Michael Henry Echavez, 56, of Honokaa died Nov. 30 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Honokaa, he was a former maintenance engineer for Aston Shores, former boat and auto builder and member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Visitation 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 8) at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa; Eulogy at 9:45 a.m. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Kalopa Catholic Cemetery. Casual attire; no flowers. Seating limited; face masks and social distancing required. Survived by wife, Lorenza “Lorie” Echavez of Honokaa; sons, Brandon Echavez of Walla Walla, Wash., Brian Echavez of Honokaa and Mitchell (Melanie Ebreo) Echavez of Waikoloa; hanai daughter, Lei Benanua of Honokaa; sister, Tina Stevenson of Oklahoma; stepbrothers, Ronald (Sherry) Cambra of California and Clayton (Connie Tu) Cambra of Honokaa; a granddaughter; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kosetatino “Kofe” Gugu, 82, of Hilo died Dec. 7 at home. Born in Asili, American Samoa. He was a retired supervisor for McKinley Car Wash in Honolulu and member of Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Family service at 5 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 6) at Connect Point Church, 168 Holomua St. in Hilo. Casual attire; face masks and social distancing required. Survived by daughter, Ema Leilani Gugu (Ulufale) Noa-Vae; hanai daughters, Taiana Kapeli and Eveliga (Jake Kunimitsu) Kapeli-Kunimitsu; hanai son, Guy Nelson Nobriga Jr.; 10 grandchildren and a great-grandson. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gail Toyoko Nishimura, 62, of Pahala died Aug. 21 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pahala, she was a security guard at Pahala Elementary and High School and member of Pahala Hongwanji. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 at Pahala Hongwanji Mission, 96-1123 Paauau Pl. in Pahala. Memorial service/celebration of life at 10 a.m. Survived by husband, Ned Nishimura of Pahala; children, Marissa (Ryan) Kim of Kennewick, Wash., Chad (Jacqueline) Nishimura of Washington state and Kayla (Mark Kaili) Nishimura of Naalehu; sister, Katherine (Jon Enriques) Okamura of Pahala; eight grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.