Obituaries for February 4
Reginald Franklin Gomes, 85, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 18 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a pipe fitter, for Royal Construction, Kiewit Pacific, Goodfellow Brothers and Isemoto Contractors, member of Hawaii Laborers Union, NRA, Kona Horseshoe Pitchers Club and St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and Hawaii Army National Guard veteran. Visitation 9:15-10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kailua-Kona. Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Kona Memorial Park in Holualoa. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Survived by sons, Stanley Gomes and Benjamin Palani (Robyn Scott) Gomes of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Wendy (Michael) Martinez of Kapaa, Kauai, Linda (James) Taketa and Cindy (Stanford) Santiago of Kailua-Kona; brother, Roland Gomes of Nevada; sister, Joshlyn LaBarr of Oregon; sisters-in-law, Gloria Gomes and Mary Gomes of California; 11 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for February 2
Lourisla Kauanoe, 69, of Kapaau died Jan. 11 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. She was born in Honolulu. Visitation 9:30-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Kalahikiola Church. Services 10-11:30 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Allen P. Kauanoe Sr.; daughters, Kimberly Kauanoe and January Kauanoe; sons, Allen and Johnpatrick Kauanoe; sisters, Gwendolyn Wallace, Barbara Jean Karatti, Zariai (Peter) Kaheaku and Naomi Thornton; brothers, Charles Karatti, Richard (Cindy) Karatti and Rialrome (Anu) Thornton; five grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Obituaries for February 1
Adrian “Butch” Takashi Iida, 75, of Hilo died Dec. 28 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a retired manager for the former Sears in Hilo, teacher at Waiakeawaena Elementary School and U.S. Army Reserve veteran. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Elsie Iida of Hilo; sons, Justin Iida and Jeremy (Ellen Namnama) Iida of Hilo; brothers, Marvin (Jane) Iida and Timothy (Ellen) Iida of Hilo; sister, Jennifer (Terry) Pickeral of Bellingham, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Soonja Iida of Honolulu and Sally (Mark) Asao of Kapolei, Oahu; brothers-in-law, Donald Matsunaga of Redwood City, Calif., Roy (Cleta) Matsunaga of Honolulu and Charles Matsunaga of San Mateo, Calif.; two grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 31
Sachie Fukuda, 91, of Hilo died Dec. 27 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired executive secretary to the chief of police and member of Church of the Holy Cross in Hilo. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Todd Fukuda of Hilo and Daryl (Catalina) Fukuda of Irvine, Calif.; daughter, Shari (Rick) Wagatsuma of Mililani, Oahu; two granddaughters; nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for Jan. 30
Fujiko Akamatsu, 104, of Kealakekua, died Jan. 8 in Kailua-Kona. She was a former cashier at Oshima Store, a retired kitchen worker at the Kona Community Hospital, and a member of the Daifukuji Soto Mission in Honalo, where visitation will be held 10 a.m. Feb. 10, with funeral to follow at 11 a.m. Survived by daughters Mildred (Stanley) Tromberg of Plantation, Fla., Linda (Samuel) Camp of Honolulu, Phyllis (Solomon) Alani of Kona; son-in-law Rex Bennett of Las Vegas, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 28
Karen Baraoidan, 72, of Papaikou, died Jan. 16 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, she was a bookmaker. Visitation to be held 3-5 p.m. Feb. 3 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, with prayer service at 5 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by sons Alex (Michelle) Galdones of Hilo, Derek (Cheryl) Sabino of Lanai and Jason (Wendy) Baraoidan of Gardena, Calif.; daughters Francell Garza and Rochelle Guzman of Gardena, Calif., Denise (Robbie) Perkins of Las Vegas, Kierra Bryant of Papaikou and Leah (Roger) Carvalho of Hilo; brothers Neal Macia and Gene Mancia of Hilo; sister Susan Gabris of Honolulu; 15 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for Jan. 26
Noli Dela Merced Acol, 59, of Keaau, died Dec. 19 in Hilo. Born in the Philippines, he worked as a Department of Transportation bus driver. Celebration of life to be held 1 p.m. Jan. 27 at Zion’s House of Praise Holiness Church. Survived by wife Sandra M. Talbert-Acol, son Isaiah A. J. Acol, fiance Robin A. Travis, daughter Sharay (Edward Patton) Acol, and numerous grandchildren, aunties, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Obituaries for Jan. 25
Richard Scott Gribbin, 77, of Hilo, died Jan. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Trenton, N.J., he was a quality control manager with Jas. W. Glover, Ltd. Prayer service to be held at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Honomu, with funeral service at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 30 at the same location. Final internment to take place at a later date. Casual attire, no flowers. Survived by wife Barbara of the Big Island, daughters Mary and Melanie of California, brother Jon of New Jersey, and three grandsons. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 24
Alan “Scott” Aki, 53, of Hilo, died Dec. 26 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a cook and owner of DNS Catering. Visitation to be held 10 a.m. – 11 .m. Feb. 17 at New Hope Church Hilo with celebration of life to follow at 11 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by friend Derick Kai of Kona; sisters Kori (Ka‘eo) Higaki, Kelsy (David) Apao and Shaye (Kimo) Keliipaakaua of Hilo; brother Brandon (Charmaine) Chinen of Hilo; uncle Neal (Lihn) Aki of Hilo; and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
Obituaries for January 21
