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.
Ernest Ruiz, Sr
Ernest Ruiz, Sr. 90, of Pahoa, died July l6, 2021 at home. Born Jan. 2, 1931, in Waimea, Kauai; he retired with the Department of Water Supply for the city of Hayward, CA.
Friends may call on Aug. 6 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, Visitation from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; funeral services at 10 a.m. Face masks and social distancing required. Burial at Homelani Memorial Park (Section 7) at 11:30 a.m.
He is survived by sons, Ernest Ruiz, Jr. of Pahoa and Ricky G. (Sandra) Ruiz of Honolulu; daughters, Marlinda J. Ruiz of Pahoa and Michele N. Ruiz of Hayward, CA; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
Juan Refugio Madrigal
Juan “John” Refugio Madrigal, 72, of Ocean View died July 9, 2021 at Kona Community Hospital. Born May 24, 1949, in St. Helena, CA, he was a carpenter, member of the Carpenters Union Association and a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran.
Services will be held at a later date in California.
He is survived by his daughters, Jessica (Rafael Fuentes) Madrigal and Ariel (Flavo Castro) Madrigal, all of Napa, CA.; brothers, Jess (Mary) Madrigal, Pat (Cheryl) Madrigal, all of Calistoga, CA.; sisters, Matilda Madrigal of Calistoga, CA. and Teresa (Mike) Spain of Kealakekua; seven grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Walter Kamakani
Walter Clarence Kamakani “Windy Boy” Koko’o, 53, of Hilo and formerly of Honolulu, died on June 20, 2021 in Hilo. Born Oct 31, 1967, in Honolulu, he was a veteran in the Hawaii Army National Guard.
Celebration of life will be held at a later date.
He is survived by children, Bryson, Nikolas, Amanda and Sierra Koko’o of Hawaii; and two granddaughters.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
Lynn Beaudet
Lynn Elizour Beaudet, 78, of Kailua-Kona and Ocean View, died July 20, 2021 in Hilo. He was born in Hilo and was a retired truck driver for West Hawaii Concrete and a commercial fisherman.
Services to be held at a later date.
He is survived by spouse, Jennifer Beaudet of Kauai; daughters, Elena Beaudet of Kailua-Kona, Lynell (Kaleo) Alapai of Puuanahulu, and Michele Beaudet of Hilo; son, Brandi (Claren) Beaudet of Waimea; brother, David (Thea) Beaudet of Hilo; sisters, Leilani Beaudet, Sonja (George) Berdon, and Paulette Spencer, all of Kailua-Kona; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren.
Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Tiana Deluna
Tiana Halialaulani Deluna, 55, of Kailua-Kona, died July 12, 2021, at Kona Community Hospital. Born Sept. 5, 1965, in Honolulu.
Services will be held at a later date.
She is survived by her daughter, Malama Conn of Maui and Leai (Shawn Smith) Conn of Kailua-Kona; parents, Ray and Jacqueline Hill of Kailua-Kona; sister, Tiari (Freddy Baker) Kolowena; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona
Tavita Tahutini
Tavita Mataere Tahutini, 52, of Pahoa, died July 10, 2021. Born in Papeete, Tahiti, he was a carpenter and landscaper.
Service will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 6 at Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
He is survived by father, Stanly Redwy Ari Tahutini of Paea, Tahiti; mother, Helene Teupoohuitua of Paea, Tahiti; sons, David Vetea Vairea Tahutini of Hilo, Wallace Manuarii Tahutini of Hilo; daughter, Felicia Tauhere Tahutini of Bellevue, WA; brothers, Jules Teehuotoa Tapea and Tu Tapea of Punaauia, Tahiti, Maehaa Tapea and Jhon Tapea of Paea, Tahiti; sisters, Haamoura Tapea, Tehaurai Tapea, Delphine Tapea, and Vaihere Tahutini, all of Paea, Tahiti; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Chris Fujiuchi
Chris Masuo “Bulu” Fujiuchi, age 50, of Hilo died July 7, 2021 at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born May 17, 1971, in Tacoma, WA, he was employed by the County of Hawaii Office of Housing and Community Development as a project manager. He was a member of the Lower Kawailani Kumiai and the National Rifle Association.
Public visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. Private memorial service to follow. Face masks and social-distancing required. Casual attire is requested. No flowers. No Koden (monetary offerings).
He is survived by son, Tyler Tsunezumi of Las Vegas, NV; companion, Pamela Arai of Hilo; parents, Milton and Judith Fujiuchi of Hilo; sister, Kimberly Fujiuchi of Honolulu.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Irene Dong
Irene Hanako Dong, 87, of Kailua-Kona died July 22, 2021, at her residence. Born March 3, 1934, in Isleton, CA, she was an auditor for the state of California, a member of Grace Community Church and a survivor of Tule Lake Japanese Internment Camp in California.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 14, at Grace Community Church in Kailua-Kona. Mask wearing and social distancing required.
She is survived by her sons, Mark (Jane) Dong of Sacramento, CA., and Gordon (Kim) Dong of Kailua-Kona; five grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary
Mary Louise Danfield
Mary Louise Danfield, 80, of Hilo, died on July 18, 2021. Born in Grand Island, NE, she was a registered nurse at Life Care of Hilo.
