Joshua “Josh” Manoa Kawaiolahiamaikalani Ayala, 19, of Hilo died April 13 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a landscaper. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by mother, Michele Ayala of Hilo; brothers, Robert-Preston Ayala and Mikey-Boy Ayala of Hilo; sister, Angelina Ayala of Hilo; grandmother, Maria Smith of Hilo; grandfather, Curtis Leialoha of Keaukaha. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Velma Becraft, 54, of Waihee, Maui, died May 20, 2020, at home. Born in Kamaoa, Ka‘u, she was formerly chief of operations at J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku, Maui, a U.S. Army veteran, co-founder of Na Koa Kahiko Wahine veterans club on Maui and graduate of Ka‘u High School class of 1983. Funeral at 11 a.m. today, May 20, at Hope DIA-mend Ministries in Ocean View. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Face masks and social distancing required. Private burial Friday, May 21, at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Hilo. Survived by daughter, Sloan Becraft; siblings, Joy (Stanley Williams) Ah Yee, Dawnalynn (Henry) Waiwaiole Jr. and Herman (Louann) Ah Yee Jr. of Naalehu, Naomi (Lawrence) Smith Jr. of Lawrenceville, Ga.; a grandchild; nieces and nephews.
Kazue “Kay” Murakami Tanimoto, 101, of Hilo died March 17, 2020, at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired book binder for Hilo Printers, the only surviving member of a family business established in 1949. She also was a member of Taishoji Soto Mission, Yamaguchi Kenjinkai and was a 4-H leader. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 29, at Taishoji Soto Mission, 275 Kinoole St. in Hilo. Memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire. Seating is limited. Social distancing and face masks required. Survived by daughters, Carol Ann (Susumu) Ikeda, Gweyn Eckart and Iris (James “Tiger”) Makin of Hilo; sister, Haruye Hagiwara of Kaneohe, Oahu; sisters-in-law, Mildred Murakami and Marge Kanemitsu of Hilo, Myrtle Chiseko Nakasato of Kailua, Oahu; eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Cheryle Annie Polena Uehara, 76, of Mountain View died May 3 at home. Born in Pepeekeo, she was a retired administrative supervisor at Hilo Medical Center, former employee at Walmart and Kamaaina Motors, cook at Keaukaha Mart and pastor of Get High on Jesus Ministry at Mooheau Park in Hilo. Celebration of life at a later date because of COVID-19. Survived by husband, Matsu Uehara of Mountain View; son, Tyler “Brada” Arizumi of Mountain View; stepson, Matsu “Bozo” Uehara Jr. of Waianae, Oahu; stepdaughter, Kristi (Brandon) Carvalho of Kailua-Kona; sisters, Irene Gomes of Hilo, Carol (Randall) Nakasato and Lora Cardines of Pepeekeo; brothers, Samuel (Betty) Santos of New Mexico and Roy Santos of Waimea; sisters-in-law, Naomi Santos of Pepeekeo, Joan Santos of Pennsylvania, Kathy (Tashiro) Okunami of Hilo and Ruth (Dennis) Sevilla of Modesto, Calif.; brother-in-law, Donald Uehara of Los Angeles; 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
