Businessman Donald Doi:
‘Truly an admirable man’

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

While he was president of Doi Hauling Co. Construction Inc., the late Donald I. “D.D.” Doi received a plaque from his employees with the following inscription:

“If a man is honest with others and with himself;

“If he receives gratefully and gives quietly;

“If he is gentle enough to feel and strong enough to show his feelings;

“If he is slow to see the faults of others but quick to discover their goodness;

“If he is cheerful in difficult times and modest in success;

“If he does his best to be true to his beliefs, then he is truly an admirable man.”

Florence Onogi Doi treasures the plaque because it reflects the love her husband of 49 years had for people.

“He was a beautiful person who was very, very people oriented,” she said of her husband, who died Sunday at Kuakini Hospital following a lengthy illness. He was 68.

“He was so active in the community, and I can remember him refusing to help only once, and that was when his father had cancer,” she added.

Before illness slowed him in 1989, Doi had served as president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and also its junior organiza

tion, Pearl Harbor Rotary Club, the Hawaii Economic Study Club, and the Hawaii Transportation Association, formerly the Hawaii Trucking Association.

Doi, a 1947 Iolani high school graduate, also served on the State Hospital Advisory Board for 16 years.

He once described the business philosophy his father taught him in a Tendai Mission newsletter.

“Business is like a bow and arrow,” Doi said. “You cannot just look at the target ... you need to prepare yourself from within before aiming.

“In any business you have profit,” he added, “but father’s teaching was never let greed overpower you.”

The Doi family business was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii with a business award for 50 successful years of operation during her husband’s tenure as president, Mrs. Doi said.

Other survivors include son Duane M.; daughter Donnette R. Kido; brother Stanley T., and sister Shirley S. Isobe.

Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, Hosoi Garden Mortuary. No flowers. Casual attire.

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Benjamin Agua, 55, of California, who was born in Makawao, Maui, died Aug. 25. He is survived by wife Winifred; daughters Yvette, LeeAnn and Shannon Godtfredsen; brothers Alfred and Ernest; sisters Eleanor Florendo, Josephine Akiona, Shirley Suganuma, Rosinda Auffrey and Phyllis Hansen, and three grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Donald H. Akers, 80, of Kailua, a retired mechanical engineer, died Saturday. He is survived by wife Helen and daughters Barbara Wilburn and Mary Lyttle. Memorial services: 3 p.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call from 2 to 3 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to charity.

Douglas A. Balles, 67, of Pahoa, Hawaii, a retired crane operator and mechanic, died Saturday in Hilo Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Douglas Jr., Dennis, Moses, Marshall and Rudolph Balles and Brian Gonsalves and Michael Coltes; daughters Sharon Miller, Elena Quezada, Lydia Garcia and Beverly and Dana Balles; companion Nora Soares; stepdaughters Kathy Ann Abiley and Jolinda Jardine; stepson Albert Jardine; brothers Louis Jr., David and Raymond; sisters Shirley Pacheco and Roselyn Madariaga, 28 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday and after 9 a.m. Monday. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.

Bernice K. Chang, of Kaneohe, a retired teacher at Sam Wilder King Intermediate School, died Aug. 26. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sister Beatrice Young. Private services.

Harvey E.L. Ho, 69, of Aiea, the retired vice president of Hi-Way Transportation Ltd., died Tuesday in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Lillian S.; sons Ronald, Reginald, Gregory and Garrett; daughter Laura-Lynn Kanazawa; brothers Gilbert, Clifford, Winfred and Donald, and nine grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 1525 Waimano Home Road. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

George S. Horvat, 77, of Honolulu, an independent machinery contractor who worked on government projects in Hawaii and the South Pacific, died Aug. 26. He was born in Whiting, Texas. He is survived by wife Rose; daughters Rosanne Pang and Susan Horvat; sisters Henene Horvat and Cecelia Day, and three grandchildren. Graveside services: 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Diamond Head Memorial Park. Causal attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to Blood Bank of Hawaii or the American Cancer Society.

Valentin M. Jasmin, 85, of Honolulu died last Thursday. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Mary; sons Benjamin, Franklin and Hemingway; daughters Lolita Vidaurri, Mary Jane Galase and Joy Tolentino, 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Visitation: 8 to 11:30 a.m. next Thursday at the mortuary. Burial: Greenhaven Cemetery. Casual attire.

Kalani P. Kaukini, 51, of Honolulu died Sunday. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by mother Helene; sisters Helene Konanui, Elizabeth and Verlie Kaukini, Theola Elburn and Henrietta Maunakea, and brother Thomas. Services over the ashes: 6 p.m. Monday at Oahu Cemetery Chapel. Call from 5 to 9 p.m. Aloha attire.