She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Miles of Kapaho; brother, Ron (Polly) Danfield; sisters, Marjorie Travis of Omaha, NE, Valjean Embrey of Yutan, NE, Betty Werth of Herman, NE, Romona Lillich of Atwood, KS; and two granddaughters.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Bradshaw Ellis,
Bradshaw Gerald Kaualoha Ellis, 43, of Ocean View, died July 20, 2021, at his home. Born December 18, 1977, in Kealakekua, he was a musical entertainer and the leader of G2G, the former Puuwai, and was a member of OAHI Entertainment.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by his wife, Tasha Ellis of Ocean View; sons, Nainoa Ellis-Noa of Ocean View, Mahinakualono (Angel) Ellis-Noa of Holualoa, Naukanui (Kaiteje) Ellis-Noa of Opihihale, Maui Ellis-Noa of Ocean View; daughter, Malamalama Ellis-Noa of Ocean View; parents, Bobby and Aloha Ellis of Keopu; brothers, B.J. (Molly) Ellis Jr. of Kealakekua, Bryan (Misty) Ellis of La’iopua, Kaimi (Lydia) Ellis Sacramento, CA., Brennan (Salena) Ellis of Kailua-Kona, Haloa (Melissa) Paakonia of Kailua-Kona, Samuel (Brittney) Kainoa of Kailua-Kona, sisters, Joeliene Freitas of Waimea, Rochelle (Simon) Torres of Naalehu; and a grandchild.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.
Edward Hanohano
Edward Kaleipaihala Hanohano, 74, of Hilo died March 9, 2020 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired school crossing guard for the county of Hawaii.
Private services were held.
He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Clarence Salvador
Clarence “Pola” Salvador, 81, of Hilo, died July 1, 2021 at Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation &Nursing Center. Born May 20, 1940, in Laupahoehoe, he was a retired heavy equipment operator for the former Hilo Coast Sugar Processing Company, and was a member of the Hawaii Island Archery Club.
Visitation will be 4:30-6 p.m. Aug. 14 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, with a celebration of his life at 6 p.m. Face masks and social distancing required.
He is survived by life-long partner, Charlene T. Velarde of Hilo; children, LaVerne (Gene) Agan of Kauai, Clarence (Renee) Salvador of Mountain View, Daphne Salvador of Indiana, Anthony (Lynn) Salvador and Jayson J. Salvador of Hawaii, Yolanda (Gilbert) Hesia of Papaikou, Tod (Andrea) Velarde and Terry (Lori) Velarde of Alaska; brothers, William (Johanna) Mae of Hilo and Richard Salvador of Honolulu; 19 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one-great-great-grandchild.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lynn Jenkinson-Kaawaloa
Lynn Jenkinson-Kaawaloa, 76, of Keaau died July 7, 2021 at her residence. Born in Chicago, IL, she was a retired social worker and licensed practical nurse at the Bay Clinic in Pahoa.
A celebration of her life will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 7 at Uncle Robert’s Hale in Kalapana. Casual attire. Face masks and social distancing observed.
Survived by husband, Samson Kaawaloa of Keaau; daughter, Evelyn Marie Lopiparo-Nau of Keaau; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Shawn O’Connell
Shawn Walter O’Connell, 51, of Captain Cook died July 28, 2021 at Kona Community Hospital. Born Sept. 18, 1969, in Sacramento, CA, he was a general contractor.
He is survived by his wife, Linda O’Connell of Captain Cook; daughter, Kimber O’Connell of Captain Cook; parents, Roy and Diane O’Connell of Sparks, NV.; sister, Barbara (Jim) Osborne and brother, Roy Michael (Jamie) O’Connell, all of Reno, NV.; hanai sisters, Wendy (Tony) Parilli of Henderson, NV. and Susan (Marilyn) Borschel of Springfield, VA.; hanai brother, Buddy (Katina) Parco of Reno, NV.
Services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
David Vetsch
David George Vetsch, 75, of Pahoa, died July 22, 2021 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Sept. 1, 1945 in La Crosse, WI, he was a retired iron worker for the NW Iron Worker Union 625 and was a veteran of the US Navy.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Survived by daughters, Hollye Vetsch, Kelly Vetsch and Brandy Justice-Belt; brothers, Bill (Donna) Vetsch and Steven Vetsch; seven grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Henry Brown
Henry Kelley Brown, 69, of Honoli’i, died July 19, 2021 in Hilo. Born Feb. 12, 1952 in San Bernadino, CA, he was a retired freelance tile layer and a member of the Hilo Semi-Pro Football League.
A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Hilo Bayfront Wai’akea Canoe Hale.
He is survived by brothers, Anthony (Berna) Ho of Hawaiian Beaches and Hercules (Jackie) Freitas of Kurtistown.
Reid Agin
Reid Christopher Agin, 58, of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, died July 3, 2021. Born in Ohio, his hobbies were scuba diving, surfing, fishing, hunting, music, and gardening, flying and traveling.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
He is survived by his cousin, Rex Barker; hanai brothers, Ross (Jeannie) Cumberledge, Richard Davis, Mark; numerous aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.