Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. The content is subject to editing to ensure parity treatment and style continuity.
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Minnie Kaawaloa
Minnie Halekulani Elderts Kaawaloa, 91, of Pahoa died April 10, 2014, at her residence. Born Nov. 7, 1922, in Kaiakea, she was a retired cultural demonstrator and interpreter from Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks, minister at Kamauloa O Ka Malamalama Hoomana Naauao Church, was an intern and cultural specialist for the Smithsonian Institute and member of Aha Puhala O Puna, Kalapana Community Organization, Puna Hui Ohana, Leiana O Puna, Kalapana Gardens Association and Alu Like Kupuna Program.
Friends may call at 4 p.m. May 1 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 6 p.m. service. Friends may also call at 8 a.m. May 2 at the mortuary for a 9 a.m. service. Burial follows at Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by sons, William Kaawaloa and Lionel (Deborah) Kaawaloa, both of Pahoa, Jesse Kaawaloa of Kikala, Stanley (Cheryl) Kaawaloa of Pahoa, Jerry Kaawaloa of Kupahua, Herbert (Phyllis) Elderts of Fort Worth, Texas; daughters, Leilani Ring of Honolulu, Mary Jane Kamoku of Hilo, Gladys (Michael) Miller of Honolulu, Piilani Kaawaloa and Jerilyn Kaawaloa, both of Pahoa; brother, Matthew Elderts of Mountain View; sister, Eleanor Evangelista of Paradise Park; 28 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; 31 great-great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Masashi Hatada
Masashi “Porky” Hatada, 88, of Hilo died April 13, 2014, at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Care Center. Born Feb. 6, 1926, in Hilo, he was co-owner of Hatada and Robert’s bakeries, World War II Army veteran and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Kyodan, Lower Kawailani Kumiai, Crescent City Lions Club and American Legion Yukio Okutsu Post No. 16.
Friends may call at 3:30 p.m. May 2 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 5 p.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
He is survived by wife, Tokiko Hatada of Hilo; sons, Wendell Hatada, Darrell Hatada and Curtis Hatada all of Hilo, Derrick (Michele Kato) Hatada of Wailuku, Maui; brothers, Shunichi Hatada and Kengo Hatada, both of Hilo, George (Lorraine) Hatada of Saratoga, Calif.; sister, Betty (Stanley) Hirota, of Oregon; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Imelda Navarro
Imelda Eulalia Afaga Navarro, 49, of Kailua-Kona died April 16, 2014, at Queen’s Medical Center. Born Feb. 12, 1965, in Bacarra, Philippines, she was a cashier at Ohana Casual Wear and member of the Fil-Am Club and the Catholic Church.
Friends may call at 5 p.m. May 2 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in the Honokohau Industrial Park for a 7 p.m. wake service. Friends may call again at 8 a.m. at the church for a 10 a.m. service. Burial follows at Kona Memorial Park in Holualoa. Family requests casual attire be worn. Flowers are welcome.
She is survived by husband, Felipe Navarro Jr. of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Rose Afaga and Joanna Afaga, both of Kailua-Kona; parents, Mariano and Pacita Afaga of Hilo; brothers, Mariano (Joyce) Afaga Jr. and Jesus (Felma) Afaga, both of Hilo; sisters, Vangieh (Lando) Ramos of Alaska, Ovelia (Arnold) Carnate of the Philippines; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Benita Garcia
Benita “Bening” “Bea” Esteban Garcia, 90, of Hilo died April 12, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born April 4, 1924, in Hilo, she was a retired cook for the Volcano Golf and Country Club.
Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. May 3 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 10:30 a.m. service. Urn burial follows. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
She is survived by, sons, Melvin (Linda) Celestino of Honolulu, Leo (Rowena) Garcia Jr. of Hilo; daughters, Patricia (Alden) Owan of Honolulu, Faye Garcia of Hilo; hanai son, Dustin (Erica) Palisbo of Pepeekeo; brother, C. (Arlene) Tacderan of Kona; sisters, Dolores Taylor and Helen Guerrero, both of Oahu; 21 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren;, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Bryson Keliipio
Bryson Kaualani Keliipio, 16, of Kailua-Kona died April 2, 2014, in Honolulu. Born in Waimea, he was a student at Kamehameha Schools.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. May 3 at Mokuaikaua Church in Kailua-Kona for a service. Family requests attendees dress in a color of the rainbow and no flowers.
He is survived by mother, Michelle Keliipio Lee; stepfather, Branden Lee; father, Bryan Ward; brothers, Kenneth Nouchi Jr., Christian Lee, Llewellyn Lee II, Brock Akao-Ward; sisters, Shanika Tozer, Shaniah Tozer, Taylor Keliipio-Nouchi, Alicesa-Faith Lee; maternal grandparents, Donna (Hal) Davis and Charles (Denise) Keliipio; paternal grandparents, Douglas and Paulette Ward Jr.; paternal great-grandmother, Flora Cabreros, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Arrangements by Nuuanu Memorial Park &Mortuary.
