A Final Goodbye for Our Beloved Dad

Ronnie Jaralba is organizing this fundraiser.

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Aloha Family & Friends,

Mahalo for taking the time to read this as

I don’t ask for much when it comes to my dad. Other than for friends or family to go spend time with him. Occasionally, I’ve asked for help when I was not able to find him at his usual camp site at sand island next to the BMX bike track & Rc race track.

It’s been about a Month since my Dad had passed away on Jan 9, 2025. The start of this year has already been hard for many families all over the island. I never thought it would also be an emotional beginning for my family and I. Especially for me and my siblings.

Our dad Ronnie V. Jaralba Sr had been houseless for quite some time. From 2014 to 2025. I’ve been there for him almost everyday since then. Taking my breaks when it was hard but never giving up on being there for him. From setting him up with case managers, to behavior health doctors, as well as primary care doctors.

At one point we were also houseless with my mom and sister, living in a van near Nanakuli power plant and Waianae boat harbor during their teen years. To me those were the best times of my life thinking back, living on the westside.

North shore mental health and Kalihi Kokua health clinic staff had really been a HUGE help when I finally started to get him professional care in 2016. A quick Mahalo to Dr.Mabutas his primary care provider, Dr. Hla & Dr. Grieves from the behavioral health department as well as Dawn Baxter and Stephanie his case managers from

North shore mental health.

My dad lived a laidback lifestyle where he could watch the sunset everyday from right outside his tent. His biggest battles, the SWEEPS, the weather conditions & not having his cigarette or coffee. He would be in and out of the hospitals when I could take him. Treating minor pains, removing a cyst one year. But his hernia pain for the last 3 years and now this past 2024 his heart was becoming a bigger part of his struggles.

We had planned for surgery in the past years for his hernia. But being that he couldn’t stay clean for more than 3 weeks at the time, would delay those plans. Bringing me back to square one each time. That was when I’d take my breaks and focus on my own life. Trying to find the balance. But return to him to give love and also scold him lol. He’s was able to win against Schizophrenia, and Paranoia. Which was huge because it was hard seeing my dad talking to himself, yelling at the air or “spirits” he would say. One year he was taken into the hospital cause he was waving a machete outside of dillingham McDonalds. I was so proud of him for always being willing to take his INVEGA shots when it was time. Because it really help clear his mind and bring us closer to housing and planning out his future. But despite all of that, I learned that I could not change him but only accept him and where he was in his life. Don’t get me wrong I’d still push him to stop living how he was only because people stole his phone, steal his wallet and ebt card. More so just worried of his safety. June 2024 my dad and learned he had a weak heart at 20 percent…I would see him again everyday till October to give him medications he needed to help his heart. I stopped when he would talk about the medication hurting and affecting his stomach still. So I would narrow down what medications out of the 4 prescribed that made his tummy ache. Eventually stopping all because he still would have stomach pain. In October we both learned that if we didn’t take care of his heart, the Dr at straub did say that he wouldn’t make it to 2025…he would also need surgery to clear his blocked arteries…the surgery never happened and medication wasn’t administered to him because I didn’t know what to do. Give him medication that would help his heart but at the same time have a reaction to his stomach, affecting his hernia too. I had to let go and again realize I had no control… I even trusted my dad to take his medication on his own for a week or so…but I quickly found that he wouldn’t be consistent. Last year he showed me that he wanted to change, like even asking his behavior health doctor for cigarette patches to help his nicotine cravings. He wanted to change so much last year and he showed me that. I’m so happy to see that and I now realize as much as he did not want to go see doctors. He did all that for me….With that being said although there is so much more memories & stories I want to share. I’m asking with a loving heart that I get the help needed to complete my dads journey. Not only to help me but to help my mom. Who has been the strongest of us all. Being our mother and father when they had divorced when I was in the 7th grade. Raising 4 kids, working 3 jobs and still bringing miracles each birthday and holiday season for all of us. I humbly ask for any donation that can help my mom and I complete the funeral services needed for my dad. Please give love to your parents, we only have 1 mom and 1 dad.