Grandmaster Martin Thomas Buell was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 31, 1942. On March 24, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones, God called our beloved Grandmaster home to heaven. Grandmaster Buell lived a life of service and is now receiving the joy of his soul seeing his Savior face to face.
Born of Chinese and Irish ancestry, he was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Robert Buell & Daisy Gwendolyn Tam Buell; brothers, Norman Joseph Buell, Daniel Robert Buell.
A 1960 graduate of Kaimuki High School, he married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Johnson. He worked at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Shop 38 and retired in 1988.
Grandmaster Buell is the founder of the Universal Kempo-Karate Schools Association. Teaching martial arts in the Pearl City Community for over 60 years. Every year he held an annual martial arts seminar. Traveling many times to Las Vegas, with his Warrior team. They traveled to New Hampshire, Barbados, Shaolin, China, Tibet, Thailand. Some of his other travels have taken him to New Zealand, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, and Europe. Over 30 years, he produced Kempo-Karate on the Olelo Community Media.
He was also the man with the "GOLDEN ARM". He rolled the dice for 1 hour and 12 minutes at the California Hotel.
Grandmaster enjoyed hunting on Lanai and the Big Island. He also loved to run Marathons.
Grandmaster Buell has had a large impact on many lives with his KEMPO WISDOM. He was a very hard worker. He took very good care of his family, his instructors and students. He did not want to die. His mind was very sharp. But he knew his body was shutting down. He accepted Gods will and put himself into Gods hands. He said, "I am like a tree with a brown leaf, ready to fall off." He experienced going to heaven twice, and each time he came back to tell us what he saw and how beautiful it was, and we were to believe, because he said, it is true, "God is Real!"
Survived by wife of 59 years Sheila; 1 devoted son, Kayson Buell-Alosio; 3 devoted daughters and sons-in-law, Terri Smith (Anthony), Stacie Amian (Victor), Melanie Tinoisamoa (Steve); 10 mo'opuna: Beau Smith, Madison Smith, Mealoha Buell Amian, Keana Buell Amian, Sebastian Buell-Galo, Jumiah Buell-Galo, Julanie Buell-Galo, Sheila Buell-Galo, Frisco Tapuala, Niner Tapuala, several nieces and nephews.
