The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 14

A14 Friday, October 4. 20C2 The Honolulu Advertiser The professions medicine and law were once closed to women. Girted doctors and lawyers you see today would be at home caring for babies instead. There's dignity in that, but there's dignity in our talents as well. Patsy Mink made that possible." ANNELLE A1Y1ARAL, former state representative appreciation Mourners express their respect Mink FROM PAGE ONE Service today A memorial service for the late Rep.

Patsy Mink will begin at 10 a.m. today in the Capitol atrium. Government and community leaders will speak, eluding Gov. Ben Cayetano, Hawaii's congressional delegation and House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt Mink's casket will remain at the Capitol for public viewing until 1:30 p.m. There will be a private burial later today at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

''TH 1 ter Gwendolyn and a small group i of Mink's relatives and staff mem-; bers. After viewing the casket, Mink's 1 immediate family moved to a secure area on the 'ewamauka side of the atrium, where they spent the afternoon greeting close friends and well-wishers. Out of respect, jour- nalists were asked not to question Mink's family members. Shortly after 4 p.m. the general public was allowed to begin pass-; ing by the casket Throughout the afternoon the procession contin-' ued past the closed, flag-draped coffin beside which rested a large portrait of Mink.

A pair of Mink's relatives along with two members of the Royal Guard remained with the casket throughout the afternoon and early evening. Sgt. Darryl Oku of the state Department of Public Safety, which took over the casket vigil after 9 p.m., estimated that some 4,500 visitors had come and gone by 6 p.m. Throughout the evening, Hawaiian entertainers serenaded the gathering as a steady flow of people went to the Capitol to pay their respects to Mink and her family. The smell of flowers filled the Capitol atrium as dozens of wreaths lined the walls and the tent that covered Mink's casket.

Many visitors left flowers and lei along her casket as two Hawai'i National Guardsmen stood by. Among the mourners were former Hawai'i Chief Justice William Richardson and Charles Toguchi, a former state senator and chief of staff to Gov. Ben Cayetano. "We lost of one of Hawaii's great women," said Richard Kaya, 70, who walked with a cane and took a bus from Mo'ili'ili to attend the service. "She was a typical Maui girl.

She thought more about the lower individual than the upper class." Even Mink's detractors have recognized her as a woman of strong conviction, who once explained her dogged determination by saying, "Our basic belief is that legislation which most directly help the common man lead a better life, today, tomorrow and in his twilight years is the greatest responsibility of our government." The human lei was the result of a brainstorming session by leaders from a number of local women's groups who said they wanted to honor Mink for her efforts on behalf of workers, women, racial minorities and the poor. "It was a collective idea," said Al-licyn HiWda Tasaka, a friend and colleague of Mink's. "I think I'd give June Shimokawa, the former executive director of the YWCA, credit for coming up with the idea." The human lei began small on the makai side of the Capitol, and swiftly took on a life of its owa An estimated 900 people joined hands and connected flowers to 400 yards of green ribboa Mostly female, the human lei highlight came when the entire group moved quietly into the atrium, surrounded the casket tent and then broke into a moving and spontaneous medley of Hawaiian songs that included "The Queen's Prayer," "Aloha "Hawai'i Aloha." Former state Rep. Annelle Amar-al, an organizer of the human lei, was one of many who felt it was a fitting tribute to the first minority woman to serve in Congress. "I promise you there's a huge void in political leadership now that she's gone," Amaral said.

The professions medicine and law were once closed to women. Gifted doctors and lawyers you see today would be at home caring for babies instead. There's dignity in that, but there's dignity in our talents as well Patsy Mink made that possible." Advertiser staff writer Curtis Lum contributed to this report 4 Ji- i VC W. i. 'l i 'Af 4 2i bitfK, 'if 'a- around the State Capitol yesterday.

tent at the State Capitol. a. i-1 i 44 9 9 The human lei that formed around "T1 if 4 rr the State Capitol eventually moved to 1 Patsy Mink's casket lay in state under a tent at the State Capitol yesterday. An eight-man joint service honor guard from Washington, D.C., carried the coffin to the center of the Capitol atrium, where thousands came to pay their respects. Photos by GREGORY YAMAMOTO The Honolulu Advertiser the casket tent where the U.S.

congresswoman lay in state. lllillii I life i I 7 i 1 I irMKmiiJ in 1' ABOVE: An estimated 900 people participated in the "human lei of aloha" Participants later filed past Patsy Mink's casket. LEFT: Mink's casket is draped with an American flag under a floral lined.