Perkins and others had eaten their horses because they had run out of food in those early days of World War II; the only food left were their mules, recalled Hawaii resident Bob Allen.
Allen, then a Navy ensign on Corregidor, noted that Perkins survived the Bataan Death March. When Perkins was taken to Japan in 1944, an American submarine torpedoed the unmarked prison ship, Allen said. The ship sank, but Perkins survived.
Perkins, former Hawaii resident and polo champion, of Paris, Ky., died Sunday in Del Rey Beach, Fla. He was 78.
Born in Long Island, N.Y., he grew up in California, where he learned polo playing from his father, Arthur Perkins.
Perkins resumed his polo career after the war and was rated one of the world's best.
A nine-goal player, he played on several championship teams, including winners in the U.S. Open in 1948 and 1951.
Perkins moved to Hawaii in 1952, after his father brought arena polo here.
Champion players from around the world competed in Honolulu Stadium, where up to 8,000 watched Friday night matches. Perkins was called the world's best arena polo player.
Allen, former Hawaii Visitors Bureau president and chief executive officer of Gray Line Hawaii, also was one of Perkins' polo teammates.
"He was the highest-rated polo player to live in Hawaii," Allen said.
"He was a very fine person and always a gentlemen," he added. "I never saw Peter lose his temper, even on the field."
While living in Hawaii, Perkins worked for United Airlines.
After leaving Hawaii, he played international polo - in England, France and Argentina. His love of horses stayed with him, as he became a breeder and trainer of thoroughbred race horses.
In 1966, he and wife Diane started the San Francisco de Pilar horse farm near Buenos Aires, Argentina.
They also ran a horse farm, Wimborne, at Paris, Ky., raising winners. The most famous, "Lord at War", won California's Santa Anita Handicap in 1985.
Perkins is survived by wife Diane. He and the former Mabelee Von Arnswaldt, his first wife, had two sons, Arthur and Peter; Arthur survives. Also surviving are stepdaughters Isabelle Fermin-Didot and Christine Bullrich and two grandchildren.
Services Tuesday at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Kent "Santa" Anderson of Honolulu, a telephone engineer and co-founder of Inman Homeless Foundation, died Sunday in Kaiser Hospital. Anderson, 59, was born in Hartford, Conn. He is survived by wife Barbara Jean; sons Scott Anderson, Chuck Daniel and Dutch Inman; daughters Shelly Lynn Mellema, Deanna Davison and Colleen Gifford; mother Ruth; brothers Roy, Glenn and Leon; and 14 grandchildren. Private services.
Catalino B. Aquitania of Waimea, Kauai, a Kekaha Sugar Co. laborer, died Monday in Kauai Veterans Hospital. Aquitania, 90, was born in Ilocos Sur, the Philippines. He is survived by wife Juanita. Rosaries: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Sacred Heart Church, call after 6:30 p.m.; and 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, call after 8:30 a.m. Mass to follow. Burial: Kekaha Public Cemetery. Casual attire.
Felomina P. Aurello of Paauilo, Hawaii, a former Sure Save courtesy clerk, died Tuesday in Honokaa Hospital. Aurello, 62, was born in Paauilo. She is survived by sons Rodney, Rodolfo "Rudy," Randall, Ronnie, Ryan and Roland; daughters Rosita Nagun and Rosalinda Kidani; brothers Celestino, Benjamin and Rudy Palacol; sister Medina Ramirez; 19 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Mass: 7 p.m. tomorrow at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paauilo, Hawaii. Call after 6 p.m. All night vigil to follow at the family home. Service: 9 a.m. Saturday at the family home. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.
Edward Balai of Waianae, a retired federal security guard, died Monday at home. Balai, 70, was born in Hilo. He is survived by wife Harriet A.; sons Edward Jr., James and Raymond K.; daughter Clara L. Yokono; brother Robert; sisters Elizabeth Chang and Florence Hinojosa; and seven grandchildren. Service: noon Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Aloha attire.
Lawrence M. "Duffy" Duff of Pahoa, Hawaii, a self-employed professional commercial fisherman and diver, died Monday in Hilo Hospital. Duff, 46, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Adrienne W.; son Michael A.O.; parents Lawrence and Ellen; brother Thomas; and sisters Susan and Keri A. Duff, and Terry Anne Romero. Service over his ashes: 4 p.m. Saturday at Puna Honwanji Mission. Call after 3 p.m. Private scattering of ashes. Casual attire. No flowers.
Fumiko "Fumi" Fujikawa of Honolulu, a retired Coral Reef Hotel housekeeper, died March 10 in Queen's Hospital. Fujikawa, 65, was born in Puna, Hawaii. She is survived by husband Satoru; son Owen F.; daughter Nora N. Kissel; brother Moriji Yoshizawa; sister Sumiko Miyashita; and two grandchildren. Private services.
Roxanne "Rocky" Garcia of Koloa, Kauai, a beverage waitress for the Hyatt Regency Hotel, will be remembered in services tomorrow. Garcia, 41, died Tuesday when her vehicle collided with another car on Kaumualii Highway. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Robert Fleming, and Leigh and Eric Speyer; mother and stepfather Lucy and Herbert McPalmer; father and stepmother Daniel and Anita; brother Danny P.; stepbrothers Orlando and Roy Anaya; sisters Lynette Fields, Claudia Simpson and Lucinda Alini koff; and stepsister Anna Anaya. Service: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Borthwick/Kauai Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Koloa Public Cemetery. Casual attire.
