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.
John Akana
John “Butch” Akana, 78, of Waimea, died March 13, 2020 at his residence. Born June 20, 1941, in Honolulu, he was a retired driver for “The Bus” of Oahu Transit Service and became a farmer in Waimea.
Burial to be held 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at Mauna Kea Memorial Park in Papaikou. Condolences to the family may be sent to, Samuel Plunkett, Jr., P.O. Box 1214, Kamuela, Hawaii 96743.
He is survived by stepson, Samuel Plunkett Jr.; stepdaughters, Ursula (Alvin) Chong of Waimea, Momi (Peter) Fernandez of Kapolei; siblings, Larry (Wilma) Akana of Nanakuli, Audrey (Albert) Caravalho of Pearl City, Edward Akana of Papakolea, Gracie Grace of Mountain View, Arthur (Josie) Akana of Kaneohe, William (Bruce) Akana of Minnesota, Eleanor Akana of Pearl City; numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Dennis Shigematsu
Dennis Hiromi Shigematsu, 74, of Honokaa, died June 13, 2020, at home. Born in Honokaa, he was a retired mechanic.
Private services held.
He is survived by wife, Shiela Shigematsu of Honokaa; sons, Cal Shigematsu of Waikoloa, Ian (Raquell) Shigematsu of Honokaa and Sid (Nikki) Shigematsu of Paauilo; brother, Derek Shigematsu of Honokaa; sisters, Darice (Kenneth) Kidani and Dale (Mark) Lukzen of Honokaa, and Dory (Kelcy Koga) Shigematsu of Hilo; three grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John Mulkey
John Wayne Mulkey, 74, of Mountain View, died July 14, 2020, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center. Born Feb. 2, 1946, in Honolulu, he was a retired chief agent for Hawaiian Airlines, a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran and a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Mountain View.
Services will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the Mulkey Ohana, PO Box 721, Kurtistown, HI 96760.
He is survived by, daughters, Michelle (Clint) Uyehara of Waimea and Michele Correia of Mountain View; sons, Michael Mulkey and Donovan Correia of Mountain View and Alfred Correia Jr. of Waikoloa Village; and four grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Stephen Kendall
Stephen John Kendall, 68, of Kailua-Kona, died July 20, 2020, at his residence. Born Oct. 4, 1951, in Newport, Rhode Island, he was a former laborer for various companies such as Gaspro Hawaii, Kiewitt Pacific, Safety Signs and Systems, Vector Industries and Robert’s Hawaii, and a farmer, surfer and a former house band member for “The Wave” in Waikiki.
Private services to be held.
He is survived by son, Nicholas Kendall of Utah; daughter, Katherine Kendall of California; brother, Michael (Katrina) Kendall of Kailua-Kona; niece, Cheyenne Kendall of Mountain View.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Dorothea Cooley-Spain
Dorothea Louise Cooley-Spain, 91 of Kailua-Kona, died July 29, 2020 in Kailua-Kona. Born Dec. 24, 1928, in Van Dyke, Michigan, she worked as service representative for AAA and was a pilot.
Private services will be held.
She is survived by son, Michael (Sally) Broderick of Kailua-Kona and one grandchild.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Janet Sigel
Janet Ann Sigel, 90, of Kailua-Kona, died July 28, 2020, at her residence. Born March 6, 1930, in Staten Island, New York, she was a retired head of personnel for Staten Island Health Services and an artist.
Private service held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of Kona, PO Box 4130, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745.
She is survived by daughters, Laurie Sigel of Kailua-Kona and Wendy Matthes of Nevada; numerous nephews, nieces and friends.
Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Rosalie Pacheco
Rosalie Lonnie Jo Pacheco, 78, of Holualoa, died July 10, 2020 at Kona Community Hospital. Born Feb. 7, 1942, in Kona, she was a homemaker, security officer at the Keahole Airport and a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Services will be held at a later date.
She is survived by daughter, Leilani Pacheco of Palm Desert, Calif.; son, Clifford Pacheco of Holualoa; brothers, Tommy (Rosemary) Duarte, Albert (Sandra) Duarte of Holualoa; two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Debra Kohara
Debra Kohara, 62, of Naalehu, died March 6, 2020 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Dec. 7, 1957, in Pahala, she was a retired secretary for Naalehu Elementary School and member of Hope Dia-mend Ministries.
Friends may call from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 8 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a public visitation only. Services are private. Family requests no flowers.
She is survived by husband, Dan Kohara of Naalehu; sons, Brian (Chelsea) Kohara of Hilo, and Brice Kohara of Tacoma, WA.; mothers, Louisa Pabre of Aberdeen, S.D., and Teofila Babas of Pahala; brothers, Shane (Sally) Braceros of Mount Vernon, WA., Steven (Juanita) Babas and Ferdinand (Colbey) Babas of Hilo, and Andrew Pabre of Kona; sisters, Linda Schafer of Saint Paul Park, MN., Donna (Deen) Tsukamoto of Naalehu, Joanne (Byron) Ebsen of Milbank, S.D., and Audrey (Jeff) Amdahl of Aberdeen, S.D.; five grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Utako Tao
Utako Uchimura Tao, 99, of Hilo, died July 10, 2020 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Sept. 7, 1920, in Kona, she was a retired head nurse of the OB/maternity ward at Hilo Medical Center and member of Community of Christ and Hilo Hospital Retirees.
Private services held.
She is survived by son, Karl (Natalie) Tao of Happy Valley, Ore.; daughters, Linda (Darren) Yonenaga of San Jose, CA., Carole (Bryan) Akau of Hilo; stepson, Marlin (Mary Jane) Sakata of Puyallup, WA.; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Violet Kalai
Violet Haleaniani “Aniani” Kalai, 77, of Hilo, died July 19, 2020 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired office clerk for Centex Tele-Managing Co. and a member of the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Assocation, Class of 1960.
Friends may call at 5 p.m. Aug. 6 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 6 p.m. service. Private committal services. Casual attire.
She is survived by daughter, Dawn Kaleihoku (Sheldon Aguiar) Kalai-Aguiar of Hilo; brothers, Rudy (Drue) Ai of Kailua-Kona and Vernon (Sandra) Ai of Hilo; two grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Raymond Shimizu
Raymond Yutaka Shimizu, 77, of Hilo, died July 22, 2020, at his residence. Born Dec. 13, 1942, in Hilo, he was a general contractor and retired proprietor of RYS General Contracting in Hilo.
No services. The family requests no flowers and no koden.
He is survived by sons, Clayton (Wendy) Shimizu, Dean Shimizu and Calvin Shimizu, all of Hilo, and Keith Shimizu of Anaheim, CA; brothers, Yoshiharu (Chikako) Shimizu of Japan and Jerry (Helga) Shimizu of Kona; sisters, Yuriko Umetsu of Hilo and Marion Kupahu of Oahu; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Austin Wills
Austin “Ozzy” Haleumiokalani Wills, 37, of Holualoa, died July 27, 2020 in Kailua-Kona. Born June 23, 1983, in Hilo, he was a waterman and surf instructor.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by girlfriend, Jamie Cadiente, daughters, Maia Wills and Naomi Wills of Kailua-Kona; parents, Rex and Marilyn Hopkins-Wills of Holualoa; sister, Uilani (Bryson) Manuel of Hilo; and maternal grandmother, Ruby Hopkins of Kaneohe, Oahu.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.