Danny Kamekona, 60, who played the bad guy in "Karate Kid Part II" and became one of Hawaii's best known actors, was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment yesterday.He had been dead several days in his bathroom, according to friends and family members.
The family yesterday was trying to contact his wife, Michiko, who was in the mountains of Japan at a reunion with her brothers and sisters, said his sister, Noelani Kamekona.
Kamekona's health was good although he had a heart valve replacement, his sister said. "His doctor told him to cool it." But he was "active and sociable, involved with his job and all the accouterments that come with it," she said. Tommy Igarashi, longtime friend, said Kamekona told him last week he was doing some commercials and was up for an interview for a big movie.
He had been in Los Angeles for about five months, flying back and forth from his Waialae home, Igarashi said.
Kamekona was born and raised in Hilo. His late father, Daniel Kaniela, was related to the standard bearer of Paa Kahili O Kamehameha. His mother, Vera Lani Kapu Makaea Aina Rose, 85, traces her lineage to Chief Kanekoa of Kau.
A Kamehameha Schools graduate, Kamekona began acting and singing as a youth. He performed with his sister in the Hawaii Youth Theater and later in the Hawaii Opera, Manoa Valley and Honolulu Community theaters.
But he didn't dream of an acting career until later; then he did it mostly for fun, he said once in an interview.
He appeared regularly in the "Hawaii Five-O," "Magnum, P.I." and "Burke's Law" television series. He had guest roles on the "Miami Vice" show and performed in other TV shows, pilots and movies. He became friends with Pat Morita while filming "Midway" in Hawaii.
He attended the University of Hawaii after leaving Kamehameha Schools, then went to Brigham Young University - Hawaii Campus, where he was voted "the man most likely to succeed," his sister said.
He had wide interests - painting, playing the clarinet, ukulele, guitar and other instruments, singing with a chorale and other groups and participating in community and sports activities.
She said he went to Osaka, Japan, for three years on a Mormon mission after BYU and came home with a bride. They have a son, Leigh Scott, and a daughter, Vera Lei.
"Danny had a special personality," Igarashi said. "He never thought because he was a movie actor that he was big time and snubbed anybody. He still had that Hawaiian aloha fun."
Ahn, 77, born on Kauai, is survived by wife Alice; sons Gerald, Robert Jr., Stephen and Michael; daughter Yvonne Sakamoto; sisters Esther Hahn, Margaret Kim and Rachel Young; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Memorial service: 6:30 p.m. May 3 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Private inurnment.
James A. "Jim" Alexander of Kailua, owner of Jamark Inc., died April 26 in Hawaii.
Alexander, 56, was born in Portland, Ore. He is survived by wife Judy; sons James A. Jr. and Mark Alexander, and Nathan S. Alba; daughter Christina Hart; mother Lois Henderson; brother David; and two grandchildren.
Memorial service: 4 p.m. May 5 at First Baptist Church in Kailua.
Lorenzo A. Alvaro of Waipahu died April 11 in Waipahu.
Alvaro, 95, was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Ester C.; sons Benito, Gibson, Alfredo, Tony and Celestino; daughters Maria Kapehe, Pacita Rice, Helen Stecher and Margaret Flores; 30 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great-grandchildren.
Call from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 4 at Mililani Memorial Park and Mortuary. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Charles L. Andersen of Pocasset, Mass., and Kailua-Kona, a retired U.S. Air Force technical sergeant who also owned a coins, guns and collectibles store, died April 27 in Kailua-Kona.
Anderson, 64, was born in Somerville, Mass. He is survived by sons Scott, Mark A. and Lee; daughters Kim, Ruth and Sheri; mother Margaret McKenna; brother Nils; sister Shirley Colgate; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial service: 1 p.m. May 5 at Kailua Pier in Kona, Hawaii. Casual attire. Loose flowers and leis welcomed.
Lorrin B. Andrade of Honolulu, a senior draftsman and job captain, died April 29 in Walnut Creek, Calif.
Andrade, 64, born in Hawaii, is survived by wife Shirley; son York N.; daughter Melody A. Asato; brother Manuel; and a grandson.
Mass: 12:30 p.m. May 6 at St. Patrick's Church. Call after 11 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Atsuko "Nellie" Asayama of Hilo, a retired state employee, died last April 25 in Honolulu.
Asayama, 80, was born in Hawaii. She is survived by daughters Aileen R. Suzuki and Juliet S.K. Lee; sisters Nancy Shigeoka, Dot Kawashima and Elsie Nakasone; brother Roy Oshita; sister Sue Suzuki; and three grandchildren.
Service: 5 p.m. May 5 at Hilo Hongwanji Betsuin. Aloha attire.
Henry Balinbin of Lahaina, owner of Triple B Cleaners Inc., died April 26 in Queen's Hospital.
Balinbin, 56, born in Lahaina, is survived by wife Cecilia; sons Jeff, Eric and Bryan; mother Dionicia; brothers Tony, Ernest "China," Joseph, John "Harry" and Rudy; and sisters Vivian Asio, Mary Laborte and Susan Donnelson.
Mass: 8 p.m. May 3 at Maria Lanakila Church. Call after 6:30 p.m. Cremation to follow. Scattering of ashes: 9 a.m. May 4 at the Lin Wa Slip 3 at Lahaina Harbor. Casual/ aloha attire.
Henry Balinbin of Lahaina, owner of Triple B Cleaners Inc., died April 26 in Queen's Hospital.
