Diana Puakina Aki, 76, of Hilo died Jan. 8, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a singer, songwriter and ‘ukuleleist known as the “Songbird of Miloli‘i,” won the Na Hoku Hanohano Female Vocalist of the Year award in 1990, performed with many well-known musicians including Cyril Pahinui and Eddie Kamae, and was a Hawaiian educator at Hale O Ho‘oponopono, former early childhood educator and member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Visitation 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 15) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 6:30 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire; no flowers. For more information, contact Shane Aki at (907) 978-3388. Survived by sons, Benjamin Akana, Eisen (Sylvia) Aki, Fidelis (Cristine) Aki, Jr., Kevin (Francine “Weegee”) Aki, Jason Aki and Shane (Stacey) Aki; hanai daughter, Pi‘ilani (Kiki) Johnson; 27 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Diana Puakina Aki, 76, of Hilo died Jan. 8, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a singer, songwriter and ‘ukuleleist known as the “Songbird of Miloli‘i,” won the Na Hoku Hanohano Female Vocalist of the Year award in 1990, performed with many well-known musicians including Cyril Pahinui and Eddie Kamae, and was a Hawaiian educator at Hale O Ho‘oponopono, former early childhood educator and member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Visitation 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 15) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 6:30 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire; no flowers. For more information, contact Shane Aki at (907) 978-3388. Survived by sons, Benjamin Akana, Eisen (Sylvia) Aki, Fidelis (Cristine) Aki, Jr., Kevin (Francine “Weegee”) Aki, Jason Aki and Shane (Stacey) Aki; hanai daughter, Pi‘ilani (Kiki) Johnson; 27 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Tokino Hirata, 99, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 2 at home. Born in Kaiwiki, (Hilo), she was a coffee farmer, seamstress, pearl setter at the former Ming’s Jewelers, deli worker for the former Sure Save Supermarkets, factory worker for Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Farm and Factory and member of Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Waiaha Kumiai and Kona Fukuoka Kenjinkai. Private services. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Memorial donations to Hospice of Kona, P.O. Box 4130, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 or Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, P.O. Box 769 Kealakekua, HI 96750. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by sons, Jerry (Elaine) Hirata and Ronald (Sandra) Hirata of Kailua-Kona, Glenn (Laura) Hirata of Kaneohe, Oahu; daughter, Jeanne (James) Carpenter of Hilo; brother, Nobuo Matsui of Hilo; 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Jean Louise Mallion, 90, of Kailua-Kona, died Nov. 10 at her family’s home in Honokaa. Born in Bethany, Ontario, Canada, she was a retired bookkeeper and founding member of Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity. Private services. Survived by daughters, Janis Walholm and Victoria Mallion of Honokaa; sister, Doris Semple of Ontario, Canada; brother, George Faire of Ontario, Canada; a granddaughter; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Sumiko Oshita Suzuki, 82, of Hilo died Nov. 11. Born in Hilo, she was a member of the Kaumana Baptist Church. Private services held. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by husband, Harry Suzuki; daughter, Judi (Chris) Antoszek of California; sister, Elsie Nakasone of Honolulu; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Harold Douglas Pinnow Jr., 47, of Pahoa died Dec. 24 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a garage supervisor for Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Services, cafeteria helper and custodian for Mountain View Elementary School, machine operator for Puna Rock, mechanic for the former Rannikk’s Auto Specialists, worked for the family business HJD Auto Body Repair and a was member of Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Penn Fitness, and drag racer. Visitation 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 17) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation again 8-9:30 a.m. Friday (Jan. 18) at Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima section. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Roberta Enrica Pinnow; daughters, Sheena (Travis) Pinnow, Shalynn (Travis) Pinnow, Liayla-Romona Pinnow and Liana-Rose Pinnow; son, Harold (Tiare) Pinnow III; parents, Harold (Tommie) Pinnow Sr. and Loretta Pinnow; brothers, Jon (Chasaty) Pinnow and Donn (Nicolette) Pinnow; stepbrother, Bill Trask; stepsister, Mahina Trask; a nephew. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mildred Fontes Williams, 93, of Honolulu, died Jan. 10 in Blue Ridge, Texas. Born in Honolulu, she was raised on Ola‘a Sugar Plantation in Keaau. Burial at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, Calif. Survived by daughters, Valerie (Glenn) Williams of Blue Ridge, Texas, and Sandra (Leonard) Cardosa of Ventura, Calif.; two grandsons and five great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home.
