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.
Irene Kanetake
Irene Yoneko Kanetake, age 96 of Kailua, Oahu, died Sept. 17, 2018, in Kailua, Oahu. Born in Hakalau on the Big Island, she was a retired real estate broker, a founding member of Kailua Christian Church, and a past president of both the Nuuanu YMCA Thursday Luncheon and Hui O Lau Lima.
Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Kailua Christian Church, 317 Manono St. in Kailua, Oahu; service 10:30 a.m. Private inurnment. The family requests aloha attire.
She is survived by her son Wesley T. (Ione) Kanetake of Hilo and her step-daughter Gerry Uesugi of El Cerrito, California; daughter-in-law Marlene Kanetake of Honolulu; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Nuuanu Memorial Park &Mortuary.
Hiroko Wakamoto
Hiroko Cathy Wakamoto, 84, of Hilo, died Oct. 11, 2018 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Sept. 28, 1934, in Hilo, she was retired from Aetna Insurance Company.
Friends may call at 11 a.m. Nov. 3 at the House Hilo, 2282 Kanoelehua Ave., for a noon service. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers.
She is survived by companion, Odetta Peralta of Hilo; sister, Toyoko Tanihara of Cory, Colorado; brother, Harold Wakamoto of Glendale, Calif.; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
George Kamakahi
George Nakaleka “Happy” Kamakahi, II, 64, of Hilo, died Oct. 8, 2018, while visiting Las Vegas. He was born in Honolulu and was a senior pastor, founder and president of Thy Word Ministries of Hawaii, Inc., where he established churches on Hawaii Island as well as churches around the world, was a minister with the Hawaii Police Department chaplaincy, co-founder of Joseph’s Storehouse Outreach Center and a member of the Rock N Roll Motorcycle Club and the Cruising Classics car enthusiast club.
Friends may call 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 10 a.m. celebration of life. Casual attire, no flowers.
He is survived by his wife, Pastor Gail Kamakahi of Hilo; sons, Gabriel (Christina) Kamakahi and Given Kamuela Kamakahi, both of Hilo; daughter, Gaynell (Abraham) Jordano of Las Vegas; sisters, Georgette (Aaron) Hanson of Washington, Annette (Miguel) Toro of Alaska, Paulette (Rudy) Reyes of Maui, Tonette (Gene) Gumapac of Honolulu, Thao Kamakahi Watson and Nga Kamakahi-Kapaona, both of Oahu; brothers, David Kamakahi of Washington, Raymond (Beatrice) Kamakahi of Kauai and Jonathan (Loscia) Kamakahi of Las Vegas; 11 grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo.
Kotaro Onishi
Kotaro “Lefty” Onishi, 87, of Pahoa died Oct. 20, 2018, at his residence. Born in Papaikou, he was a retired supervisor for Jas. W. Glover, Ltd., a member of Nichiren Shoshu, Hi-Ways Golf Club, and was an avid bowler.
No services. Family requests no flowers and no koden.
He is survived by daughters, Susan Saruwatari of Hilo, Iris (Robert) Handa of Colorado; brother, Yorio (Yasuko) Onishi of Hilo; sister, Sueko Yorita of Hilo; three grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly, Sr., age 80, of Hilo, Hawaii, died Oct. 17, 2018, in the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Nelsonville, Ohio on March 30, 1938, he was retired from the United States Navy as a Chief Petty Officer.
Private services were held.
He is survived by sons, Michael Kelly, Jr. of Hilo and Mark (Maria) Kelly of Concord, California; daughter, Maureen Kelly of Paauilo; brothers, King Kelly of Nelsonville, Ohio, Shayne Kelly of Lancaster, Ohio, Thomas (Marie) Kelly of Canyonville, Oregon, Patrick (Debra) Kelly of The Plains, Ohio, Timothy (Christina) Kelly of Nelsonville, Ohio, Shawn Kelly of Newark, Ohio and Daniel Kelly of Logan, Ohio; sister, Sheila (Bill) Strosnider of West Virginia; two granddaughters; three great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo.
Joe Yamauchi
Joe Takao Yamauchi, of Hilo, died at Hilo Medical Center on Sept. 19, 2018, at the age of 99. Joe was a public accountant in Hilo for over 50 years, after serving in the Hawaii Territorial Legislature and Hawaii State Constitutional Convention. He served in the U.S. Army, in the 100th Infantry Battalion in World War II. He was a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.
A private memorial service was held in October.
He is survived by his son, Dave Yamauchi (Cindy) of Pasadena, California; his daughter, Lori Yamauchi (James Fagler) and his granddaughter, Jemma Fagler, of San Francisco, California; his nieces, Joanne Yamauchi, Darlene Yamauchi, Ann Usagawa, Diane Nakai, Jean Takata, and Glendean Kotomori; as well as his nephews, Gerald Usagawa, Robert Usagawa, and Barry Usagawa.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo.