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. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Chieko Alatan
Chieko “Jane” Alatan, 89, of Pepeekeo, died Feb. 19 at the Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pepeekeo, she was a retired papaya packer for the former Ono Pac, member of The House Hilo Church, Pepeekeo Senior Citizens Club and Lanakila-Haaheo FCE.
Friends may call 9-10:30 a.m. today at The House Hilo Church, 2282 Kanoelehua Ave. Funeral service at 10:30, burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Survived by husband, Leonardo Alatan of Pepeekeo; sons, Alan (Sandy) Alatan of Orchidland, Derek (Debbie) Alatan of Hawaiian Paradise Park; daughters, Corinne (Kirk) Awong of Hilo, Lori Ann (Zach) Picar of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Annette Hatakenaka of Pepeekeo, Fely Alatan of Pepeekeo, Rosemary Moses of Pepeekeo, Frances Spidell of Hilo; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, numerous nieces &nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Yvonne Paiva
Yvonne Frances Paiva, 74, of Naalehu, died March 17, at Ka’u Hospital. Born in Hilo, she was retired from Punaluu Bake Shop and was a member of the Naalehu Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. March 27 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for an 11 a.m. service. Graveside urn committal service follows at Naalehu Community Cemetery. Family requests casual attire be worn.
She is survived by daughter, Gina Van Hook of Paso Robles, Calif.; son, James Paiva of Naalehu; grandson, Vance Paiva of Santa Cruz, Calif.; sisters, Angelita (Dennis) Pavao and Emma (Sakae) Omelau of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Bernice (Albert) Haa of Panaewa; brother, Edward (Ruth) Sison of Hilo; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Donna Saito
Donna Lee Saito, 71, of Waikoloa, died March 11 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Newark, N.J. on July 9, 1946, she was a licensed esthetician at the Mandara Spa at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott.
A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. March 25 at Spencer Beach Park in Kawaihae. For further information, please call Glenn Knight at (310) 948-0933.
She is survived by her sons, Jason (Paula) Foster of Hillsboro, Ore., and Russell Saito of Tokyo, Japan; sister, Audrey (Thomas) Foster of Modesto, Calif.; seven grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.
Hilda Harmon
Hilda Harmon, 100, of Pahoa, died March 11 at her daughter’s home. Born on Nov. 14, 1917, she was an assistant to residents at the Indiana Masonic Home’s Administrative Office for 14 years and was also a member of Grace United Methodist Church and Franklin Eastern Star. Hilda loved to send greeting cards and she received over 100 cards for her 100th birthday.
Online condolences: www.homelanimemorial park.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 East Adams, Franklin, Indiana, 46131.
Blace Valenzuela
Blace Ah Kui Lan Valenzuela, 58, of Kohala, died March 12 at her family’s residence. Born in Kohala on March 12, 1960, she was a bell clerk at the Waikoloa Marriott Hotel, a member of Halau Kawehileimamoikawekiu’o Kohala and a member of the Kalahikiola Congregational Church and the church’s choir.
Visitation will be at 8:30 a.m. March 31 at Kalahikiola Congregational Church in Halaula; funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Luncheon and fellowship will follow in the church hall.
She is survived by her sons, Jentzen Valenzuela of Waikoloa, and Edwin (Kanoe Conte) Valenzuela of Hawi; daughters, Kimi (Sione) Vakauta of Halaula and Mei Ling (Paulo) Sauta of Kapaau; hanai daughter, Tiffany Kupukaa of Kohala; father, Sylvester Paalua, Jr. of Kawaihae; brother, Ryder (Darcy) Paalua of Kailua-Kona; sisters, Sylvia Okubo of Kawaihae, Colleen (Scott) Henne, Elsie (Eric) Dela Cruz, all of Kohala, Jan Paalua and Miu Lan of Kawaihae; nine grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.
Sadaki Fujisawa
Sadaki “Cowboy” Fujisawa, 85, of Hilo died March 5 at home. He was born in Hilo and was a carpenter and farmer, member of Hilo Higashi Hongwaji Mission and a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Private services were held. No koden.
He is survived by his companion, Augustina “Tina” Ebanez of Hilo; daughter, Lynn (Eric) Nishioka of Hilo; brother, Noboru Fujisawa of Maui; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; numerous hanai children, hanai grandchildren, hanai great-grandchildren, nieces &nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Randall Wertz
Randall “Randy” Scott Wertz, 60, of Kailua-Kona, died March 16 at his residence. Born October 23, 1957 in Anchorage, Alaska, he was a HSE specialist in the oil industry and a retired operator for Alascom Telecommunications.
Private service held.
He is survived by wife, Charlotte Wertz of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Amanda Jones of Anchorage, Alaska, Maile Wertz; son, Michael Wertz both of Kailua-Kona; brother, Jeffery (Elsie) Wertz of Anchorage, Alaska; two grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Tomeyo Torioka
Tomeyo Torioka, 89, of Honalo, died March 7 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Yamaguchi, Japan on June 1, 1928, she was a retired pantry worker at Royal Kona Resort, a member of Daifukuji Soto Mission, Yamaguchi Kenjin Kai, and Honalo One Kumi.
She is survived by her sons, Jay Torioka and Roy Torioka of Honalo; daughter, Cynthia (Larry) Thomas of Auburn, Calif.; and three grandchildren. Private services.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.
Lonnie Large
Lonnie Large, 63, of Mountain View, died March 4 in Hilo. Born in 1954, in Salem, Ore., he was a domestic violence counselor, had a yard service, and was a rock ‘n’ roll drummer.
A memorial will be held on March 25 at the Keaau Eagles Club from 5-9 p.m. Potluck, no outside drinks.
He is survived by his companion Ronda Nicholson; sister, Connie (Karl) Jacobson; three brothers, Dan (Lurelle) Large, Gary Large, and Brian (Katherine) Large; and several nieces and nephews.
Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com.
Vincent Barnwell
Vincent Thomas Barnwell, 76, of Pahoa, died March 10 at his residence. Born in the Bronx, New York, he was a retired registered nurse at the Hilo Medical Center, retired volunteer firefighter and EMT in New York and an avid canoe paddler and taiko drummer. Private services held.
Survived by wife Patricia Barnwell of Pahoa; son, Christopher Barnwell of Lantana, Fla.; daughters, Theresa Bray of Millbrook, N.Y., Victoria (Karl) Seebruch of Keaau; and seven grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.