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.
James Schumaker
James August Schumaker, 62, died Sept. 9, 2020 in Hilo. Born Jan. 31, 1958 in Cass County, Missouri, he was a mathematics professor at Hilo Community College, taught at Victoria College in Texas, a small airplane pilot, and volunteer with the U.S. Civil Air Patrol, American Red Cross, AOPA, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Le Lam Schumaker of Keaau; sons, Luke Watkins of Hilo, Aaron D. Watkins and Paul I Watkins of Honolulu, and Jayden A. Schumaker of Alhambra, CA; brother, Michael Schumaker of Waco, TX; sister, Cynthie Ann Tanner of Bethel Island, CA; four grandchildren; seven nieces and nephews.
John B. Knoll
John B. Knoll, 70, died Sept. 1, 2020 in Hilo. Born in August 1950 in Pennsylvania, he was a Union Local 3 Operating Engineer.
No services.
He is survived by wife, Suzanne Knoll; sisters, Charlotte Lerner of Rancho Mirage, CA, Eileen Schneider of Westlake, CA, and Denise Spooner of Westlake, CA; one nephew; and two nieces.
Christina Rodrigues
Christina Malia Keanaaina Rodrigues, 46, of Honolulu, died Sept. 7, 2020. Born Dec. 31, 1973, in Kona, she was an employee at the Family Support Services of West Hawaii and a member of Solid Rock Ministries in Kona.
Services will be held at a later date.
She is survived by husband, Sidney Rodrigues of Honolulu; daughters, Leila Kanoa of Honolulu and Lena (Dillon) Moreno of Muldoon, TX; father, Abraham Keanaaina Jr. of Ewa Beach, Oahu; mother, Yvonne Keanaaina of Honlulu; sisters, Amy Jean (Wilbert) Secuya of Hawi, and Juanita (Shaun Oda) Thompson of Kahului, Maui; brother, Abraham Keanaaina III of Ewa Beach, Oahu; one grandson; several aunts and uncles; one nephew; and numerous nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Oahu Mortuary and Crematory.
Kawailiula Thornton
Kawailiula Lei Waipa Thornton, 88, of Keokea, Kalapana, died Sept. 7, 2020 in Keaau. Born May 23, 1932, in Hilo, she was a retired Registered Nurse, a caregiver, a Kumu Hula and member of the Kupuna Club.
She is survived by sons, Ronnie Thornton of Kona, John (Wilma) Thornton of Kalapana, Robert (Sharri) Thornton of Hilo and Mark Thornton of Keaau; brother, Frank Kanalu Waipa of Oahu; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kirino Muraoka
Kirino Oda Muraoka, 91 of Hilo, died Sept. 11, 2020, at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired accountant for the County of Hawaii Department of Finance, Accounts Division and member of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, Buddhist Womens’ Association, and HGEA Retirees Unit.
Private services will be held at a later date. The family requests no koden (monetary donations).
She is survived by daughter, Anne (Kirby) Higaki of Hilo; two grandsons, Logan Higaki of Charleston, South Carolina and Bowen Muraoka of Hilo; several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Leonard Cervantez
Leonard Santos Cervantez, 74, of Waikoloa, died Sept. 6, 2020 at Hilo Medical Center. Born April 19, 1946, in Los Angeles, he was a food and beverage director at Holiday Inn, police officer, industrial air conditioning technician and a U.S. Army veteran.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Florence Pike of Waikoloa; sisters, Gilda (Van) Chambers of St. George, UT, Denise Lincoln-Tofoya of Crestline, CA and Priscilla Lincoln of St. George, UT; two nephews and one niece.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Richard Hong
Richard Hong, 86 of Hilo, died Sept. 14, 2020, at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in South Kohala, Hawaii, he retired as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
No services.
He is survived by daughter, Ricki (Sandra Bogaars) Hong; hanai sons, Steven Abe and Robert Guerrero; two grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Alejandro Baxa
Alejandro Jose Baxa, 86 of Hilo, died Aug. 15, 2020, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Kauai, he was a stock clerk and a warehouse worker at Foodland, a custodian at UH-Hilo and member of St. Joseph Church and RSVP.
Private service held.
He is survived by wife, Mercedes Baxa; son, Christopher (Susan) Baxa; daughters, Clarisse (Norman) Rapanut and Celeste Baxa; three grandchildren; numerous uncles, aunts, cousins.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Joseph Bearth
Joseph Anthony Bearth, 89, of Kailua-Kona, died Sept. 18, 2020 in Kailua-Kona. Born June 11, 1931, in St. Paul, MN, he was a chaplain’s assistant in the Army and worked as owner/operator of the former Suzanne’s Bakeshop.
Friends may call at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 25 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Kailua-Kona for Mass. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Suzanne; sons, Daniel (Darlene) Bearth and Donald Bearth. all of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Joy (Gerry) Brazier, of Kailua-Kona; brother, Jack Bearth of St. Paul, MN; sister, Rose Mary Huot, of St. Paul, MN; two grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary-.
Dremy Inocencio
Dremy Lorenzo Inocencio, 66, of Kailua-Kona, died Sept. 15, 2020 in Kealakekua. Born March 4, 1954, in the Philippines, he was a laundry worker.
Friends may call at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Kailua-Kona for Mass. Burial to follow.
He is survived by spouse Vilma; sons Roderick (Marichu) Inocencio of Kailua-Kona; Miller (Rosalyn) Inocencio of Kailua-Kona; brothers Jimmy (Fe) Inocencio of Kailua-Kona; Jerry (Shirley) Inocencio of Pahala and four grandchildren.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Rev. Makio Nagai
Rev. Makio Nagai, 87, of Hilo, died Sept. 13, 2020, at the Konko Mission of Hilo. Born in Kyoto, Japan, he was the minister at the Konko Mission of Hilo.
Services will be held a later date. Family requests no flowers and no koden (memorial gifts).
He is survived by wife, Rev. Ann Yoshie Nagai, of Hilo.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Curtis Hanson
Curtis Lee Hanson, 73, of Hilo, died Sept. 13, 2020 at his residence in Keaukaha. Born May 8, 1947, in Graceville, Minnesota, he was an engraver, car detailer and co-owner of Shoreline Sign &Design and a U.S. Navy veteran.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by wife, Natalie Hanson of Keaukaha; daughters, Keonali (Brian) Hutley of Oregon, Ka’ala Hanson of Keaukaha, Melissa (Terence) Kua-Nachor of Waikoloa and Dawn (Keola) Kin In of Kailua-Kona; sons, Marcus (Adrienne Wallace) Hanson of Keaukaha and Kauhane (Cierra-Mae) Hanson of California City, California; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; an aunt; and nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.