Sharmayne Mililani Runnels Schilling (73) passed away in her sleep with her family lovingly at her side the morning of September 29th, 2025.
Celebration of Sharmayne’s life will be held on Saturday, December 20th, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kaneohe. Visitation at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m. Followed by a light lunch.
Sharmayne was the eldest child of Elvin and Annabelle Runnels. She grew up in Kane’ohe and lived her life with beautiful long hair and kindness in her heart. She loved fashion, often sewing a new gown or outfit for every occasion using money earned by the 3 jobs she held down. She enjoyed dancing her heart out at the disco techs. Sharmayne was 3 years old when she began dancing hula and did so until she had her first child at the age of 26. Sharmayne also loved surfing and playing tennis.She graduated from Castle High School in 1970. She remained close to her classmates, attending regular luncheons, reunions and birthday celebrations.
In her career, Sharmayne worked in the Gold Bond Building, Dole Pineapple where she would skin the pineapples, and ending up working as a loan processor for Hawaii National Bank. Her greatest love was her presidency at Lokahi Ohana O Hawaii, a non-profit Hawaiian organization in Washington State. Uniting the ever-growing Native Hawaiian population and providing lifelines to families in need from finding work to just missing home. Her open arms welcomed all and provided a sense of ohana for everyone. She loved hosting annual song competitions, 2 Ho’olaulea’s per year, ukulele classes, Hawaiian language classes, la’au lapa au and so many other seminars and workshops. She united Native Hawaiians with first nation Native American tribes as both share a common history and seek the same justices and federal recognition.
To have known Sharmayne is to be amongst the luckiest people in this lifetime because she was truly one in a million. She was the most loyal, trustworthy friend, always there when you need her, she was a godsend of a daughter to her parents, she was the most understanding, forgiving, loving, supportive, encouraging, selfless mother and wife to her family, all while being an example of maturity, class and grace.
Sharmayne was predeceased by her parents and younger brother Haven Runnels. She is survived by her husband William Schilling, her son Ikaikaokalaniapau (Okalani), her daughter Kawohikukapulani (Manu), 4 grandchildren she calls her Mo’o’s, Kalikokukahimakawae (Tahia), Makamaeolilihoku (Maka), La’akoa (La’a), Kaupena (Yummy), and younger sister Rhoda-Ann Nohealani Woods.
