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.
Julia Ann Neal
Julia Ann Neal, 75, of Pahala died Jan. 24 at home. Born in St. Louis, she was a journalist, editor-publisher of the Ka‘u Calendar and Ka‘u News Briefs, owner of the Pahala Plantation House and Cottages, and former editor of The Garden Island newspaper. Celebration of life 9 a.m.-noon Saturday (Feb. 8) at the Pahala Plantation House, 96-3209 Maile St. in Pahala. Survived by partner, Michael C. Worthington of Pahala; brother, Forest Lee Neal II of Miami; three nephews. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Jeffrey Nathan Kahakua
Jeffrey Nathan Kahakua, 63, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 15 at homey. Born in Hilo, he was a retired Hawaii County Fire Department captain, member of the Royal Order of Kamehemeha I and 1979 Kamehameha Schools graduate. Celebration of life 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 15 at Kahalu‘u Ma Kai, the former Keauhou Beach Hotel and Kona Lagoon, with a luncheon to follow. Online condolences; ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by wife, Kam Ping Wong-Kahakua; son, Jeffrey Ka Wai Kahakua; sisters, Laurine (Lionel) Carvalho and Maurine Pineau; brother, Steven (Grace) Kahakua; nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Soichi “Sho” Hirata
Soichi “Sho” Hirata, 89, of Hilo died Dec. 27 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a meat manager for the former Miko Meats and slaughter house in Keaau, KTA Super Stores Puainako and Waikoloa village and U.S. Army veteran. Visitation 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Service at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Ella A. Hirata; sons, Randall (Kyoko), Michael and Reid (Michelle); a brother; sister, Terumi (Jackson) Chock; sisters-in-law, Janet and Eileen; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Elizabeth “Betty”
Hiroko Hamamoto
Elizabeth “Betty” Hiroko Hamamoto, 91, of Hilo died Dec. 25 at home. Born in Pahala, she was an office clerk at I. Kitagawa and Co. Ltd. and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Craig (Karlyn) Hamamoto and Kelby Hamamoto of Hilo; daughter, Kim (Carl) Tokihiro of Hilo; brother, Joe (Faye) Oie of Hilo; sister, Ester (Frank) Toves of Honolulu; sisters-in-law, Kazuyo Oie of Honolulu and Eunice Hamamoto of Hilo; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Yoshiaki Hamamoto
Yoshiaki Hamamoto, 84, of Hilo died March 8, 2015, at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Facility in Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a general contractor and proprietor of YH Contractor in Hilo and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Craig (Karlyn) Hamamoto and Kelby Hamamoto of Hilo; daughter, Kim (Carl) Tokihiro of Hilo; brother-in-law, Joe (Faye) Oie of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Eunice Hamamoto of Hilo, Ester (Frank) Toves and Kazuyo Oie of Honolulu; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Michio “Mike” Iyo
Michio “Mike” Iyo, 100, of Hilo died Jan. 9 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a baker at Pacific Bakery, deliver person for Hilo Quality Cleaners, ballroom dancing teacher, bonsai instructor who formed the Hilo Bonsai Kenkyu Club in the 1950s and the Asahi Bonsai Club in the 1980s and U.S. Army veteran. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service over his cremated remains at 10 a.m. Urn burial to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No 2. Casual attire; no koden (monetary gifts). Online condolences: dodomortuary.com. Survived by daughter, Cheryl (John) Nakashima of Hilo; daughter-in-law, Merle Yee of Hilo; a granddaughter and three great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Milagros M. Cabral
Milagros M. Cabral, 76, of Hilo died Dec. 10. Born in Puerto Rico, she was a massage therapist. No services. Survived by son, William Wagstaff of Hilo; daughters, Tippie Artinger, Angelique Artinger and Katrina Jardin of Hilo; brother, James Galindez of California; sisters, Kathy Galindez, Christine Galindez and Kitty Johnson of California; 24 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Mona Leilani Ikeda
Mona Leilani Ikeda, 87, of Hilo died Dec. 22 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she retired from Kuwaye Trucking. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Jeffrey (June) Ikeda and Jaye (Inrey) Ikeda of Hilo; brother, Albert Kualii of Nanawale; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Thomas Amar Sr.
Thomas Amar Sr., 91, of Keaau died Jan. 11 at home. Born in Pepeekeo and raised in Honomu, he worked for the former Puna Sugar Co. and was a member of the Keaau Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Alae Cemetery, Section L. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. Survived by daughters, Francine (Kenneth Sr.) Pasco and Laurie (Philip) Espiritu of Keaau, Fraline (Lawrence) Valenzuela of Hilo and Laurie (Philip) Espiritu of Keaau; sons, Thomas “Tongo” Amar Jr. and Davin “Rico” (Ceraida “Lei”) Amar of Keaau; hanai daughter, Theresa “Terri” Valensona of Mountain View; brothers, Frank (Cathy) Amar of Louisiana, Eugene “Mingo” (Cythia) Amar of Kohala and Manuel “Macky” Amar of Pepeekeo; sisters, Claudine (Juan) Roman of California, Rofina “Fina” Burns of Hawaiian Beaches, Mary Anne (Leonard “Rusty”) Pacheco of Paauilo and Mary Jane (Isaac Jr.) Fiesta of Honomu; 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jacqueline “Jackie”
Lee Ferrier
Jacqueline “Jackie” Lee Ferrier, 72, of Keaau died Dec. 19 at home. Born in Minneapolis, she was a retired floral designer at Safeway in Forest Grove, Ore., owner of Hookem Up Charters and Tours in Kona, and worked at Kona Charter Skippers and West Hawaii Electronics Kona. Private services. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by spouse, Kini Uyeshiro; brothers, Jody, Jay and Gus; hanai sons and daughters; grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Geraldine Rose Harrison
Geraldine Rose Harrison, 83, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 29 at Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua. Born in Honolulu, she was an insurance agent. No services. Survived by sons, Daniel Rutt of Denver and Jeff (Shannia) Rutt of Western Grove, Ark.; sister, LeiLani Lynch of Denver; stepsons Richard, Thomas and Aaron Harrison of Denver; two grandsons, a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter, a niece and two nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Walter Berkey
Walter Berkey, 75, of Hilo died Jan. 10 at home. Born in Indiana, he was a retired building contractor. Celebration of life noon-2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17 at Wailoa State Recreation Area Pavilion 1. Survived by wife, Lorelle Berkey of Hilo; sons, Benjamin (Julia) Berkey of Waikoloa and Joseph (Elizabeth) Berkey of Hilo; daughters, Wendy (Peter) Severino of North Carolina and Wanda Webb of Florida, brother, John (Pat) Berkey of Florida; four grandchildren; extended family. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
