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. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or via email to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
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Ray Rabena Sr.
Ray Baclig Rabena Sr., 65, of Hilo died Nov. 13, 2021, at Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu. Born in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, he was a nurse’s aide for Care Resources Hawaii, tax preparer for Local Kine Tax Service and HR Block and a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo.
Friends may call at 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at Dodo Mortuary chapel for a 6 p.m. service. Friends may also call at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at St. Joseph Catholic Church for Mass; burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Online streaming of services is available at oneroomstreaming.com. Click on Watch Event ID: dodomortuary. Password: STY656.
He is survived by wife, Asuncion Rabena of Hilo; daughters, Leslie (Richard) Bavone of Florida, and Chalsea Rabena of Hilo; son, Ray Rabena Jr. of Hilo; hanai son, Pono Rabena of Henderson, Nevada; mother, Exaltacion Rabena of Hilo; sister, Imelda (Matthew) Revuelto of Henderson, Nevada; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousin, aunts and uncles.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Francis Simeona Sr.
Francis “Pickles” Kaipoaloha Simeona Sr., 80, of Hilo, died Nov. 20, 2021 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Sept. 22, 1941, in Honolulu, he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Keaukaha Ward where he worked as a maintenance worker.
Friends may call at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hilo Stake Center, for a 10:45 a.m. service; burial to follow at Alae Cemetery, Mormon Section. Casual attire and flowers welcomed.
He is survived by children, Kealoha’aina (Christopher) Wilkes of Hilo, Francis (Kalehua) Simeona Jr. of Mountain View and Joseph (Raynell) Espaniola of Kea’au; step-children, Pedro Nisperos Jr. of Hilo, Marie (Bobby) Vares of Mountain View and Gardenia Nisperos of Kurtistown; four grandchildren; two great-grandsons; and nieces, nephews, cousins and hanai family.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Tomiko Maier
Tomiko Maier, 89, of Hilo died Dec. 3, 2021, at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Okinawa, she was a retired technician for Sears, Roebuck and Co. in San Diego and a member of Hui Okinawa.
Private services. Family requests no flowers and no koden (monetary gifts).
She is survived by son, Kaoru (Paula) Weightman of Hilo; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Gail Olson
Gail Lehuanani Ka’awa Olson, 59, of Na’alehu died Dec. 8, 2020. Born June 4, 1961, in Pahala, she was a lomi lomi practitioner and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Friends may call at 9 a.m. Dec. 12 at Naalehu County Cemetery for an 11 a.m. service; burial to follow.
She is survived by daughters, Nohea (Trice) Ka’awa of Palauhulu, Puaolena Randall of California, Hi’ilani (Bugz) Lipe Luta of Kahuku, Nani (Ama) Lipe Salas of Wai’ohinu, and Kaila (Callen) Ka’awa-Koi of Pahala; sons, Halley (Bryn) Ka’awa of Kama’oa, Michael Ka’awa of Wai’ohinu, Pohakea Lipe of Na’alehu, and Pomaikai Olson of Wai’ohinu; 16 grandchildren; brother, Eric (Kim) Ka’awa of Naalehu; and sisters, Sarah Lazar of Waipahu, Oahu, Doris Silva of Waiakea, Evon Thompson of Na’alehu, and Stephanie (Karl) Mento of Kona Palisades.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Kahoalii-o-Kalani Calles
Kahoalii-o-Kalani Kaili “Tweetie” Calles, 92, of Keaukaha, died Nov. 17, 2021 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired customer service representative for the former Aloha Airlines and a member and former Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Keaukaha Ward).
Friends may call for visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Friends may also call at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Hilo Stake Center) for an 11:30 a.m. service; burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Online streaming via Zoom; ID: 831 6868 8003. Password: 617009.
He is survived by sons, Zachary (Josephine) Calles of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Elgin (Patricia) Calles of Honolulu, and Les (Lisa) Calles of Orem, Utah; daughters, Gwen (Tim) Tirrell of Keaukaha, Greycelyn Maluo of Hilo, Faith (Peter) Paulo of Keaukaha, and Tweetie (Ngatai) Smith of Hamilton, New Zealand; brother, David Kalani Calles Sr. of Hilo; an d numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.