Verna Mae Kawai‘ula “Kupuna” Branco, 81, of Hilo died May 21 at home. Born in Hilo and raised on Kukaiau Ranch, she was a retired CPR district coordinator for the Hawaiian Studies Kupuna Component, had several kupuna and Hawaiian studies positions with DOE and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Hale O Na Ali‘i of Hawaii. Visitation 8-10 a.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. Entombment to follow at Homelani Memorial Park Mausoleum. Survived by sons, Robert (Grace) Branco Jr. of Ahualoa, Michael (Lei) Branco of Kailua-Kona and James Branco of Waiakea Uka; daughters, Verna Gale (Robert) Tavares of Captain Cook, Lola Ann (Gheeza) McGhee Branco, Anna Rose (Curtis) Azevedo, Charlotte De Reis of Waiakea Uka; hanai sister, Vivian Araujo of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Colette Ako of Las Vegas, Kay Manlapit of Nanakuli, Oahu, and Margo Branco; brothers-in-law, Charles (Lei) Branco of Volcano and Sam Bishaw; 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Verna Mae Kawai‘ula “Kupuna” Branco, 81, of Hilo died May 21 at home. Born in Hilo and raised on Kukaiau Ranch, she was a retired CPR district coordinator for the Hawaiian Studies Kupuna Component, had several kupuna and Hawaiian studies positions with DOE and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Hale O Na Ali‘i of Hawaii. Visitation 8-10 a.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. Entombment to follow at Homelani Memorial Park Mausoleum. Survived by sons, Robert (Grace) Branco Jr. of Ahualoa, Michael (Lei) Branco of Kailua-Kona and James Branco of Waiakea Uka; daughters, Verna Gale (Robert) Tavares of Captain Cook, Lola Ann (Gheeza) McGhee Branco, Anna Rose (Curtis) Azevedo, Charlotte De Reis of Waiakea Uka; hanai sister, Vivian Araujo of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Colette Ako of Las Vegas, Kay Manlapit of Nanakuli, Oahu, and Margo Branco; brothers-in-law, Charles (Lei) Branco of Volcano and Sam Bishaw; 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Billy Gene Friebel, 81, of Keaau died Nov. 18. He was born in Arkansas. No services. Survived by sons, Joshua Friebel of Hawaii and Michael Friebel of California; daughter, Cynthia Friebel of California; sister, Carol Dea of Alaska. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Michiko Kunimoto, 103, of Paukaa died April 16 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Kainaule (Onomea), she was employed by the former Onomea Sugar Co. and Hawaii Fruit and Produce, an independent sugar and ginger farmer and member of Papaikou Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Hilo Daijingu and Papaikou Senior Citizens Club. Services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Wallace (Gladys) Kunimoto of Santa Barbara, Calif., Howard (Leonora) Kunimoto and Richard (June) Kunimoto of Hilo; daughters, Sachiko “June” (Hugh) Fleming of Mountain View, Kay Ujimori and Karen (Richard) Nakamoto of Honolulu; sister, Ann Natsu Shimada of San Jose, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Edith Yamashita of Honolulu and Shizuko Kunimoto of Japan; brother-in-law, Kiyoto Taniguchi of Waipahu; 14 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Carole Keiko Matsuno, 56, of Waimea died April 12 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Los Angeles, she was a registered dental hygienist, Realtor and U.S. Navy veteran. Private service at a later date. Survived by parents, Hide and Aiko Matsuno of California; sisters, Diane Suzuki and Renee Matsuno of California; brother, Ronald Matsuno of Honolulu; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
David “Kawika” D. Ham, 67, of Volcano died May 16 at home. Born in Honolulu and raised in Waimanalo, Oahu, he was a University of Hawaii at Manoa and Anaola Builders employee, U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran with the 1st Calvary Division, earning the Bronze Star and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. Celebration of life, noon Saturday, June 3, at Hale Inu in Hilo. Private scattering of ashes in Waimanalo at a later date. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by sister, Barbara “Kanani” Ham; six nieces, three nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Robert Torao Hirano, 85, of Hilo died May 7 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a retired U.S. Postal Service carrier, U.S. Army Korean War veteran and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, Kamana Senior Badminton, Hilo Bay Badminton Club, Wreckers Golf Club and Disabled American Veterans. Visitation 4-5 p.m. Thursday (June 1) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Shigeko Hirano of Hilo; son, Aaron (Sandra) Hirano of Hilo; daughter, Sandra (Gordon) Okamura of Hilo; brothers, Toshio (Elaine) Hirano of Captain Cook and Herbert Hirano of Kailua-Kona; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kenneth Susumu Tanouye, 78, of Hilo died April 24 at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Hilo, he was president of K&J Tire Center, member of Church of the Holy Cross, Boy Scouts of America and Big Island Coin Club and former member of Hilo Jaycees. Visitation 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Church of the Holy Cross, 440 W. Lanikaula St. Memorial service at 4 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Lois Jean Tanouye of Hilo; son, Stefan (Jennifer) Tanouye of Hilo; daughter, Kelley Tanouye of Las Vegas; brother, Raymond (Mifune) Tanouye of Hilo; sisters, Kay (Dan) Sakai of Hilo and Lei Tanouye of Honolulu; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.