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 to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Navy Mareko
Navy Mareko, 80, of Kailua-Kona died Dec. 24 in Tacoma, Wash. Born in Pava‘ia‘i, American Samoa, he was High Chief Fuimaono of Salani, Falealii, leader of the Samoan ministry of Kona United Methodist Church and a retired construction foreman. Funeral service 9 a.m. Friday (Jan. 24) at Kona United Methodist Church. 74-4960 Palani Rd. in Kailua-Kona. Burial to follow at Kona Memorial Park in Holualoa. Flowers welcome. Lunch and fellowship at Kona United Methodist Church after the burial. Survived by wife, Iokapeta Faisinamamalu Olione Mareko of Kailua-Kona; sons, Leko (Marleen) Mareko and Sipou (Ashley) Mareko of Kailua-Kona, Olione (Jami) Mareko of Waimea, Fa‘afetai (Maile) Mareko of Lacey, Wash., Jeremiah (Gretchen) Mareko of Kailua-Kona, Joshua Mareko of Las Vegas, Navy Manaiaoatua Mareko-Berdon of Kailua-Kona; daughters, AiaFano Mareko (Polataivao Telenise) Aunai, Sitaialofa Mareko of Kailua-Kona, Ofeira (Glenn) Igafo of Mililani, Oahu, Tupuimoega Mareko and Taioalo Charlene (Peni Kalavi) Mareko of Kailua-Kona; sister, Tupuimoega Paogofie of Kailua-Kona; brothers, Letelesa (Jean) Mareko of American Samoa, Lamosa (Lynn) Mareko of Hilo, Sipou (Lucille) Mareko and Sipele (Wela) Paogofie of Kailua-Kona; 37 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; hanai children, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home in Tacoma, Wash., and Dodo Mortuary.
Ronald Kazuki Kurokawa
Ronald Kazuki Kurokawa, 89, of Hilo died Dec. 21. Born in Paukaa, he was a retired accounting and business machines instructor for Hawaii Community College and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, Hiroshima Kenjinkai and various bonsai clubs. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Online condolences: dodomortuary.com. Survived by wife, Etsuko Kurokawa of Hilo; son, Kory (Sheri Yamasaki) Kurokawa of Mililani, Oahu; daughter, Kris Cabreira of Hilo; sister, Elsie (Richard) Asakura of Kailua-Kona; three grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Frances Coutandin
Frances Coutandin, 94, of Hilo died Jan. 20. Surviving family members are asked to call Ballard Family Mortuary-Hilo at (808) 935-8445.
Sione Laisilava Tuakalau
Sione Laisilava Tuakalau, 75, of Hilo died Jan. 11 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Tonga, he was a stonemason. Services 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at Free Church of Tonga, 15-1674 Kaloli Dr. in Keaau. Burial 1 p.m. at Alae Cemetery. Contact family for more info. Survived by sons, Osaiasi A. Tuakalau, Sesilili Tuakalau and John Tuakalau of Hilo; daughter, Carrilyn Tuakalau of North Dakota; brothers, Osaiasi S. Tuakalau of Hilo, Sione M. Tuakalau of Honolulu, Tali Tuakalau of New Zealand, Sefita Tuakalau of California and Saia Tuakalau of New Zealand; sisters, Lilinai Funaki of Missouri, Louena Laulau Peaalu of Tonga, Loluhama Nasilai of California and Toeumu Paea of New Zealand; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Darryl “Sensei Buck” Buck Wheat
Darryl “Sensei Buck” Buck Wheat, 74, of Hilo died Dec. 15 at home. Born in Honolulu, he owned a judo and jujitsu dojo in Keaau, was an assistant instructor at Higashi Hongwanji, and owned a firearms shop called Buck’s Firearms &Military Surplus. In 2015, the Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii selected six Japanese cultural treasures, one of which was Sensei Buck, who was honored at Japanese Culture Day, or Bunka no Hi. Memorial service noon-1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, at Homelani Memorial Park Chapel. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by children, Sunny, Jennifer and Chucky; sister, Pamela; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Raymond Cecil Marques
Raymond Cecil Marques, 80, of Pahala died Jan. 13 at Ka‘u Hospital. Born in Pahala, he was a journeyman mechanic for the former Ka’u Agribusiness and Ka‘u Sugar, as well as Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Co., volunteer at Ka‘u Rural Health Community Association and member of Soka Gakkai International Hawaii Chapter. Funeral service 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, at Soka Gakai International Buddhist Center, 695 Makalika Street in Hilo. Celebration of life noon Saturday, April 12, at Pahala Community Center. Survived by wife, Jessanie “Auntie Jessie” Marques of Pahala; daughters, Ressanie (Daniel) Salmo of Pahala and Jana (Julian) Kaniho of Discovery Harbor; four grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Joey Lee Kalani Pung
Joey Lee Kalani Pung, 47, of Honokaa died Jan. 13 at home. He was born in Hilo. Visitation 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Honokaa Ward. Service at 10 a.m. Burial 11:30 a.m. at Honokaa County Cemetery. Survived by wife, Sydney Popovich of Honokaa; son, Jodice Popovich-Pung of Honokaa; parents Sammie and Carrie Pung of Honokaa; sisters, Kamlin (Daniel) Dacquel and Sloane Pung of Honokaa; mother-in-law, Anna Pacheco of Laupahoehoe; sisters-in-law, Melissa Medeiros of Hilo, Rachel (Darren) Pacheco of Ookala, Erica (Kyle) Pacheco of Laupahoehoe and Sabina Kupa of Ewa Beach, Oahu; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Phillip Edward Moss
