Obituaries for May 28
Craig Sadao Aono, 67, of Hilo died May 4 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a security guard. Private services held. Survived by sister, Janice Egusa of Hilo; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 26
Patrick Braden, 69, of Hawaii Island died May 23. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
Obituaries for May 25
James Arthur Hour, 97, of Kailua-Kona died May 4. Born in Quincy, Ill., he was a commercial artist and owner of Jim’s Sign Shop in Calistoga, Calif. Services at a later date. Survived by daughters, Marie of Missouri and Sharon DePauw of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 23
Claralyn Nalani Bowden-Bernardo, 78, of Hilo died April 27. Born in Honolulu, she was a painter, photographer and graphic designer and retired as a teacher. Private services held. Survived by partner, Donald Lee; brothers, Matthew Bowden and Timothy Bowden; sisters, Rebecca Pascual, J. Lani Bowden and R. Kanani Bowden; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 21
Viktor Merkulov, 62, of Keaau died May 17 at The Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Russia, he was a driver, stone mason and mechanic. Visitation 9:30-10, a.m. Saturday (May 27) at Ballard Family Mortuary Chapel. Service at 10 a.m. Burial 1 p.m. at Alae Cemetery. Survived by wife, Yelena Merkulov; sons, Vitaliy, Dmitriy, Igor, John, David and Joseph; daughters, Viktoriya, Olesya, Marina and Angelica; brother, Valeriy; sisters, Galina, Alina and Nina; five grandchildren; aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 19
Leonard “Leo” Andrew Gonsalves Sr., 81, of Pahoa died April 30 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hakalau, he was a retired production worker for Frank’s Foods, tractor operator for the former Hamakua Sugar Co. member of the ILWU Bowling League and avid hunter. Visitation 8:30-9:15 a.m. on Friday, May 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Alae Cemetery. Aloha attire; flowers welcome. Condolences to: RR3 Box 1299, Pahoa, HI 96778. Survived by wife, Jody Gonsalves of Pahoa; daughter, Stephanie (Darrel) Branco of Kurtistown; stepchildren, Carl (Jan) Beavers Jr. of Pahoa, Karla (Bully) Gabriel of Honokaa and Peter Vana Jr. of Pahoa; three grandsons, seven step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 18
George Michael Leras Jr., 80, of Keaau died April 8. Born in Pennsylvania, he was a U.S. Navy veteran. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by a sister, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Obituaries for May 17
Amy Sueko Sakai Abe, 65, of Hilo died April 14 at home. Born in Hilo, she was retired from KTA Super Stores and the former Sure Save Supermarket as a cashier, and was a member of Zion’s House of Praise Holiness Church in Hilo. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Casual attire; face masks requested. Online condolences: dodomortuary.com. Survived by mother, Sueno Saruwatari of Pepeekeo; brother, Bert Saruwatari of Honolulu; sisters, Lynn (Glenn) Abe of Waipahu, Oahu, Faye (Gordon Liborio) Saruwatari of Hilo, Gail Saruwatari and Eva Saruwatari of Pepeekeo; a nephew, two grandnephews, an uncle, aunts and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 16
Marvin Bauman, 74, of Hawaiian Paradise Park, previously of Lodi and Medina, Ohio, died Nov. 28, 2021, at home. He was a U.S. Army Vietnam War-era veteran and a devout Christian. Services with military honors at noon Thursday (May 18) at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2.
