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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Florence Keliikoa
Florence “Flo” Keahialaka Keliikoa, 89, of Hilo, died on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 at home. Born Sept. 4, 1933, in Honokaa, she was a retired housekeeper for Hilo Hospital and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Keaukaha Ward. Visitation will be held 9 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 13 at Hilo Stake Center; funeral service at 11 a.m.; burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima Section. Casual attire. She is survived by, children, Jonathan (Tess) Keliikoa, Harvey Keliikoa, Belinda (Dias) Soram, Raynette (Richard) Oei, Hiram (Leiana) Keliikoa and Jessica (Graylen) Kaleohano; sister, Frances Camp; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Elena Gapusan
Elena Fabro Gapusan, 86, of Kapaau, died Nov. 30, 2022 at her residence. Born in the Philippines on June 19, 1936, she was a seamstress a the former Royal Waikoloan Resort and member of the Kohala Filipino Club and Sacred Hearth Catholic Church. Visitation will be held at 8 a.m. Jan. 14 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi; funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. followed by burial in Hawi County Cemetery. The family requests casual attire and flowers are welcome. She is survived by daughter, Mary Ellen (Anthony) Gapusan-Hasegawa of Kapaau; brother, Ernesto (Elvira) Fabro of Kailua-Kona; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a niece and nephew; one grandniece and two grandnephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary
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Robert Wilson
Robert Geoffrey Wilson, 89, of Waikoloa, died Dec. 27, 2022 at home. Born Aug. 18, 1933, in Norwood, Massachusetts, he was a U.S. Army veteran and optometrist. Graveside services held at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. He is survived by wife, Heidi; daughter, Deborah Wilson of York Beach, Maine; one grandchild and one great-grandchild. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
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Billy Soares
Billy John Soares, 47, of Honokaa, died Dec. 15, 2022 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born July 6, 1975, he was a mechanic and hunter. Friends may call on Jan. 14 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa, visitation from 8 to 9:30 a.m.; celebration of Mass at 10 a.m. Family requests white casual attire and flowers are welcome. He is survived by wife, Juliet Soares of Honokaa; hanai son, Kalani (Marjorie) Range of Hawaii; sisters, Milagros (Frank) Akini and Raynette Udac of Hawaii; uncles, Eduardo (Gracita) Pascua and George (Norma) Pascua; numerous niece and nephews and aunties and uncles. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Barba ra Jayne
Barbara Lois Jayne, 85, of Kailua-Kona, died Dec. 31, 2022 in Kailua-Kona. She was born Oct. 8, 1937, in Sheridan, Wyoming. Private services will be held. Services provided by Ballard Family Mortuary.
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Adolfo Bustamante
Adolfo Bustamante, 67, of Pahoa, died Dec. 14, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in the Philippines, he was a carpenter. Private services held. He is survived by brothers, Antonio (Jeanie) Bustamante Sr. and Angel Bustamante of Oahu, Alfredo Bustamante of Ohio and Arnaldo (Joyce) Bustamante Sr. of Washington; sisters, Amelia (Abel) Garcia, Angelyn (Phillip) Lewis and Adelaide Aguilar of Oahu, Arnida (Jonathan) Hansen of Washington; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Grace Arakaki
Grace Yoko Arakaki, 81, of Hilo, died Dec. 4, 2022, at her home. Born in Honolulu on March 15, 1941, she was the office manager of Dodo Mortuary Life Plan, Inc., in Hilo, and member of the Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and Hui Okinawa. Visitation will be held at Dodo Mortuary chapel on Jan. 15 from 1 to 2 p.m.; memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers or koden (monetary donations). She is survived by husband, James Arakaki of Hilo; daughters, Anne (Jean-Louis Loveridge) Tanaka of Honolulu and Joan Arakaki of Hilo; son, Grant (Lauren Suzuki) Arakaki of Honolulu; brothers, Thomas (Mae) Yamamoto of Kailua (Oahu), George Yamamoto of Carson, California, James (Mae) Yamamoto of Aiea and Paul (Nancy) Yamamoto of Torrance, California; sisters, Florence (George) Omura of Honolulu, Claire Tokeshi of Aiea, May (Edward) Imada of Honolulu and Carol Maglasang of Wahiawa; sister-in-law, Mildred Yamamoto of Kailua (Oahu); and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Julie Fujitani
Julie Ann Martines Fujitani, 63, of Waimea, died Nov. 17, 2022 at Hilo Medical Center. Born July 9, 1959, Honokaa, she was an A+ worker for the state Department of Education and worked as a cafeteria monitor, and was member of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea. Friends may call Jan. 14 at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea, visitation from 9 to 9:45 a.m.; memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Urn committal/burial to follow at the Kalopa Catholic Cemetery in Honokaa She is survived by spouse, Dean Fujitani of Waimea; sister, Susan (Dale) Williams of Bremerton, Washington; nieces, Kaili and Summer; nephew, Logan; hanai-sister, Freda Hart of Waimea; aunts, Violet Meeks of Torrance, California and Joyce Martines of Hilo; hanai aunt, Caroline Hart of Waimea; god-daughter, Tiana Hart Aranaydo of Waimea, Hawaii. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Dean Fujitani
Dean Hiroshi Fujitani, 65, of Waimea, died Dec. 5, 2022 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born Oct. 15, 1957, in Honokaa, he was a retired maintenance supervisor for a hotel in Waikoloa, member of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea, worked for Hamakua Sugar Plantation and was a self-employed Handyman. Friends may call on Jan. 14 at The Annunciation Church in Waimea, visitation from 9 to 9:45 a.m.; memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Urn committal/burial to follow at the Kalopa Catholic Cemetery in Honokaa. He is survived by sister, Gale Fujitani of Honolulu; brother, Roger (Wendy) Fujitani of Honolulu; niece, Madison; aunt, Nadine (Kenji) Sato of Honolulu and Joyce Martines of Hilo; god-daughter, Tiana Hart Aranaydo of Waimea. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.