Greg “Maka” Maka‘ala Hiroshi Branco, 32, of Mountain View died Dec. 17 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a landscaper, driller, beekeeper and 2010 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus. Celebration of life 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Wailoa State Park large pavilion. Casual attire. Survived by son, Zavery Ha‘ali‘i Branco; daughter, Zailey Anale‘a Branco; father, Greg Branco; mother, Vickie Murata; companion, Sandylynn Akiona; sisters, Seasons Branco, Jasmine (Alan Soistman Jr.) Branco and Asa (John) Harvest; hanai sisters, Cheyanne Rapoza and Lisa Ebesugawa; maternal grandparents, Herbert and Tazuko Murata; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Greg “Maka” Maka‘ala Hiroshi Branco, 32, of Mountain View died Dec. 17 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a landscaper, driller, beekeeper and 2010 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus. Celebration of life 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Wailoa State Park large pavilion. Casual attire. Survived by son, Zavery Ha‘ali‘i Branco; daughter, Zailey Anale‘a Branco; father, Greg Branco; mother, Vickie Murata; companion, Sandylynn Akiona; sisters, Seasons Branco, Jasmine (Alan Soistman Jr.) Branco and Asa (John) Harvest; hanai sisters, Cheyanne Rapoza and Lisa Ebesugawa; maternal grandparents, Herbert and Tazuko Murata; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Rex A. Jones, 62, of Kailua-Kona died Dec. 16. Born in Martinsville, Ind., he worked for the Westfield, Wash., public library. No services. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by a brother; two sisters; two brothers-in-law; a sister-in-law; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Michael Needham Leialoha, 80, of Hilo died Dec. 16 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Logan, Utah, he was a vice chancellor of administrative affairs at Hawaii Community College, U.S. Army veteran, owned and operated multiple Shell service stations, and was a member of the Hilo Yacht Club. Visitation 8:15-8:45 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3) at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 pavilion. Committal service at 8:45 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Karen Leialoha of Hilo; sons, Michael (Kira) Needham Jr. and Kalae Needham of Las Vegas; four grandchildren and a niece. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Harold Leite, 78, of Papaikou died Dec. 17 at home. Born in Pepeekeo, he was a retired KTA Super Stores meat cutter, Hawaii Army National Guard Veteran, self-employed yard maintenance worker, member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou. Visitation 8:30-10 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3) at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 27-186 Kaapoko Homestead Rd. in Papaikou. Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Janice Leite of Papaikou; son, Harrison (Danelle) Leite of Hilo; daughter, Allysson Leite of Papaikou; brothers, Walter (Luana) Leite of Hilo, Herbert (Paula Rodrigues) Leite of Papaikou, Gabriel Leite of Papaikou and Michael (Sandy) Leite of Mountain View; sisters, Betty Puakea of Hilo and Marie Matsumura of Papaikou; brothers-in-law, Wendell Kaehuaea of Hilo, Ed Chow of Honolulu, Harold (Marilyn) Pakele and Eric Higuchi of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Maria Leite of Waimea and Charlene (Abraham) Bonoan of Honolulu; three grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John Christopher Myers, 73, of Pahoa died Nov. 24 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Charlotte, N.C., he was a retired U.S. Air Force veteran. Committal service with military honors 11:30 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3) at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Survived by sister, Katherine Cat of Bremerton, Wash.; stepsister, Laura Myers Brouse-Long of Bethesda, Md. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Melvin Katsumi Yokoyama Sr., 71, of Pahala died Dec. 8 at home. Born on Oahu, he volunteered to support Ka‘u High School athletics and enjoyed fishing, family, community and talking story. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at Pahala River of Life Church. Wake service 6–7:30 p.m. Funeral service 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the church. Burial to follow at Naalehu County Cemetery. Aloha or casual attire. Survived by wife, Winifred (Tamondong) Yokoyama; son, Capt. Melvin (Rebecca) Yokoyama Jr., U.S. Navy (retired) of San Diego; daughters, Michelle G. of Islip, N.Y., Melanie (Reginald) of Gulfport, Miss., and Melissa (Janito) of Volcano; 10 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
