he got his good looks from his older brother Jimmy. Just thought you'd like to know).

Daniel played soccer, baseball and basketball in the early PAL league here in Laie and excelled in all three. Every Saturday was spent as a family going to Daniel and his little brother Jonathan's various games around the island.

As children, Daniel and his little brother JT were inseparable -- the very best of friends. JT always

Daniel & younger brother J.T. "Money"

wanted to do what big brother Daniel did . . . if Daniel had a certain toy, JT wanted the same toy. If Daniel played soccer, JT wanted to play soccer too. And big brother Daniel always took good care of his "shadow", taking him everywhere he went.

Daniel went on to Kahuku High School and played for the RED RAIDERS as an All Star Defensive Back. He was offered scholarships to attend and play for a number of schools on the mainland, including BYU and Idaho State. In the end though, he turned them down to prepare to serve his mission. He worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a dancer in the Canoe Pageant and Night Show where he met so many new friends. He loved to dance (he loved it a little TOO much, because he ended up working there two years instead of one before leaving on his mission). Because he is such a clown, Daniel was his happiest when he was dancing in front of a crowd. He loves to make people happy -- it's his greatest gift.

Elder Mapu as a Missionary for the Chuch Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day-Saints, serving in the Chicago Illinois Mission, as a Spanish speaking Elder '01-'03

In April of 2001, he was called to served in the Chicago Illinois Mission, as a Spanish speaking Elder. (Eventhough Daniel served in a mission all the way across the country, my Dad was able to stay close to him in his own way. Whenever Dad worked Special Duty on the highways directing traffic, he would cry everytime he saw the PCC bus with Daniel's huge picture on it's side drive by. Crybaby, yeah?). He learned the language fairly quickly, and was called early on to serve as District and Zone Leader. He also served as a Trainer for quite some time. I told him that my Mission President always told us that only the VERY BEST missionaries were called to serve as Trainers, because you were single-handedly responsible for shaping and molding a brand new missionary, and setting him or her in the right direction for the rest of their time in the field. (I was never called as a Trainer. Go figure.) Elder Mapu lives and loves the gospel, and touched so many people's lives . . . Even now, as he lies in his deep sleep in his hospital room, he continues to touch us and strengthen our testimonies. What a powerful spirit!

Daniel returned from his mission this past March . . . and went back to his beloved PCC to dance again, this time, adding the Promo Team performances to the list of shows he appeared in. (For that, he had to come to me and ask me to teach him a couple of new moves, so I ended up teaching him everything I know, like the Cabbage Patch, the Running Man and the Moon Walk). With the new moves he acquired from me, he was entertaining at the PCC again, and loving every minute of it. That crazy boy hardly ever had a day off -- he was always dancing in some show, somewhere, with his buddies Boyd and Ricky and his adopted parents Lala and Mary.

And that's the way it was until 5:37 p.m. on Monday, August 25th, 2003. So now, we sit, patiently, prayerfully, and humbly waiting for the Lord to stretch forth His mighty hand and send down the miracle that will bring our Daniel back to us . . . Thank you all for your constant prayers and fasting on his behalf. The Lord must be joyfully overwhelmed with all of the pleading and praying on behalf of this crazy guy. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will never be able to repay you for your kind words, for your caring, and for your love.

Most Sincerely,

Daniel's Big Fat Bruddah, Jim