Remembered by many as a talented entertainer, Higa touched a lot of people in his different incarnations, said Mary Marko, production stage manager at Diamond Head Theatre.
Whether it was performing the hula with Halau Hula O` Maiki and Halau Ke Kia`i a o Hula, singing bass with various choirs and ensembles, dancing country western with Blazin' Saddles or acting on the stage, "he did all of them well," Marko said.
Born in Hilo, Higa showed early promise as an entertainer.
"Kavin had perfect pitch," recalled sister Lynne Tanno. "And he taught himself how to play guitar and piano."
Higa began performing with a group called "Sing Out Hilo" in the late 1960s.
He joined a roadshow called "Impossible Years" in 1970 and continued his stage career as a student at the Unversity of Hawaii at Hilo.
He was also a member of The Lutheran Church of Honolulu Choir, St. Mark's Sings, Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, The Honolulu Madrigal Quartet, Operettists and Two-Step Hawaii, and performed in productions at the Diamond Head Theatre, Army Community Theatre, Manoa Valley Theatre and Mamiya Theatre.
His portrayal of the king in the 1993 Army Community Theatre production of "The King and I" earned Higa a Pookela Award.
He often played the villain because of his low voice, Higa noted in a 1984 interview.
Higa was also well-known for his "opening night antics," Marko said. After the performance, he'd dress up like Carmen Miranda and pass out opening night presents. Those who didn't know were surprised. Those of us who did, looked forward to it."
"He was a really giving person," Tanno said. "He was always willing to go out of his way to help someone."
He is survived by his mother, Sadako Higa; brothers Glenn, Clyde, Eric and Myron; sisters, Debra and Lynne; hanai sisters, Nani Naope and Kapiolani Hao; and nieces and nephews.
A life celebration is set for 2 to 6 p.m. April 27 at Church of the Crossroads, 1212 University Ave.
Eisuke Asato of Aiea, a retired warehouseman for the federal government, died April 22 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi.
He was a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and a World War II veteran.
Asato, 74, was born in South Hilo.
He is survived by wife Masako; sons Edwin E. and Robert Y.; daughters Irene M. Asato and Linda A. Oyama; brothers Kiyoshi and Eikichi; sister Miyoko Uehara; and three grandchildren.
Service: 4 p.m. April 28 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Ellen R. Ellison of Honolulu, a sales coordinator for Electrolux, died April 6 in Kaiser Hospital.
Ellison, 78, was born on the Big Island.
She is survived by son Mark Lloyd; brothers Yukio, George and Herbert Nishimoto; sister Eunice Forster; and two grandchildren.
Inurnment service: 3 p.m. April 28 at Alae Cemetery.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Ian I. Harris of Honolulu, an architect at Pearl Harbor, died April 23 in Straub Hospital.
Harris, 60, was born in San Fran cisco.
He is survived by wife Reiko; sons Skye K. and Aric Y.; daughter Rosslyn K.; mother Wilma; brother Jeffrey; and sister Lori Neely.
Memorial service: 2 p.m. April 28 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Asano F. Hashimura of Eleele, Kauai, a retired cashier, died April 21 in Kuakini Hospital.
Hashimura, 80, was born in Kukuiula, Kauai.
She is survived by husband Takashi; son Gene T.; daughters Deborah M. Hashimura and Sandra H. Takizawa; brother Kanichi Funamura; sister Frances F. Kanekiyo; and two grandsons.
Memorial service: 4 p.m. April 30 at Garden Island Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Seifuku Ishikawa of Kaneohe, a retired dairy farmer, died April 22 in Ann Pearl Nursing Home.
Ishikawa, 95, was born in Okinawa, Japan.
He is survived by sons Walter S. and Gordon K.; daughter Joan M. Shimabukuro; brother Seiyei Ishikawa; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial service: noon April 28 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Martha K. Kaiewe of Keaau, Hawaii, died April 22 in Hilo Hospital.
Kaiewe, 65, was born in Kapaahu, Puna.
She is survived by husband John Jr.; son John III; daughters Gail L. Aguiar, Martha Ann K. Aquino, Hulali Kane and Davelyen Paaoao-Sako; brothers Albert and Frank Waipa; sisters Kawailiula Thornton; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Service: 1 p.m. April 29 at Glad Tidings Church, 116 Kapiolani St. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2.
Aloha attire.
Shinichi "Larry" Kaya of Pearl City, a retired mason for the city, died April 22 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi.
Kaya, 72, was born in Aiea. He is survived by wife Ailean T.; sons Edmund I. and Garrett K.; daughter Lorraine S. Hirazumi; brother Richard K.; sisters Nancy T. Ford and Alice S. Ito; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Service: 6:30 p.m. April 27 at Mililani Memorial Park Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Mildred L.A. Keola of Honolulu, who retired from Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, died April 25 at home.