Albert J. Giorgi of Honolulu, a retired Hawaiian Airlines mechanic, died Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. Giorgi, 74, was born in Massachusetts. He is survived by companion Claire Kamai; and sister Louise Ghetti. Service: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Burial in Massachusetts.
Edna M. Hama of Honolulu, a retired schoolteacher, died March 11 in Straub Hospital. Hama, 81, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons David and Gregory; and brothers Masatoshi and Yasumi Omatsu. Private service.
Etsuo "Shorty" Hirata of Waipahu, a retired Oahu Construction Co. heavy equipment operator, died Monday in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Hirata, 65, was born in Hawaii. He is survived by brothers Naoto, Yukuo, Harumi, Mamoru, Katsumi and Richard; and sisters Thelma C. Fasone and Beatrice Hoshino. Memorial service: 6 p.m. Saturday at Mililani Memorial Park Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Mamoru "Mamo" Hirota of Haleiwa died March 9 at home. Hirota, 76, was born in Waialua. He is survived by wife Rose L.; son John H.; daughters Gertrude Ann Cabacungan, Lehua L. Yates and Kuulei Kaio; brother Motomi; sister Dorothy Nagamine; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Service: 11 a.m. Saturday at Liluokalani Protestant Church, 66-090 Kam Highway. Call after 9 a.m. Private inurnment. Casual attire.
Kama T. Ikehara of Waimea, Kauai, died March 5 in the Kauai Care Home. Ikehara, 93, was born on Okinawa. She is survived by sons Raymond and Ronald Tsukayama; daughters Janet F. Yafuso, Ellen Yamaguchi and Thelma Nagata; three stepsons; three stepdaughters; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Private services.
Tiffany "Kalena" Kapaku of Pukalani, Maui, died Sunday in Kapiolani Hospital. Kapaku, 10, was born in Wailuku. He is survived by parents Annette and Lambert; brothers Grant and Kaimi; sister Kaui; and grandparents Dr. Fred and Aileen Miya, and John and Lorraine Kapaku. Services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary-Norman's, call after 5 p.m.; and 10 a.m. Monday at the mortuary, call after 9 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
Robert H. Kaupp of Munith, Mich., died March 13 in Straub Hospital. Kaupp, 75, was born in Jackson, Mich. He is survived by wife G. Jeannette; daughters Judy and Sherri; mother Hazel; and sister Blanche Freiermuth. Memorial service: 9 a.m. Sunday at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wahiawa. Call after 9 a.m.
Young Sin Lee of Kailua, a retired Hawaii Newspaper Agency clerical employee, died March 12 at home. Lee, 76, was born in Kapoho, Hawaii. She is survived by sons Robin Lee and Michael Hahn; sister Young Wha Kim; and brothers Young Taik, Young Sup and Young Whee Chun. Private services.
Paul N. Morihara of Honolulu, a retired general contractor, died March 13 in Hale Pulamamau. Morihara, 87, was born in Kihei, Maui. He is survived by wife Adeline M.; daughter Pauline Rinesmith; brother Edward; sister Patsy Shiigi; and two grandchildren. Private services.
Joichi "Joe" Nakamura, formerly of Waipahu, died Feb. 4 in Seattle. Nakamura, 75, a U.S. Army veteran who retired as a civil service employee, was born in Kaneohe. He is survived by wife Take; sons Bob, George, Fred and Roy; daughters Kathy Nix, and Jane and Linda Masaki; sisters Martha Nakamura and Clara Ornellas; and five grandchildren. Services held on the mainland.
Manuel Nases of Pahoa, Hawaii, a Woolworth's Restaurant employee, died last Thursday in Hilo Hospital. Nases, 39, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Leilani; son James Iopa II; daughters Helen Tobias, Mae Ann Rodriguez, and Iralynn and Vanessa Iopa; brother Daniel Perio; sister Teresa Reveira; parents John and Sue Perio; and seven grandchildren. Graveside service: 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Alae Cemetery.
Petronilo V. Palad of Kaunakakai died March 8 at home. Palad, 84, was born in the Philippines. He is survived by son Petronilo Jr.; and daughters Estefania Hultquist, Janice Alo and Jennifer Palad. Services held.
Alice W. Penny, a retired Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind teacher, died Feb. 27 in the Hillhaven Nursing Home. Penny, 91, was born in Wake County, N.C. She is survived by sister Grace Burroughs. Services held on the mainland. No flowers. Donations may be made to the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, 301 Ashe Ave., Raleigh, N.C. 27606 or North St. Baptist Church, 400 N. Boylan Ave., Raleigh, N.C. 27603.
Dr. Sidney G. Pershing of Laie will be remembered in services today. Pershing, 36, died Sunday when his car crashed into a utility pole on Kamehameha Highway. Born in Halsingborg, Sweden, he is survived by daughter Tatjana; brother Richard; sister Sheryl; and parents Nettie and Sigvand. Memorial service: 4:30 p.m. today at the Turtle Bay Hilton, Sea Tide Room.
Elaine L.U. "Aunty Tita" Smout of Pearl City, who died Friday in Kaiser Hospital, is survived by a great-grandchild. Incorrect information was provided by the mortuary.
Sakae Takemoto of Kahului died March 9 in Kahului Hale Makua. Takemoto, 92, was born in Sprecklesville, Maui. He is survived by sons Takeshi "Boston," Tadao and Yoshiharu; daughters Tomoko Tokunaga and Ruth Nishida; brothers Seitsu and Takumi; sisters Masayo Sakane and Hinayo Miyazaki; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Private services.
Victoria R. Torres of Mililani, who died last Thursday at home, is also survived by husband Alfred F. His name was inadvertently left out of yesterday's edition.