Hak Kyun Kim, 71, of Honolulu died Sunday. He worked for the Korean Army. He was born in Korea. He is survived by daughter Seung Hui Kwak and brother Sang Tae. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Eleanor T. Kudo, 73, of Honolulu died Aug. 27. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son Kevin; daughters Kathleen and Marylyn Kudo and Colleen Kobashigawa; brothers Glenn, Francis and James Tabusa; sister Jean Tabusa, and three grandchildren. Private services.

Timothy I. Mehau, 40, of Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, a self-employed manager of fishing boats and a seafood processor, died Aug. 25 in Kona Community Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Arlynn L.; daughters Marina and Gabrielle; son Alexander; parents Larry E. and Beverly J.R.; brothers Michael and Tom, and sisters Dana Vericella and Anela Shamel. Memorial services: 1 p.m. Saturday at New Hope Christian Fellowship-Gathering Place, 840 Kupulau Road, Hilo. Call after 11 a.m. Casual attire.

Patricio C. Mendoza, 85, of Hilo, a retired macadamia nut factory foreman and World War II veteran, died Aug. 26 in Hilo Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Tsuyuka O. Memorial services: 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. pavilion. Burial to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Justin P. Midnite, died Saturday. He is survived by mother Ada Greene; daughter Angela Clay; companion Dolly; daughters Ka‘ua, Jay and Max, seven sisters and a brother. Services: 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Pokai Bay Beach Park. Reception to follow.

Ross I. Newmann, 83, of Tucson, Ariz. and formerly of Hawaii and Washington, D.C., died Sunday. He was a retired chief judge of the Civil Aeronautics Board. He is survived by wife Maria; sons Stephen and Ross, and two grandchildren. Donations suggested to Hospice Family Care, 3443 E. Ft. Lowell, Tucson, Ariz., 85716.

George Roberts, 89, of Kaneohe will be remembered in services at 4 p.m. Sunday at Central Union Church. Call after 2 p.m. Burial with full military honors: 11:30 a.m. Monday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire.

Severino S. Sante, 72, of Lawai, Kauai, a groundskeeper, died Sunday at home. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Jesusa; sons Jovino and Vergilio; daughters Rebecca Abalos, Sabina Sampilo, Amelia Yasay, Cynthia Ragasa, Evelina Abalos, Remelyn Molina, Leonida Palacio and Rosita Iloreta; sister Juana, and 30 grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Garden Isle Mortuary. Call from 8 to 11 a.m. Burial: Lihue Public Cemetery. Casual attire.

Mary R. “Mary Ling” Santos, 75, of Kaneohe died Monday in Hilo Hospital. She was born in Wailuku. She is survived by sons Patti, Manuel and John; daughters Margaret Santos, Carmelita Tavares, Rosita Rodrigues, Dolores Santos and Alvina De Soto; brothers August, Tony and Pablo; sister Cecelia Dias; 57 grandchildren, 87 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Memorial services: noon tomorrow at 47-709 Waiohia St., Kahaluu. Luncheon will follow. Memorial services: 1 p.m. Sunday at the home of John and Sandra Santos, North Oshiro Road and Hulana Street, Mountain View, Hawaii. Luncheon will follow. Casual attire.

Ruth Sax, 85, of Wahiawa died Saturday. She was born in Missouri. She is survived by son John III; brother Harry C. Gibbs, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Private services.

Juanito C. Tabudlo, 68, of Kamuela, Hawaii, a retired storekeeper at Hyatt Regency Hotel, died Friday in Queen’s Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Leticia D.; sons Felix, Jing and Elmer; daughters Becky Wilson, Lucy Bautista, Vangie Danielson and Maylin Clark; brother Quirino, and 16 grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home. Call from 6 to 8 p.m. Visitation: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes. Burial: Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery. Casual attire.

Chizuri Takatsuka, 86, of Honolulu died Monday. She was born in Japan. She is survived by daughter Lily Fuller, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Private services.

Martin Tavares, 77, of Honolulu died last Friday. He was born in Hawaii. He is survived by daughter Connie Ginoza; sister Jennie Jardin, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services over the ashes: 11 a.m. Saturday at Oahu Cemetery Chapel. Call after 10 a.m. Inurnment: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Rose M.S. Tripoli, 77 of Mililani died Saturday. She was a retired civil service worker. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son John Jr.; daughter Mary Elizabeth; brother William C.S. Char; sisters Eva Spencer and Mary Roudebush, and a grandson. Services: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.