Obituaries for April 24

Benny Shigeru Akamine, 70, of Hilo died March 22 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was the retired owner of Orchid Isle Welding, a Hawaii Army National Guard veteran and member of Hawaii Classic Cruizers. Visitation 4:30-6 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 6 p.m. Celebration of life from noon Saturday, May 4, at Wailoa State Park Large Pavilion. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Gwen Akamine of Hilo; children, Darlene “Didi” Akamine, Ian Akamine, Chadd (Ronalyn Duldulao) Akamine and Cyrus (Keshia) Akamine of Hilo; siblings, Jimmy Akamine of Las Vegas, Sharon (Ron) Hoo, Diane (Harris) Yoneoka, Ruth (Ronald) Nakamura and Ethel (Leslie) Toguchi of California, Lena Muramoto and Jean (Dennis) Punzal of Hilo, Maureen Michelsen of Texas; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Israel plans to expand ‘humanitarian zone’ if it invades Rafah

JERUSALEM — If Israel were to begin an invasion in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip where 1 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, an Israeli-designated “humanitarian zone” along the coast would be expanded to take in more civilians, an Israeli military official said Monday evening.