Henry Miyamoto
Henry Inaina Miyamoto, 71, of Pahoa died April 14, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired fireman with the Honolulu City and County Fire Department.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. May 3 at the Makuu Marketplace in Pahoa for an 11 a.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by wife, Dorothy Kauaula of Pahoa; sons, Michael (Nicol) Miyamoto of Kaneohe, Clifford (Sherl) Kauaula of Waipahu, Oahu; daughters, Dannielle (George) Iuta of Hilo, Kimberlee (Lawrence) Kauhaahaa of Makawao, Maui; sisters, Carol Takatsuka of Wailuku, Maui, Wendy (Kenji) Karimoto of Keaau; hanai daughter,Crystal (Elroy) Toribio of Hilo; hanai sons, Charles Kamaka and Abel Woods, both of Pahoa; nine grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Rochelle Villegas
Rochelle Nissa Villegas, 45, of Hilo died April 16, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in California, she worked as a waitress.
Family and friends gathering and festivities to be held May 3 to 5 at 1745 Kaumana Drive, Hilo, and includes a potluck.
She is survived by mother, Shelly Villegas of Hilo; father, Arnold (Dar) Villegas of California; brothers, Seth Stellar and John Gullett, both of Hilo; sisters, Lanessa (Eddie) McClellan of Hilo, Camille (Jeff) Stellar-Fontana of Colorado, Michelle Evans of Ewa Beach, Oahu, Sara Villegas of Hawi, Ashley, Lana and Paloma of New Mexico; two nephews; numerous aunts, uncles and nieces.
Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.
Norma Castillo
Norma Vega Castillo, 86, of Hilo, formerly of Kapaa and Wailua, Kauai, died April 20, 2014, at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Facility. Born in Lucena, Quezon Province, the Philippines, she was a homemaker and member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church and former member of the Kapaa Senior Citizen Club.
Friends may call at 4:30 p.m. May 4 at Hilo Missionary Church for a 5 p.m. service, followed by a paina and screening of a life documentary film. Friends may also call at 9:30 a.m. May 17 at the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lihue, Kauai, for an 11:30 a.m. service. Lihue services will be followed by a paina luncheon at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Center in Lihue. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
She is survived by daughters, Zenaida (Richard) Sawyer of Hilo, Stephanie Castillo of Kapaa, Kauai, Teresita Castillo of New York, Deedee (Ivan) Ward of Vacaville, Calif., Leslie (Garrett) Scales of Lawai, Kauai, Patricia (Clifford) Furtado of Wailua, Kauai, Joanne (Peter) Brun of Koloa, Kauai; hanai daughter, Sharol Castillo of Sacramento, Calif.; hanai son, Ami (Jan) Vergara of Largo, Fla.; sister, Cely Vega of Cavite, Philippines; 17 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Yoshiko Ebesu
Yoshiko “Margaret” M. Ebesu, 94, of Hilo and formerly of Honolulu died April 16, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in California, she was the retired proprietress for Pacific Products Co. Ltd. in Honolulu and member of Hilo Meishoin Fujinkai.
Private services were held. Family requests no flowers or monetary gifts.
She is survived by son, Robert (Betsy) Ebesu Jr. of Honolulu; daughters, Carolyn (William) Sewake of Hilo, Lei (Raymond) Onishi of Honolulu; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Cecily Hilditch
Cecily Hilditch, 94 of The Villages, Fla., died April 7, 2014. Born Oct. 14, 1919, in Cleveland, she was a water safety instructor and an executive secretary.
Private services were held.
She is survived by daughters, Karen (Don) Greenlee of Florida, June (Chris) Perritt of Kailua-Kona.
Thomas Petersen
Thomas John Petersen, 79, of Hilo died April 18, 2014, at home. He was born Nov. 2, 1934, in New York City.
Private services were held.
He is survived by wife, Bonnie Petersen of Hilo; daughter, Diane Petersen of Yucaipa, Calif.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Hilda Farrell
Hilda Correia Farrell, 90, of Hilo died March 31, 2014, at Hilo Medical Center. Born Nov. 27, 1923, at Kukiau Ranch, she worked at Chris’ Bakery in Kealekakua.
Friends may call at 1 p.m. May 4 at Hospice of Hilo for a service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of Hilo, 1011 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo HI, 96720.
She is survived by daughters, Wanda Reed of Oceanside, Calif., Linda Yount of Chandler, Ariz., Wendy Traber of Carlsbad, Calif.; sons, Kenneth Farrell of Washington state, Russell Farrell of Oceanside, Calif.; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
Leanett Nava
Leanette “Neda” Lorna Nava, 58, of Waimea died April 13, 2014, at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born Oct. 13, 1955, in Hilo, she was an executive housekeeper for various hotels in Hawaii.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to noon May 4 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for visitation. A service begins at 2 p.m. May 4 at Waimea Community Center. Fellowship and dinner follow. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by daughters, Kandalin (Kenneth) Connor of Waimea, Tiffany (Ivy) Nava of Kihei, Maui; sons, Erbin (Renae) DePonte III of Waimea, Sean Nava of Kihei, Maui; mother, Gladys Liborio of Waimea; brothers, John (Alana) Spencer of Captain Cook, Lionel (Frances) Liborio and Nelson (Marji) Liborio, both of Nevada, Brian (Rhonda) Liborio of Waimea; hanai sisters, April Teixeira of Waialua, Cynthia Teixeira-Putnam of Kailua-Kona, Susan Teixeira of Reno, Nev.; four grandchildren; numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.