Phillip Edward Moss, 88, of Kona died Jan. 11 at Kona Community Hospital. His passions included carpentry and gardening. No services. Survived by wife, Celia T. Moss; children, and sister-in-law Erlinda, and Sr. Seldita, O.P. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Delfin Gangano
Delfin Gangano, 77 of Keaau died Dec. 11 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Olaa, she was a retired pantry chef at Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu and member of Soka Gakkai International Nichiren Buddhism. Inurnment 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at Homelani Memorial Park, Lehua Section. Eulogy and service 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at SGI-USA Buddhist Center, corner of Railroad Ave. and Makalika St. Casual Attire. Condolences: P.O. Box 1965, Keaau, HI 96749. Survived by sisters, Cecelia Almazan of Keaau and Carmen Riola of Honolulu; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Leonora Audrey
Pualani Kamai
Leonora Audrey Pualani Kamai, 77, of Hilo, formerly of Nanakuli, Oahu, died Dec. 29 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Wahiawa, Oahu, she was a child caregiver, school and tour bus driver for Roberts Hawaii, aircraft cleaner at Honolulu Airport, substitute teacher and lunch monitor at Nanakuli Elementary School, blueprint operator for Blueprints of Hawaii, laundry attendant for Laundromat and Dry Cleaning of Honolulu, packer for Dole Cannery, former member of Lamb Of God Church in Makaha, and worshipped with Pastor Eddie Holu of Nanakuli. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Aloha attire. Survived by husband, David E. Kamai of Nanakuli; daughter Audrey (Charlotte) Kepaa of Hilo; sisters, Aileen (Earl Hayner) Sayre of Cleveland, Debra Leinaala Naleieha of Kaneohe, Oahu, and Donna Ann (Lloyd) Bergau of Pahoa; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Eric Kiyoshi Fukuda
Eric Kiyoshi Fukuda, 69, of Hilo died Dec. 26 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a public health administrator with the state Department of Health Mental Health Division and member of Hilo Hooganji Mission. Visitation 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 4 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Cindy Fukuda of Hilo; son, Kelsey (Andrea Li) Fukuda of Hilo; daughter, Sara (Tylor) Kahler of Hilo; mother, Sueko Fukuda of Hilo; sisters, Pauline (Warren) Sugimoto of Mililani, Oahu, May (Wayne) Wada of Lihue, Kauai, and Elna (Joseph) Gomes of Hilo; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jaime Tomas
Jaime Tomas, 87, of Hilo, died Jan. 10 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired U.S. Army first sergeant serving during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, retired operations manager for the former Big Island Honda, sales manager at the former Hilo Motors co-founder and president of Sampaguita Club of Hilo, director of the Junior Miss Sampaguita Pageant, held leadership roles in United Filipino Council of Hawaii and Big Island Filipino Community Council, also served as senior vice commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 6, member of the American Legion Post 3 and Big Island Retired Military Association. Visitation 8:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday (Feb.6) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Prayer service at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire; no flowers. Memorial tributes to the Tomas Ohana, P.O. Box 4836, Hilo, HI 96720. Survived by wife, Mary E. Fuerte-Tomas of Hilo; children, Jaime Tomas Jr. of Hilo, Michael Fuerte of Maui, Cencia Chun of Honolulu, Desiree (Paul) Medeiros of Hilo, Kerry Darris of Ookala and Kathy (Leland) Wong of Laupahoehoe; sisters, Helen Latorre and Rose Maikui of Honolulu; sisters-in-law, Bernadette Tomas and Marina Tomas of Hilo, Linda Tomas of Honolulu; brothers-in-law, Ric (Roger Farnsworth) Bumanglag of Kona and Reuben Bumanglag of Kohala; 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Dorcas Eloise
Hitchcock Farr
Dorcas Eloise Hitchcock Farr, 94, of Hilo died Dec. 26 at Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Born in Pukoo, Molokai, she was a homemaker and member of Hilo Seventh-day Adventist Church. Visitation 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 30) at Hilo Seventh-day Adventist Church. Funeral service at 6 p.m. Visitation again 9-10 a.m. Friday (Jan. 31) at Hilo Seventh-day Adventist Church. Prayer service at 10 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by daughter, Debra (Jesus Jr.) del Mar of Hilo; son, William Horace (Anna) Farr III of Hilo; sisters, Ottina Haight of Lanikai, Oahu, and Paula Lascano of Corona, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Sylvia Taka of Hilo, Victoria Chan of California and Kay Ching of Kailua, Oahu; a grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
