Annie Kahikilani “Lani” Akau, 79, of Kawaihae died December 11 at home. Born in Kawaihae, she was a retired teacher for Aiea High School on Oahu and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Waimea 1st Ward. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 7) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Waimea. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Cremation to follow. Private urn burial at a later date. Casual attire. Survived by brothers, Edward “Ala” Akau Sr. of Pearl City, Oahu, and Solomon Akau of Kawaihae; sisters, Elizabeth “Rosie” Akau Wilkins of Kawaihae and Wilma Nance of Galveston, Texas; nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Annie Kahikilani “Lani” Akau, 79, of Kawaihae died December 11 at home. Born in Kawaihae, she was a retired teacher for Aiea High School on Oahu and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Waimea 1st Ward. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 7) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Waimea. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Cremation to follow. Private urn burial at a later date. Casual attire. Survived by brothers, Edward “Ala” Akau Sr. of Pearl City, Oahu, and Solomon Akau of Kawaihae; sisters, Elizabeth “Rosie” Akau Wilkins of Kawaihae and Wilma Nance of Galveston, Texas; nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Harold Yoshio Kawaguchi, 75, of Hilo died Nov. 28 at home. Born in Olaa, he was a retired pharmacist for Longs Drugs Stores and member of Hilo Hooganji Mission, Duffers Golf Club and Anela Lani Kumiai. Visitation 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 7) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by sons, Craig (Lisa) Kawaguchi and Neal (Alina) Kealoha-Kawaguchi of Hilo; brothers, George (Thelma) Kawaguchi of Aiea, Oahu, Michael Kawaguchi of the Philippines and Alvin (Cynthia) Kawaguchi of Hawaii Kai, Oahu; sisters, Fusaye (Masato) Kosaka of Culver City, Calif., Margaret Sasaki of Manoa, Oahu, Miyoko (Raymond) Shishido of Kaneohe, Oahu, Sue (Manabu) Iseri of Honolulu, Agnes Fujimoto of Kaneohe, Geraldine Tasaka of Aiea, Carol (Carl) Halstead and Sharon Tani of Hilo; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Juanita Cariaga Laureta, 91, of Hilo, died Dec. 24 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, she was a retired macadamia nut picker for Mauna Kea Agribusiness and member of New Hope – Hilo, Filipino Ministry. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 4) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral Service at 11 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima section. Casual attire. Survived by daughters, Virginia (Vermillo) Lorenzo, Lucena (Abraham) Lumabao and Margarita Laureta of Honokaa and Zita Laureta Gomes of Keaau; hanai daughter, Esmerelda (Ronald) Miyazaki of Hilo; 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Adeline Sally Ventura Lewis, 78, of Hilo died Dec. 23 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 4) at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. Survived by sons, John (Alicia) Lewis Jr. of Pahoa, Daniel “Troy” (Cheryl) Lewis of Keaau, Kenneth Lewis of Hilo, Wendell “Bully” (Rena) Lewis of Keaau and Charles “Chucky” (Laurie) Lewis of Hilo; daughter, Susan (Ken Antonio) Lewis of Hilo; hanai sons, Robert Lewis and Dustin (Justine) Tada of Hilo; hanai daughters, Johnalyn (Lance) Platt of Iowa and Amity Lewis of Hilo; brothers, Raymond Ventura of Pepeekeo and Anthony Ventura of Hilo; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Maydel Leolani Kailimai Matsubara, 59, of Hilo died Dec. 25 at Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Hilo. Celebration of life service 2:30 p.m. Friday (Jan. 6) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ponahawai Chapel, 522 Ponahawai St., Hilo. Aloha attire. Survived by daughter, Tani Leolani Naomi Matsubara of Hilo; brother, Jay H. Kailimai of Hilo; sisters, Gail Kaapuni of Honomu and Carmen (Clifford) Waiwaiole of Oahu; sisters-in-law, Henrietta Kailimai of Honomu and Pearl H. Kailimai of Hilo; a grandson; uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Steven Lee Sparks, 68, of Kailua-Kona died Dec. 23 at home. Born in Nevada, Mo., he was a commercial real estate appraiser and member of the Board of Directors at Kona Community Hospital, designated life member of the Appraisal Institute, Kona Farmer’s Association and Kona Coffee Farmers Council. Memorial service 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 at the beach at Kaloko, Honokohau in Kailua-Kona. No flowers allowed at this location. Condolences and memorials to Tari Sparks, P.O. Box 269, Holualoa, HI 96725. Memorials will be used to establish a scholarship fund at the University of Central Missouri. Survived by wife, Tari Sparks of Holualoa; son, Jason (Amber) Sparks of Columbia, Mo.; sister, Margie (Larry) Smith of Osage Beach, Mo.; two grandsons; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.