Keola, 87, born in Honolulu, is survived by husband Alfred K.; son Wrenly Kaakimaka; daughters Jocelyn K. Coelho and Neichelle H. Tui; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Service: 7 p.m. April 30 at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Service: 9 a.m. May 1 at the mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Aloha attire.
William H. Kishimoto of Honolulu, a retired warehouse foreman at Dole Canneries, died April 15 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Kishimoto, 98, was born in Hiroshima, Japan.
He is survived by wife Sadako; son Sadao; daughter Helen E.; brother Thomas H.; sisters Florence T. Takenishi and Teruyo Harunaga; and two grandchildren.
Private service.
Leonard P.K. Kuhia of Orchidland, Hilo, an insulator for Insulator Services, died April 13 at home.
Kuhia, 50, was born in Honolulu.
He is survived by wife Violet E.; sons Leonard J., Wesley J.P. and Kevin J.K.; daughter Sophia J. Omalza; hanai daughter Grace Pajimola; mother Hilaria L.; brothers William and Glenn; sisters Vivian DeJesus and Laura Kilaulani; and three grandchildren.
Service: 12:45 p.m. April 28 at Mililani Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after noon. Private scattering of ashes.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Yuk Yee Young Lei of Honolulu, former teacher at Mun Lun School, died April 23 at home.
Lei, 89, was born in Waihee, Maui. She is survived by sons Kenneth P.V. and Stanley P.T.; daughters Iuen Fong "Carol" and Linda Lei Chun; and two grandchildren.
Service: 10:30 a.m. April 28 at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Aloha attire.
Owen "Bud" Lovett of Pearl City died April 24 at home.
Lovett, 71, was born in Glendale, Calif.
He is survived by wife Keiko.
Memorial service at a later date.
Kazuo Masuda of Waipahu, who had retired from Oahu Sugar Co., died April 18 in St. Francis-West Hospital.
Masuda, 82, was born in Ewa.
He is survived by son Ross M.; daughters Arlene T. Yano and Anne K. Ishii; brother Tsugimi; sister Hatsumi Fujitani; and five grandchildren.
Memorial service: 6 p.m. April 28 at Mililani Memorial Park Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Silverio Munar of Pukalani, Maui, died April 21 in Hale Makua.
Munar, 90, was born in San Fernando, La Union, the Philippines.
He is survived by sons James and Benjamin; stepsons Bob, Eugene, Felix and Alfred Foborito; daughter Caroline Higa.
Service: 10 a.m. April 29 at Nakamura Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park.
Casual attire.
Albert K. Nitta of Pearl City, retired construction project superintendent for Nakakura Construction Co., died April 17 in Pearl City Nursing Home.
Nitta, 74, born in Ewa, is survived by son Richard K.; brothers Joji and Seiji; sisters Nora Mizumoto, Grace Fujimoto and Kimiyo Fuse; and three grandchildren.
Memorial service: 2 p.m. April 28 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Olympia A. Pantohan of Ewa Beach died April 19 in St. Francis-West Hospital.
Pantohan, 72, was born in Argao, Cebu, the Philippines. She is survived by sons Eusebio, Gilbert, Michael, Edward, Charles, Mark, Calvin and Bryan; daughters Kathleen Ancog, Shirley De Vecchis and Valerie Tanioka; 22 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Wake service: 7 p.m. April 28 at Immaculate Conception Church, 91-1298 Renton Road. Call after 6:15 p.m. Mass: 9:45 a.m. April 29 at the church. Call after 8:45 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park.
Casual attire.
William T. "Whitey" Shodahl, also known as Bill and Swede, of Kaneohe, who died April 22 in Kuakini Hospital, is also survived by brother James "Toots".
Incomplete information was provided for his obituary published April 24.
Alfred C. Tellio of Mountain View, Hawaii, a retired truck driver for Puna Sugar Co., died April 18 at home.
He was a resident manager for Haili Apartments and a World War II U.S. Army veteran.
Tellio, 74, was born in the Philippines.
He is survived by wife Melca M.; sons Clayton, Melvin, Thomas and Mark; daughters Evelyn Arakaki, Ellen Pabillano, Irene Fukushima, Dennise Kawamoto, and Melfred and Michelle Tellio; brother Jesus; sister Teresa Ayonanyon; 18 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Mass: 10 a.m. April 29 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hilo. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Gregorio "George" Yagong of Hilo, a cook at the Maunakea Beach Hotel, died April 22 in Hilo Hospital.
Yagong, 52, was born in Honolulu.
He is survived by companion Isabelle Gonzales; daughter Lisa; stepdaughter Georgieann Gonzales;
brother Bassilio; sisters Sylvia Moore, Pilar Asia, Ologia Lei Corpuz, Sally Niece, Louisa Coughorn and Rosita Orlander; and three grandchildren.
Mass: 11 a.m. April 27 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Honokaa. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Honokaa Catholic Church.
Casual attire.