Celebrating the Life of Malia Schimmelfennig

Help us make an impossibly difficult time for Auntie Beth a little easier. All proceeds will be donated to Auntie Beth to help pay for Malia’s medical expenses, Memorial Service and Celebration of Life.

Click here for live webcast of Malia's chapel service.

• Blessing/Chapel Service: Thursday, June 29, 2023

Visitation 4:00 pm; Service 5:00 pm; Thurston Chapel (Punahou Campus)

• Burial: Friday, June 30, 2023; 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm; Diamond Head Memorial Park

• Celebration of Life: Friday, June 30, 2023; 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm; Nico’s Upstairs, Pier 38

In early 2023, Malia was diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer. This type of cancer is rare, especially considering Malia’s age and gender, and the doctors at Queen’s Medical Center had never treated such a young patient with this before. With the tumor so large and close to her heart, the doctors did not want to risk removing it surgically. She received five rounds of chemo which successfully began to shrink the tumor by about 30%. However, the size of the tumor still prevented her from eating and drinking normally, and though she was being fed through a J-tube, her body struggled to absorb the formula and she grew weaker. Malia hoped to fly to the mainland to be treated at a cancer center, but before she could make the trip her condition worsened and she developed pneumonia. The doctors said her mind and her will-power were strong, but her body was tired. On June 3rd, Malia passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Throughout her diagnosis and treatment, Malia was the same positive and bubbly person we all knew her as. She showed such strength throughout her treatment, never complaining or wondering why this was happening to her. She was more concerned with Auntie Beth than herself. Her family and friends meant so much to her and she was overjoyed to read the emails people sent to her Malia Love Letters email, as well as all the calls, texts, and visits from those who reached out. The support she received during this time is something she cherished deeply.

Malia was born to Bryan and Beth Schimmelfennig, a local guy with roots in Kauai and a baton twirling pageant girl originally from Oklahoma—two wonderful and loving parents who raised an incredibly strong and selfless daughter. She grew up with birthday parties that included renting a trolley to take all her friends to a magic show in Waikiki and then back to her house for a giant Pikachu birthday cake, baked and designed by her talented Mom.

Malia was part of the 13+ club at Punahou and played Volleyball and Waterpolo. After she graduated from Punahou in 2010, she went to the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara to pursue her creativity and passion for photography. She became a favorite model for her fellow photography students’ projects, causing her to scramble to get hers done too. Over the years, she traveled to Italy, France, London, Australia, and Indonesia…Bali was her favorite. Malia also enjoyed being a movie extra on films and TV series shot here in Hawaii. She was a natural at teaching children and enjoyed giving swimming lessons at the beach. She got her real estate license and began renovating a rental property on Kauai before moving back to Oahu. More recently, her boyfriend, Eddie got her interested in wood-working and she became a fabricator, working for a local Construction Company where she helped to build custom gates.

Malia was an island girl at heart. At a very young age, her late father instilled in her a love of the ocean and surfing. She always loved being in the water, and especially the beach. During her treatment, sun exposure was not allowed, so on days she missed the ocean, she would put on her bikini, jump in her shower at home to get wet and quickly drive to Sandy’s with Eddie. She would sit in the car with the windows rolled down while he surfed. She said it really, almost felt like she had just finished enjoying a day at the beach.

A few days after Malia’s passing, a very close friend went to the beach to find some solace. She came upon a bench with this poem inscribed on it:

The ebb and flow of life lies beyond our will

Why you had to leave so soon escapes us still

To us left behind there seems so much undone

But while you were here...we had so much fun

Malia was so loved by her family and friends. She loved life. To know her was to know joy and laughter. She was sunshine, a warm bright light in the world. Her mom was her sunshine, her everything and Eddie was her anchor with the biggest heart. She lived a big life in the time she was given, filled with experiences many would be so lucky to have. It’s no question that she would want those of us who now mourn and miss her, to remember all the moments we shared and hold those memories close to our hearts. The passing of her father at such an early age deeply affected Malia. Every day she missed him. May we find some peace knowing that after 17 years apart, Malia and her father are together again.

Aloha kākou. A hui hou.

Farewell, until we meet again.