Obituaries for March 27

Henry C. “Hank” Castro Sr., 91, of Hilo died March 23 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Paauhau, he was a retired truck driver for the former Mauna Kea Sugar Co., owner of Hank’s Taxi and an avid bowler. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Wednesday (March 30) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial to follow at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Henry Castro Jr. and Randolph (Leenal) Castro of Hilo; daughters, Colleen (Bob) Pestano, Laverne (John) Werner of Wisconsin and Gwen (Adam) Quinories of Keaau; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Teodoro “Ama” Francisco, 103, of Keaau died March 9 at home. Born in Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he worked for Mr. Papaya and S&L Papaya companies and was a member of Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation 6-9 a.m. Friday (April 1) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Saturday (April 2) at Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Burial at Pahoa Catholic Cemetery. Survived by daughters, Cenona Vallente and Nancy (Petronio) Daquioag of Keaau, Feliciana Dela Cruz of Kapaau and Flordelina Calapit of Pahoa; son, Emiliano (Soledad) Francisco of Pahoa; sister, Damiana Rosete of the Philippines; sister-in-law, Agripina Francisco of the Philippines; 19 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren; nieces. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Arnold “Dado” Kaleiolani Kahaunaele, 56, of Keaukaha died March 11 at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a supervisor for Floor Sanding Services and member of New Hope Christian Fellowship-Hilo, Na Kane O Ke Awawa Motorcycle Club-Laupahoehoe, VW Pickers and Bay City Surf Club. Celebration of life 11 a.m. Saturday, April 23, at Hawaiian Village in Keaukaha. Casual attire. Survived by companion, Patti-Ann Mehau of Keaukaha; sons, Shaun Legaspi and Arnold Kahaunaele Jr. of Hilo; daughter, Sheyenne Underwood of Waikoloa; brothers, Jerry (Hui) Kahaunaele of Makaha, Oahu, Greg Pavao of Honolulu, Oahu, and Gerald Pavao of Kaneohe, Oahu; sisters, Tanya (Boy) Velez of Paauilo, Kehau Graham of Ewa Beach, Oahu and Alexandra Pavao of Waianae, Oahu; stepchildren, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, hanai brothers and hanai sisters. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Alfred L. Lacro, 91, of Kailua-Kona and Naalehu died March 2 at Life Care Center of Kona. Born in Waimea, Kauai, he was a retired machinist supervisor for the former Ka‘u Sugar Co., member of Naalehu Sacred Heart Catholic Church, U.S. Army veteran and youth sports coach in Ka‘u. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Friday (April 1) at Naalehu Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Saturday (April 2) at the church. Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Naalehu Community Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Esther “Eustachia” Lacro of Naalehu; sons, Burt (Jean) Castro of Riverdale, Ga., Al (Luanne) Lacro of Graham, Wash., Vernon (Amanda) Lacro of Las Vegas, Everett Lacro of Hilo, Ronald (Jon Schum) Lacro of Boston and Jon (Sheri) Lacro of San Diego; daughters, Cynthia (Rich Faith) Lacro of West Linn, Ore., Charlene (Ron) Nilson of Green Valley, Ariz., and Janice (Steve Robertson) Lacro of Kailua-Kona; son-in-law, Stanley Lorenzo of Pahala; brothers, John Lacro of Mililani, Oahu, Julian (Annie) Lacro and Edward Lacro of Waimea, Kauai; sister, Margaret Lacro of Waimea, Kauai; hanai daughters, Kapiolani (Wally) Ma and Lisa Lorenzo of Honolulu, Elizabeth Morgan Waimea; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Sakaria “Saka” Mareko, 73, of Hilo died March 14 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in American Samoa, he was a laborer. No services. Survived by wife, Jan Mareko; son, Pea (Tessie) Uulopa; brothers, Navy (Iokapeta) Mareko, Ova (Jean) Mareko, Lamo (Lynn) Mareko, Sipou (Lucy) Mareko, Pele Paogofie and Leko (Marlene) Mareko; sister, Fano (Eli) Paogofie; sister-in-law, Cynthia (Fred) Quiroz; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Richard Gerard Saya, 47, of Hilo died March 16. He was born in Massachusetts. Scattering of ashes 9 a.m. Saturday (April 2), at Honolii Beach Park. Online condolences: www.facebook.com/RichardSaya. Donations at gofundme.com or mailed to Ronald Saya, P.O. Box 10091 Hilo HI 96720. Survived by spouse, Andrea Lord of Hilo; mother, Patricia Scheiver of Boston; father, Ronald Saya of Kihei, Maui; sister, Lei-Ala Rebekah Rose Powers-Saya of Maui; one aunt, one uncle and one nephew. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.

Geronima Ramos Solmerin, 94, of Hilo died March 16 at home. Born in Batac, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines; she was a retired picker for Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. and member of First United Protestant Church. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Wednesday (March 30) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Thursday (March 31) at First United Protestant Church, 1350 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Burial at Alae Cemetery. Survived by daughters, Daisy (Mario) Antonio of Keaau and Miriam (Juan) Guerrero; sons, Samuel (Estrellita) Solmerin, Winston (Ofelia) Solmerin and Joel (Aida) Solmerin of Hilo, Royal (Kathleen) Solmerin of Pepeekeo; sister, Sensya Bugarin of the Philippines 23 grandchildren and 26 great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Mabel Niulani Silva, 82, of Hilo died Feb. 21 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired secretary for Hawaiian Airlines and member of Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church in Keaukaha. Friends can call 5-7 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church. Celebration of life at 7 p.m. Memorial Mass 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 4 at the church. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Aloha attire. Survived by sons, Rudolph K. Silva Jr. and Dwayne K. Silva of Hilo; sisters, Marie (Albert) Kelson and Claudia Spillman of Hilo, Janice Thomas of Waimea; five grandchildren and six great- grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Melchora “Meling” Arellano Tadina, 90, of Kurtistown died Feb. 27 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in San Fernando, La Union, the Philippines, she was a retired factory worker for Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. and member of Waiakea Iloko Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday (April 2) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Service at 10:30 a.m. Burial 1 p.m. at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.