Harold Akio Higuchi, 78, of Hilo died Jan. 28 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a retired cook and member of Waiakea Pirates. Services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Maureen Higuchi of Honolulu; son, Glenn Higuchi of California; daughters, Jeri (Steve) Mosley of Maui and Gail (John) Miyao of Honolulu; brothers, Albert Higuchi of Washington state; sisters, Tsutae Nonaka Chizuru (Joe) Sugawara and Setsuko Isa of Hilo, Kaoru (Yoshiharu) Mikami and Carol Yano of Honolulu; sister-in-law, Amy Higuchi of Hilo; four grandchildren; nephews, nieces, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Harold Akio Higuchi, 78, of Hilo died Jan. 28 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a retired cook and member of Waiakea Pirates. Services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Maureen Higuchi of Honolulu; son, Glenn Higuchi of California; daughters, Jeri (Steve) Mosley of Maui and Gail (John) Miyao of Honolulu; brothers, Albert Higuchi of Washington state; sisters, Tsutae Nonaka Chizuru (Joe) Sugawara and Setsuko Isa of Hilo, Kaoru (Yoshiharu) Mikami and Carol Yano of Honolulu; sister-in-law, Amy Higuchi of Hilo; four grandchildren; nephews, nieces, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Aimeelyn “Tita” Pumehana Poai, 34, of Hilo died Feb. 3 at Pohai Malama Care Center in Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and member of Zion House of Praise. Celebration of life, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 23, at Haili’s tent in Panaewa. Casual attire. Survived by fiancé, Ronson Hauanio of Hilo; father, Abraham Poai Sr. of Hilo; brothers, Kahei Poai Jr. and Keawe (Nicole) Poai of Hilo, Kupili Poai of Pearl Harbor, Oahu; four nephews, a niece, one great aunt, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
Ellen Lei Roy, 73, of Kailua-Kona died Feb. 13. Born in Hilo, she was a housekeeper for the former Thurston Estate. Celebration of life to be announced at a later date. Survived by sons, Charles Roy and Olney Roy of Kailua Kona; daughter Lori Batino of Hilo; brothers, Clinton (Shelly) Naungayan of Hilo and Benjamin Naungayan of Pahoa; sister, Florence Aiona of Opihikao; one grandchild. Arrangements by A Hui Hou Crematory & Funeral Home of West Hawaii.
George E. Soper, 90, of Volcano and formerly of Kailua, Oahu, died Jan. 1 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired aircraft maintenance superintendent at Hickam Air Force Base and member of Kaneohe Yacht Club, Volcano Country Club, Po‘akahi Golf Club, Big Island Ukulele Guild, Kani Le‘a ma Kilauea Ukulele Group, Lei Hulu O Hilo and with his late wife Pat, co-founded the Volcano Pupu Gang. Visitation 10–11 a.m. Saturday, Feb, 23 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 11 a.m.. Interment 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 1 at National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu. Survived by son, James R. Roper of Austin, Texas; daughter, Linda (Nelson) Makua of Keaau; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Melinda Keaolani Souza, 69, of Haleiwa, Oahu, died Feb, 4 at Pohai Malama Care Center in Hilo. Born in Honolulu, she was a warehouse supervisor for Haleiwa IGA Supermarket and member of Hawaiian Civic Club. Visitation 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Liliuokalani Protestant Church in Haleiwa, Oahu. Celebration of life at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Ronald Souza of Waialua, Oahu; daughters, Marlene (James) Abrigo of Wahiawa, Oahu, Maylene (Richard) Kamakea of Waialua and Melanie (George) Hatchie of Haleiwa; sons, Russel (Karen) Souza of Kapolei, Oahu, and Ryan (Christina) Souza of Hawaii Kai, Oahu; brothers, Julian (Bernice) Aki of Kahului, Maui, Kalani (Suzanne) Aki and Harmon (Raene) Aki of Glenwood, Harvey (Vicky) Aki of Pearl City, Oahu, Hilton (Adriana) Aki of Roseburg, Ore., Hunter (Lynne) Aki of Corona, Calif.; sisters, Lani Schreiber of Makakilo, Oahu, and Luana (Bob) Peterson of San Diego 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.