Andrew Arthur Akau Sr., 69, of Waimea and Waikoloa died Dec. 26 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Puukapu, Waimea, he was retired from Operating Engineer Local 3, a member of Imiola Congregational Church, Kahea O Ka Ahiu Hunting
Andrew Arthur Akau Sr., 69, of Waimea and Waikoloa died Dec. 26 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Puukapu, Waimea, he was retired from Operating Engineer Local 3, a member of Imiola Congregational Church, Kahea O Ka Ahiu Hunting Club and Hawaiian Civic Club, president of Hui Ohana O Akau and active in Waimea and West Hawaii youth sports programs. Visitation 8-11 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 23) at Imiola Congregational Church. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Urn committal to follow in the church cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by companion, Sandy Tabayunda of Waikoloa; sons, Andrew (Raeann) Akau Jr. of Waimea, Walter Aniban, Tani Tabayunda and Randy (Chanel) Tabayunda of Waikoloa, Richard Aniban of California; daughter, Daida Akau of Waimea; sister, Janet Stevens of Waimea; brothers, Apitai (Julie) Akau Jr. of Hilo and Alex Akau of Waimea; 11 grandchildren; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Celestina “Tina” Cardines Alika, 90, of Papaaloa died Dec. 28 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Honaunau, she was a housewife and coffee picker. Visitation 8:30-9:30 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 21) at St. Michael Catholic Church, Kailua-Kona. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Henry (Gina) Cardines of California, Eddie (Robin) Cardines of Mountain View, Robert (Joann) Cardines of Puna, Ronnie Cardines of Kona and Gilbert (Angie) Cardines of Hilo; daughter, Tina Marie (Sidney) Salboro of Papaaloa; daughters-in-law, Cecilia Cardines of Pahoa and Lora Cardines of Pepeekeo; sisters, Della Tapiro and Donna Drummond of Hilo, Magdalene Pucong of Kaawaloa, Agnes Kihara of Honalo; sisters-in-law, Puahala Delaries of Hilo, Esther Delaries and Gertrude Delaries of Kona; 21 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
David Robert Aukai Awana, 71, of Ninole died Dec. 28 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired state corrections officer and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Honomu branch and Royal Order of Kamehameha. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 23) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Hilo Stake Center. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Graveside committal services 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Denise Arlene Awana of Ninole; daughter, Robyn Awana of Umatila, Wash.; sons, Makanalani Awana, Nehemiah Awana and Joseph Awana of Ninole; stepsons, Kawika Foster, Aaron Foster and Nathan Foster of Ninole, Kalani Foster and Andrew Foster of Orem, Utah; stepdaughters, Rachel (Charlie) Fisher of Hilo, Rebecca (Eric) Nieves of Salt Lake City, Katherine (Chris) Kennison of Lake Isabella, Calif., and Christina (Max) Pahio of Papaikou; brothers, Bernard Awana of North Carolina, Christopher Awana of Puna, Alvin (Lita) Awana of Oahu and Edwin (Kathleen) Awana of California; sisters, Carol (Richard) Martinez of Alameda County, Calif., Marilyn (Larry) Palma and Lynette (Gregory) Childers of Las Vegas, Charlotte Beigue of Alabama; two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and 10 step-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
David A. “Dave” “Bene” Benevides, 67, of Keaau, died Dec. 26 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a self-employed contractor for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, member of Hawaiian Golf Club, player-coach for Boyz II Men Softball Team and coached women’s softball. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 23) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by companion, Lyla Kauwe-Vogeler of Hawaiian Paradise Park; mother, Rose Marie (Thomas) Ciaramitaro of Antioch, Calif.; sons, Morgan (Athena) Benevides of Oahu, David (Jen) Benevides of Hawaiian Beaches, Ivan (Sonia) Kauwe and Kalai (Chanda) Vogeler of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Thomas (Ivana) Vogeler of Ainaloa; sister, Darla (Hugh) Lovell of Waimea; brothers, Delbert (Shelley) Benevides and Desmond (Lani) Benevides of Hilo; hanai son, Ryan (Rachelle) Grace of Honokaa; brothers-in-law, Charles (Ligaya) Laniawe, Richard Kauwe and Stanley (Kelly) Kauwe of Hilo, Henry (Nora) Kauwe of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Leroy (Juana) Laniawe of California; sisters-in-law, Grace (Gary Rawson) Kauwe of Las Vegas, Helen (Tom) Kauwe and Judy Kauwe of California, Alberta (Randy) Teeples of Hawaiian Paradise Park; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grand and great-grandnieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Perlita Cabanting Defiesta, 65, of Keaau, formerly of Kaunakakai, Molokai, died Dec. 19 at Castle Medical Center in Kailua, Oahu. Born in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, she was a retired factory worker for Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. and cornfield machine operator for Funk Seeds International on Molokai. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 19) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 20) at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo. Celebration of Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park She was preceded in death by her first husband Nemecio “Piciong” Caspillo She is survived by husband, Virgilio A. Defiesta of Keaau; sons, Fernan “Vern” (Kim) Caspillo of Kalihi, Oahu, and Paul “Maji” (Marilyn) Caspillo of Kaneohe, Oahu; daughter, Teresita “Tessie” (Howard “Chuck”) DeCosta of Heeia, Oahu; brothers, Juanito “John” Cabanting of Molokai, Hermanio Cabanting of Las Vegas, Felipe Cabanting and Alvaro Cabanting of Lanai; sister, Pacita Corpuz of Narvacan, Philippines; seven grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Michael James Dixon, 57, of Kailua-Kona died Nov. 28 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in London, Ontario, Canada, he was a landscaping service manager and reserve firefighter. Services noon Saturday (Jan. 23) at Big Island Game Fishing Club south of Honokohau Harbor. Online: DixonMemories.com. Survived by father, James Dixon of Santa Barbara, Calif.; mother, Joan Dixon-Kaspersetz of Sacramento, Calif.; brother, John Dixon of Santa Barbara, Calif.; sisters, Sherry (Greg) Horton of Roseville, Calif., and Cindy (Rich) Reimer of Carmichael, Calif.; life partner, Patty Rycroft of Hana, Maui; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