Paula Thomas Anderson, 79, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 18 in Kealakekua. Born in Shafter, Calif., she was an administrator for the San Mateo Community College District. Services held. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by nieces, Sara (Scott) Pierce of Johnstown, Colo., and Kelley Hackett of Avery, Calif.; nephew, Kirt (Claire) Hackett of Ben Lomond, Calif.; grandnieces and grandnephews. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 19
Richard Causer, 68, of Hawaii Island died Jan. 3. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
Obituaries for January 18
Gale Fumiko Brumaghim, 68, died Aug. 29 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kealakekua, she was a grocery store cashier and stock clerk for a local grocery store and worked a coffee farm alongside her husband. Private services held on January 10. Survived by husband, Wayne Brumaghim of Kealakekua; son, Wayne Brumaghim Jr. of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Krystal Brumaghim of Kealakekua; sisters, Janell Okumura and Kathleen Yamagata, both of Kealakekua. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 17
Gale Fumiko Brumaghim, 68, died Aug. 29 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kealakekua, she was a grocery store cashier and stock clerk for a local grocery store and worked a coffee farm alongside her husband. Private services held on January 10. Survived by husband, Wayne Brumaghim of Kealakekua; son, Wayne Brumaghim Jr. of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Krystal Brumaghim of Kealakekua; sisters, Janell Okumura and Kathleen Yamagata, both of Kealakekua. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 16
Murray C. Gardner, PhD., 91, of Waimea died Jan. 2 at North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., was a co-founder of GeothermEx, a geothermal consulting firm in California and U.S. Marine Corps Reserves captain who received his Bachelors Degree from Brooklyn College and his PhD. from the University of Arizona. His interests included swimming, hiking, reading and gardening. His philanthropic interests included Guide Dogs For the Blind. Services noon Wednesday (Jan. 17) at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by wife, Donna Lee Gardner of Waimea; children, Annette L. (Charles Simons) Gardner of Laytonville, Calif., Michael-M. C. (Amy Dickman) Gardner of Lake Charles, La.; brother, Sherwin Gardner, of Washington, D.C.; a grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 14
Harry Char, 95, of Hilo, died Jan. 7 on Oahu. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired school teacher and principal, and a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves. Visitation to be held 9 a.m. Feb. 3 at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe, with services to follow at 10 a.m. No flowers, aloha attire. Survived by son Duane, daughter Dana, their families, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Arrangements by Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Obituaries for January 12
Helen Hart Aganus, 89, of Papaaloa died Dec. 14 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Paauilo, she was a retired secretary for Hamakua Medical Center and member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 20) at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Honokaa Catholic Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Gary Aganus of Honokaa; daughter, Garolyn Aganus Akiona of Kona; son, Stacy Aganus of Honokaa; sisters-in-law, Caroline Hart and Kazue Hart of Honokaa, Charlene (Michael) Sohriakoff of Kona, Jane Aganus of Waimea; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 11
Mildred Hisae Hara, 91, of Hilo died Dec. 31 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired secretary to the dean at Hawaii Community College. Private services held. Survived by sons, Chris (Kristi Kubo) Hara of Hilo and Brent (Heather) Hara of Tigard, Ore.; daughter, Lisanne Hara of Beaverton, Ore.; sister, Ethel Kakimoto of Honolulu; brothers, Walter (Betty Jane) Matsumoto and Mitchell (Denise) Matsumoto of Honolulu; five granddaughters; aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters- and brother-in-law. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 10
Larry Faustino Castillas, 81, of Pahoa died Dec. 18 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a delivery and warehouse worker for Hilo Rice Mill and timer for Hawaii Canoe Racing Association. Celebration of life at a later date. Condolences to: Shirley Castillas, 15-154 S. Punikahakai Lp., Pahoa, HI 96778. Survived by wife, Shirley Castillas; son, Jayson (Marla Makuakane) Castillas Sr. of Pahoa; daughter, Marcie (Patrick Crivello) Castillas of Keaau; goddaughter, Ron Mata of Hilo; brother, Ronald (Sheena Sunio) Castillas of Hilo; six grandchildrenand nine great-grandchildren; cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Obituaries for Jan. 9
Wayne-Adam Lance Arruda, 51, of Honolulu died Oct. 28. He was born in Hilo. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Mililani Mortuary Makai Chapel. Service at 10 am. Burial 11 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park Cemetery. Survived by mother, Loretta (Lori) Enos Arruda; sisters, Sherriann Arruda and Caprice Arruda of Las Vegas; brother Alexander Robert Arruda of Honolulu. Arrangements by Mililani Mortuary.
Obituaries for January 8
Idamae K. Galan, 64, of Kapaau died Dec. 3 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Kohala, she was a homemaker, worked for Kamehameha Pharmacy and member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation 8:30-9:45 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi. Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Urn burial to follow at Hawi Catholic Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Gregory Galan; sons, Dwayne (Berna) Galan and Eddie Galan; daughters, Selena (Kenny Ruiz) Galan and Catherine (Zachary) Costa; sisters, Bernadette (Mark) Shimono, Kathy (Jason) Chang and Mary (Darryl) Isa; six grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.