Hanako Arai, 89, of Hilo died Jan. 8 at home. Born in Hakalau, she was a retired school custodian, homemaker and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin and Fujinkai. Services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by husband,
Hanako Arai, 89, of Hilo died Jan. 8 at home. Born in Hakalau, she was a retired school custodian, homemaker and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin and Fujinkai. Services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by husband, Toichi Arai of Hilo; son, Reginald (Patricia) Arai of Hilo; daughters, JoAnn (Alan) Koga of Waimea, Shirley Arai and Audrey (Thomas) Tanouye of Hilo, Charlene (Ashley) Oshima of Makakilo, Oahu; brother, Haruo (Joyce) Meguro of Kaneohe, Oahu; sisters-in-law, Shimomi Araujo and Mildred Arai of Hilo; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
S. Ray “Doc” Fornof, 87, of Pepeekeo died Jan. 4 at home. Born in Pittsburgh, he was a sales representative for Nordskog Industries and Grainger Industrial Supply, U.S. Marine Corps World War II veteran, member of Iwo Jima USMC Memorial Association, University of Hawaii at Hilo Athletic Hall of Fame, volunteer for UHH Athletic Department, past president and member of the Vulcan Booster Club and many times its volunteer of the year. No services. Survived by son, Keith Fornof of Santa Ana, Calif.; daughter, Pamela Burger Fornof of Portland, Ore.; two other children; brother, Richard Leigh “Dic” Fornof of Northridge, Calif.; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Francis E. Nelson Hali‘aalohanokekupuna Frazier, 101, of Kauai died Oct. 19 at Dullaga Care Home in Kapaa. Born in Honolulu, she was a Hawaiian-language translator who worked at the Hawaii State Archives translating the Native Hawaiian Register. Her translated books are “Kekauhaupio, Kamehameha’s Warrior Aide,” taken from The Rev. Samuel Desha’s newspaper articles, and “The True Story of Kaluaikoolau.” She also translated deeds, titles and other documents and donated to The Salvation Army through the Hawaii Community Foundation. Committal 1 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 20) at Homelani Memorial Park. Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by daughter, Stephanie Frazier of Puhi, Kauai; former daughter-in-law, Diane (Stanley Araujo) Moore of Mountain View; three granddaughters and five great-grandchildren; three nephews, cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
Pearl Yoshie (Otani Kataoka) Lueftner, 79, of Hilo died Dec. 19 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was a former owner of Pearly Jeans in Hilo and Pearly’s Exclusive in Kona and Honolulu and member of Soka Gakkai International-USA. Visitation 2-3 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 23) at Soka Gakkai International Chapel, corner of Railroad Avenue and Makalika Street in Hilo. Memorial service at 3 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by sons, Kurtis (Sharon) Kataoka and Karl (Elizabeth) Kataoka of Hilo, Troy Kataoka of Maui; daughter, Kathy “Missy” (Bert Macanas) Kataoka of Keaau; brother, George (Lei) Otani of Kurtistown; 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alvin Tadashi Mihara, 51, of Mountain View died Dec. 31 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Fairfax, Va., he worked for Dodo Mortuary and enjoyed woodworking, gardening, fishing and archery. Visitation 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 23) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Eleanor Mihara of Mountain View; sons, Walter Mihara and Alvin Mihara Jr. of Mountain View; daughter, Kawehilani (William) Bowers of Glenwood; sisters, Lucy (Harry Chibana) Nagai and Lorna (Roland Gacayan, Jr.) Mihara of Hilo; hanai mother, Eunice Nagel of Kauai; four granddaughters; uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Robert John Morris, Jr., 62, of Ocean View, formerly of Kauai, died Jan. 4. Born in New York, he was a surfer, surf-charter business owner and house painter. Private services; no flowers. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by brothers, Geoffrey Morris of Ridgefield, Conn., Paul Morris of New York and John Morris of Bay Head, N.J.; sister, Joan Morris Barry of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Ruth Ann Nakasone, 91, of Kapaau died Jan. 7 at home. Born in Monticello, Iowa, she was a retired Kohala High School business teacher. Services held. No flowers or koden (monetary offerings). Survived by husband, Yoshimi Nakasone of Kapaau; other relatives in Iowa and Minnesota. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Cyrin J. Raymond, 36, of Kealakekua died Jan. 13. He was born in Kohala. Private services. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by son, Kamahemeha Raymond of Hilo; daughter Iwalani Raymond of Hilo; brothers, Moses (Brandi) Raymond of Waikoloa, Charleston Raymond and Charles (Jen-nai) Raymond of Kailua-Kona; sister, Lurline Raymond of Mexico. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Saturnina “Nina” Mercado Velez aka “Da Pasteles Lady,” 86, of Honokaa, died Jan. 12 at home. Born in Kona, she was owner of Velez Farm and a member of Puerto Rican Club. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 21) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 7 p.m. Graveside committal service 1 p.m. Friday (Jan. 22) at Mauna Kea Memorial Park, Papaikou. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Joseph (Diva) Velez Jr. of Hilo, Dan (Gayle) Velez of California and David (Carol) Velez of Honokaa; daughters, Silvia Conn of Honokaa and Evelyn Velez of Kona; sister, Cecelia Torres of Oahu; 15 grandchildren; great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Allan Ventura, 76, of Kailua-Kona died Dec. 31 in Honolulu. Born in Hawi, he was a maintenance worker. Celebration of life memorial service 3 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 23) at Mahukona Park in Hawi. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by wife, Rita Ventura of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Roxanne (Tim) Gillary of Michigan; sister, Penny (Alan) Longberg of Hawi; and two grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Grant Kingsley Warner, 52, of Kailua-Kona, died Jan. 9 at home. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he was a business owner, electrical engineer, graphic artist, professional skier and gardener. Services held. Survived by wife, Melanie Warner of Kailua-Kona; parents, Noel and Pamela Warner of Los Gatos, Calif,; brother, Scott Warner of Mill Valley, Calif.; sister, Galen (David) Chesarek of San Jose, Calif.; a niece and a nephew. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