Obituaries for May 15
Shaelyn Mauri A. Santiago DeCanto, 36, of Pahoa died April 11 at Hilo Medical Center. Private celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by daughter, Kailina Santiago-Makaimoku; parents, Dayna DeCanto Santiago and Timothy A. Santiago; sisters, Shaena Tuvera DeCanto and Shaeri DeCanto; brother, Stuart K. DeCanto; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Obituaries for May 14
Juan Bartolome Agpaoa, 88, of Keaau died March 24 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Loaog City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, he was a self-employed papaya farmer and member of First Born Temple Church in Hilo. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Friday (May 19) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Services at 6 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Saturday (May 20) at First Born Temple. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial at Homelani Memorial Park. Ilima section. Survived by wife, Isabel M. Agpaoa of Keaau; sons, Emilio (Marisol) Agpaoa and Gerry (Mary Liezl) Agpaoa of Keaau, Melicio (Angelita) Agpaoa of Honolulu; four grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 12
Margaret Fernandes, 89, of Hilo died April 19 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired Big Island manager for National Car Rental. Fellowship 4:30 p.m. Thursday (May 18) at Ballard Family Mortuary. Service at 5:30 p.m. Survived by sons, Bill (Sandy) Sidman of San Clemente, Calif., John (Phyllis) Sidman of Big Bear, Calif., and Mike (Shirley) Sidman of Mountain View; daughter, Heather (Mike) Porcase of Jacksonville, Fla.; 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 11
Zachary Aranaydo, 61, of Waimea died March 11 on Oahu. He was a surfer and surfboard designer and shaper, owner of Pacific Surf Designs and Aranaydo Surfboard and Repair. Visitation 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; no large floral arrangements, lei preferred. Survived by wife, Alfreda Hart of Waimea; daughter, Tyanna (Kilinahe Grace) Aranaydo of Waimea; brothers, Andre (Lorene) Aranaydo, Howard (Marilyn) Aranaydo of Keaau, Kevin (Nora) Aranaydo of Pahoa; sister, Christy (Don) Coloma of Keaau; hanai sister, Trisha Nuses of Honokaa; mother-in-law Caroline Hart of Honokaa; brothers-in-law, Presley (Debbie) Hart, Kyle (Desiree) Hart of Honokaa; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Obituaries for May 10
Lillian Jean Abrams, 69, of Hilo died April 21 at home. Born in Dodge City, Kan., she was a retired dental consultant and member of Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. Private services. Survived by son, Adam Rodriguez of Hilo; daughter, Olivia Trust of Hilo; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 9
Jeffery James “Big Kahuna” Acob, 68, of Louisville, Ky, died April 19. Born in Hilo and raised in Pahoa, he was a retired U.S. Army veteran awarded the Bronze Star during Operation Desert Storm, worked for the Kentucky Deptartment of Veterans Affairs and was a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Committal service with military honors held in Kentucky. Survived by wife, Monica; sons, Scotty (Kelly) Acob and Nicolas (Brandie) Acob; daughters, Angela (Oscar) Tovar and Stacie (Andy) Kortz; brothers, Roger Orevillo and Al (Sue) Acob of California, Eugene Orevillo and Ernie Orevillo of Pahoa; sisters, Carmen Fontes and Caroline (David) Roque of Hilo, Norma (Chris) Acob of Honolulu, Sandra Acob of Kauai; four grandchildren.
Obituaries for May 8
Juan Bartolome Agpaoa, 88, of Keaau died March 24 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Loaog City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, he was a self-employed papaya farmer and member of First Born Temple Church in Hilo. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Friday, May 19, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Services at 6 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at First Born Temple in Hilo. Funeral services at 10 a.m. Burial at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima Section. Survived by wife, Isabel M. Agpaoa of Keaau; sons, Emilio (Marisol) Agpaoa of Keaau and Melicio (Angelita) Agpaoa of Honolulu; four grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 7
Benjamin Benedict Badua Sr., 83, of Kukuihaele died April 24 at home. Born in Honolulu and raised in Kohala, he was a retired refrigeration mechanic for the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and owner of Uncle Ben’s Helping Hands Massage Therapy. Visitation 9 -11 a.m. Thursday, May 25, at Kahilu Town Hall, Waimea. Service at 11 a.m. Casual and aloha attire; no wreaths. Survived by sons, Ben Badua Jr. of Kailua-Kona and Roger Badua of Mililani, Oahu; brothers, Alfred (Aina) Badia of Oahu, Douglas (Carmela) Badua and Kenneth (Darlene) Badua of Kohala, Jerry (Julie) Badua of Hilo; sister, Shirley Badua of Kohala; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 5
Newton Kawelo Piohia Kekahio, 62, of Kahuku, Ka‘u, died April 22 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a truck driver. Memorial service 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (May 9) at Alae Cemetery Pavilion. Reception to follow. Survived by wife, Danette Kekahio; sons David Kekahio of Kahuku, Shane (Lindsey) Ryser of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Shannon Kainoa Ryser of Kahuku,; mother, JoLoyce Kaia of Hana, Maui; sisters, Shawn Kanani Labrador of Texas and Tanya Kaloa Kekahio-Rennoe of Honolulu; brother, Hunter Kea Praywell of Honolulu; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews. AArrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 4
Carl Thomas Engdahl, 60, of Mountain View died April 21 at home. Born in Akron, Ohio, he was a sales manager for Hawaii Paper Products and was formerly employed at Sodexo and Home Depot. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by wife, Pamela M. Engdahl of Mountain View; son, Alexander (Leah) Engdahl of Oahu; daughter, Calista (Chawn Kaili) Engdahl of Hilo; stepchildren, Randy Babchuk of Arizona and Shayna Toledo of Missouri; mother, Peggy (David) Boots of Papaikou; brother, Mark Engdahl of Akron, Ohio; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for May 3
John Davis, 61, of Hawaii Island died April 20. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Medical Center, (808) 932-3500, option 4.