Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Joanie Kealoha
Joanie Pualani Dela Cruz Kealoha, 60, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 30, 2020 at Hawaii Care Choices. Born on Oahu, she worked for Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, Mauna Kea Resort, Fairmont Orchid and Hualalai Resort, retired as a cashier at Lower Matsuyama Store in Kailua-Kona, was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kona 2nd Ward, lei maker, and hula dancer.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 29 at Honokohau Harbor for a celebration of life. Casual/Hawaiian attire. Flowers, wreaths, and lei are welcomed.
She is survived by husband, Charles Kealoha Jr. of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Kuuipo Kealoha of Hilo; sons, Keone (Alyssia) Kealoha of Kailua-Kona and Kainoa (Perrin) Kealoha of California; sisters, Josephine Tanimoto of Kawaihae, JoAnn Kalamau and Jeanah (Kalei) Ventura of Hilo; five grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Janice Halmas
Janice Christina Halmas, 74, of Kailua-Kona died on Jan. 8, 2020 at Kaiser Moanalua. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired cook and baker for Kahakai Elementary School and owner of Dynamite Cleaning and Janitorial Services.
Friends may call 2-5 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Old Kona Airport Pavilion. The family requests casual attire and flowers be omitted. Light refreshments to follow.
She is survived by husband, Richard Halmas of Kailua-Kona, sister, Bessie (Romeo) Ramos of Ewa Beach and brother, Bernard Ganab of Minnesota, daughters, Joanne (Michael) Spinelli, Kelly (Chad) Hose and Tanya (Michael) Scarfone, sons, Bula Halmas, Derrek Halmas and Brandon (Donalea) Halmas, 15 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild all of Kailua-Kona; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Ballard Mortuary.
Clement Malani Sr.
Clement Kelaulani Malani Sr., 92, of Hilo, died Feb. 6, 2020. Born April 30, 1927 in Laupahoehoe, he was in the Army Air National Guard, a heavy equipment operator, a security guard, and a kahu for Laupahoehoe Congregational Church, and a member of the Haili Choir, Haili Men’s Choir, Alu Like Kupuna program, and Onomea Rangers.
Friends may call at 8 a.m. Feb. 24 at Laupahoehoe Congregational Church for a 9 a.m. service. Burial at noon at Veterans Cemetery #2 Hilo.
He is survived by wife Ruby Leilani Malani; son Clement (Regina) Malani Jr.; Daughters Cynthia (Calvin) Malani, Catherine (Todd) Kaide, Carol Malani; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Juan Alvarez Sr.
Juan Castro Alvarez Sr., 87, of Waimea died Jan. 5, 2020, at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Tucson, Arizona, he was a retired captain with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean and Vietnam wars and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #999.
Private services held.
He is survived by sons, Juan (Christy) Alvarez Jr. of Long Beach, California, Paul (Denise) Alvarez of Raymond, California, Robert (Tammy) Alvarez of California; daughters, Kuuipo (Douglas) Grube of Texas, Lani (Darlene) Alvarez of Waimea, Mililani Kanamu of Hilo, Luanna (Duane) Sayers of Rohnert Park. California; 19 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Chiyoko Kami
Chiyoko “Chiyo” Kami, 93, of Hilo, died Jan. 31, 2020 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Pahoa, she was retired from HTandT and a member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin.
Private services were held. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.
She is survived by husband, Ralph Kami of Hilo; son, Scott (Elaine) Kami of Honolulu; daughter, Diane (Milton) Shiroma of Hilo; brothers, Yoshiichi (Umeno) Ushio of Hilo, Setsuo (Edith) Ushio of Lihue, Kauai; sister, Kikuko Sato of Honolulu; four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Earl Nobriga
Earl Robert Nobriga, 89, of Hilo died Jan. 30 at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. He was born in Hilo and was a retired field hand with the former Hamakua Sugar Co. and a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War.
Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Feb. 19 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel for a 7 p.m. service. Friends may also call 9-10 a.m. Feb. 20 at St. Joseph Catholic Church for a 10:30 a.m. Mass. Burial to follow at the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery #2. Casual attire.
He is survived by wife, Cecelia Nobriga of Hilo; sons, Arnold (Grace Maffit) Nobriga of Kurtistown and Paul (Tanja Martines) Nobriga of Hilo; four grandchildren, three great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Stafford Santiago
Stafford Irvin Santiago, 55, of Hilo, died Jan. 4, 2020 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he worked for the Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division.
Celebration of life from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22 at Hilo Woman’s Club, 7 Lele St. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by life partner, Leslie Campbell of Hilo; sons, Aaron Santiago, Kaden (Hoku) Santiago and Culen (Chase) Santiago of Hilo; daughter, Robyn (Kapena) Santiago of Hilo; brothers, Norman Santiago of Hakalau, Stanford (Cindy) Santiago of Kona; sister, Stephanie Lawrence of Hilo; a grandson, numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Rick Reppe
Rick Taylor Reppe, aka Rik Taylor, 75, of Holualoa, died Jan. 5, 2020 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Hollywood on Jan. 27, 1944, he was a self-taught sailor and 1984 Olympiad, founded his own sailing loft, Taylor Made Sails, worked at various banks, former YMCA director, coffee farmer, real estate appraiser and recreation interventionist and alakai at Kealakehe Elemetnary School.
Friends may call at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Ai’opio Fishtrap in Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, where he volunteered every Sunday.
He is survived by daughter, Maianna Taylor of Holualoa.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Hatsuko Yamashita
Hatsuko Yamashita, 90, of Papaikou, died Jan. 14, 2020, at the Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Hilo.
Private services held.
She is survived by husband, Mitsuru Yamashita of Papaikou; Daughters, Joanne (Glenn) Vieira of Hilo and Cora Yamashita of Papaikou; two sisters, two granddaughters, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.