John Hastings
John Hastings, 45, of Hawaii Island died June 11. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
Rodney Santa Isabel
Rodney Santa Isabel, 68, of Keaukaha, died Dec. 22 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a retired power mower operator for county Department of Parks and Recreation. No services. Survived by wife, Paula Isabel of Keaukaha; daughter, Rena Isabel of Keaukaha; hanai son, Aikane Kahawai-Queen of Keaukaha; brother, Alan Isabel of Hilo; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kenneth Maesato
Kenneth Yoshiharu Maesato, 79, of Hilo, died Dec. 11 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hakalau, he was retired from the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy Mauna Kea Telescope, an electronics technician for the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and Dynalectron Corp., U.S. Air Force Vietnam War veteran, president of Hilo Okinawan Cultural Club and member of Honohina-Papaaloa Hongwanji Mission and Hui Okinawa. Service at a later date. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Gail Tsuha-Maesato of Hilo; daughter, Samantha (Kazumichi Ohkane) Maesato of Okinawa, Japan; brothers, Gary Maesato and Glenn (Susan) Maesato of Hilo; sister, Loretta Bello of Hilo; brothers-in-law, Myron (Sandy) Tsuha of Ainaloa and Tracy Tsuha of Pepeekeo; two grandchildren; an aunt, uncles, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Joseph Moffie
Joseph John “JJ” Moffie, 46, of Ocean View died Jan. 20, 2022, at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Concord, Mass., he was a motorcycle mechanic, member of American Legion and Kona Elks Club. Survived by son, Joseph R. Moffie of Louisiana; mother, Cheryl Samm Moffie of Seminole, Fla.; brother, Scott L. Moffie of Westford, Mass.; sister Wendy L. Moffie of Dover, Mass. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Larry Hale
Larry William Hale, 69, of Captain Cook died Dec. 24 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in North Carolina, he was owner of Larry’s Tank Service, and U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran. Inurnment noon Wednesday (Jan. 10) at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Survived by wife, Ramona Hale of Captain Cook; son, Joshua Hale of Salt Lake City; daughters, Leilani (Phillip) Padilla of North Carolina, and Cristina Hale of Captain Cook; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ernest Oleyte
Ernest Cagampang Oleyte, 75, of Hilo, died Nov. 18 at Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home. Born in Honolulu, he was a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran and a welder for the former Ka‘u Sugar Co. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service 10 a.m. Committal service noon at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Survived by wife, Lenora M. Lorenzo-Oleyte of Pahala; children, Virginia (Nathan) Cretty of Las Vegas, Donavan (Dawn-Michelle) Oleyte, Justin (Tia Rose Hoops) Oleyte of Billings, Mont., Seneca Oleyte, Ernest Oleyte and Stanley Oleyte Pahala; siblings Christopher (Cyndee) Oleyte of Alabama, Elaine Oleyte of Volcano, Andy (Rose) Oleyte, Sandra (Edward) Polido and Suzanne Oleyte of Pahala, Patricia (Jack) York of Arkansas; brothers-in-law, William “Bill” Lorenzo and Frank Mahina Lorenzo Sr. of Pahala; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Minoru Shikano
Minoru Shikano, 70, of Hawaii Island died Dec, 18. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
Melvin Yokoyama, Sr.
Melvin Katsumi Yokoyama Sr., 71, of Pahala died Dec. 8 at home. Born on Oahu, he volunteered to support Ka‘u High School athletics and enjoyed fishing, family, community and talking story. Informal celebration of life and viewing Visitation 5-7 p.m. Friday (Jan. 5) at Pahala River of Life Church. Final viewing 9-10 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 6) at the church. Funeral service 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Naalehu County Cemetery. Aloha or casual attire. Survived by wife, Winifred (Tamondong) Yokoyama; son, Capt. Melvin (Rebecca) Yokoyama Jr., U.S. Navy (retired) of San Diego; daughters, Michelle G. of Islip, N.Y., Melanie (Reginald) of Gulfport, Miss., and Melissa (Janito) of Volcano; 10 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Seelyn Kawewehi
Seelyn Puanani Kawewehi, 69, of Hilo died Nov. 12 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired KTA Super Stores cashier. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Friday (Jan. 5) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Committal service to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 pavilion. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by husband, Gordon Kaipo Kawewehi of Hilo; son, Chad (Kapuanani) Kawewehi of Hilo; daughters, Charisse “Risse” Kawewehi and Chanel Kawewehi of Hilo; brother, Richard (Maylene) Kamakea Jr. of Waialua, Oahu; sisters-in-law, Pua Russell and Lehua Kawewehi of Kailua-Kona and Linda Kamakea of Honolulu; brother-in-law, Jack Kawewehi of Spokane, Wash.; two grandchildren; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Joanne Rocha
Joanne Iwalani Rocha, 80, of Kuhio Village, Waimea died Dec. 19 at home. Born in Wahiawa, Oahu, she was a retired greeter at Hawaii Preparatory Academy, formerly employed at the Mauna Kea Beach and Mauna Lani resorts and member of Annunciation Catholic Church. Visitation 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 6) at Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Hawi Catholic Cemetery in Kohala. Casual attire. Survived by son, John H. Rocha of Waimea; daughter, Jade (Henry) P. Tufaga of Waimea; sisters, Jaqueline (Hana) Visser and Julie Ann (Stanley) Kaku of Kona; brother-in-law, Henry Dulan of Kohala; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Libron of Hilo; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John M. Mills
John M. Mills, 76, of Kailua-Kona died Dec. 2 at home. Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, he was the owner of Automotive Engineering Kona, a U.S. Army veteran and avid softball player, bowler and golfer. Celebration of life noon Saturday, Jan. 6, at OTEC in Kona. Casual attire. Survived by daughters, Chasity “Christine” Mills and Michelle Mills Kramer of Kona; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lordes Galapir
Lordes Lauro Galapir, 88, of Hilo, died Dec. 25. Born in Pahala, she was a homemaker. Visitation to be held from 8-9:30 a.m. Jan. 9 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo, with funeral to take place at 9:30 a.m. and a committal service and burial to be held at noon the same day at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery #2. Survived by sons Harvey (Debbie) Galapir of Pahala, Wesley (Ella) Galapir of Keaau and Patrick (Charlene) Galapir of Hilo; daughters Josephine (Steven) Pelayo of Keaau, Faith (Michael) Derasin of Waiohinu and Zina (Payton) Hough of Kauai; sister Encarnation Evangelista of Ainaloa; brother Alfred (Leslie) Lauro of Hilo; 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