Balinbin, 56, born in Lahaina, is survived by wife Cecilia; sons Jeff, Eric and Bryan; mother Dionicia; brothers Tony, Ernest "China," Joseph, John "Harry" and Rudy; and sisters Vivian Asio, Mary Laborte and Susan Donnelson.
Mass: 8 p.m. May 3 at Maria Lanakila Church. Call after 6:30 p.m. Cremation to follow. Scattering of ashes: 9 a.m. May 4 at the Lin Wa Slip 3 at Lahaina Harbor.
Casual/aloha attire.
Felomina A. Birano of Las Vegas, formerly of Honolulu, died April 18 in Las Vegas.
Birano, 90, was born in Carcar, Cebu, the Philippines. She is survived by sons Francisco and Jose Berano, and Juan and Raymond Birano; daughters Pelisa Salvador, Dolores Aiona and Nancy Cui; sister Magdalena Manning; 26 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Rosary: 8:15 p.m. May 3 at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Service: noon May 4 at the mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial to follow.
Christina N.P. Bishop of Kaneohe died last April 25 in Kuakini Hospital.
Bishop, 65, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Richard "Greg" and Bradford "Kimo"; daughters Puanani Orine and Julia Bishop; sisters Hattie "Kula" Keawepuliko, Frances George, Hilaria Cabrera, and Elizabeth Fernandez; and five grandchildren.
Service: 11:30 a.m. May 3 at Mililani Memorial Park Mortuary. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park.
Casual attire.
Caroline K. Bruederle, infant daughter of Melvin Diaz and Billy Jo Bruederle, died April 27 in Wahiawa General Hospital.
The infant is also survived by grandparents Francisco and Peregrina Diaz, and Brenda and Kenneth Jones.
Private services.
Tomas C. Cabico of Honolulu died April 19 at home.
Cabico, 82, was born in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the Philippines. He is survived by wife Florenda D.; sons Thomas and Amparo; daughter Cesaria Reyes; brother Isidro; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Masses: 7 p.m. May 3 at Our Lady of the Mount Church, 1614 Monte St., call after 6 p.m.; and 11 a.m. May 4 at the church, call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Rodney E. Cabreros of Honokaa, Hawaii, an instrument technician for the former Hamakua Sugar Plantation, died April 28 at home.
Cabreros, 44, was born in Laupahoehoe, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Cy; daughter Wendy; son Skylar; mother Flora; brothers Phillip, Danny, Michael and Timmy; and sisters Paulette C. Ward Jr. and Fay Rezentes.
Mass: 10 a.m. May 4 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa, Hawaii. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Honokaa Catholic Church Cemetery. Casual attire.
Timothy P. Cafa of Waipahu died April 26.
Cafa, 81, was born in Ilocos Sur, the Philippines.
He is survived by wife Minnie; sons Nephi Antonio and Timoteo Cafa; daughter Marjorie B. Cafa- Ash; sister Trinidad Fontanilla; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Service: 11:30 a.m. May 3 at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Casual attire.
Mark P. Clark of Haiku, Maui, died April 23 in Hilo.
Clark, 45, born in Philadelphia, is survived by wife Diane; brothers Stephen, Larry, Joseph, Michael and Matthew; and sisters Nadia Kasline and Anastasia Rogala.
Memorial service: 12:30 p.m. May 4 at the Heritage Gardens at Kepaniwai Park in Iao Valley.
Potluck to follow.
Constance L. "Kanani" DeSantos of Wahiawa died April 27 at home.
DeSantos, 62, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Kenneth L.; son Kenneth L. Jr.; daughters Lynette "Nalani" Sagario, Florence L. Ford, Kennette L. Dias, Barbara J. DeSantos, Tammie J. Salazar and Kelly J. Ohelo; brothers Clarence Jr. and Robert Armstrong, and B.J. and Jeff Davis; stepfather B.J. Davis; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Service: 9:30 a.m. May 3 at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe.
Aloha attire. No flowers.
Stuart P. Dumaran of Kahului died April 26 in Maui Memorial Hospital.
Dumaran, 22, was born in Seattle. He is survived by parents Vince and Janet; daughter Kristin; brothers Bobby and Kaipo; sisters Liana and Hawane; and grandparents Maxie Traya, R.C. and Betty Stuart, and Vicente and Betty Dumaran.
Service over his ashes: 6 p.m. May 2 at Nakamura Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Ronald D. Etling of Honolulu, a nuclear medical technologist for Queen's Hospital, died last April 25 in Honolulu.
Etling, 43, was born in Connellsville, Pa. He is survived by brother George R.; sister Whipkey; brothers Glenn, Donald and John; sister Peggy Yancey; brothers Tom and Jim; and sister Shirley Hawk.
Private services.
Edward J. "Flea" Feliciano of Kihei, Maui, died April 28 in Kihei.
Feliciano, 34, was born in Wailuku. He is survived by daughter Lokana B. Fleming; son Edward Jason Jr.; parents James and Frances P.; sister Lucille F. Davis; brother Howard J.; and grandparents Raymond and Ramona.
Service: 12:30 p.m. May 6 at Borthwick Mortuary-Norman's. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park.
Harry Y. Funakoshi of Honolulu, a Pearl Harbor retiree, died April 29 in Straub Hospital.
Funakoshi, 76, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Rodney Y. and Daniel S.; daughter Fay M. Uyema; brothers Robert M. and Kenneth T.; sisters Florence Y. Gray and Ellen A. Ogata; and three grandchildren.
Memorial service: 11 a.m. May 5 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Casual attire.
Emeterio Gabrillo of Honolulu died last April 25 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi.
Gabrillo, 90, was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Librada; sons Rudolfo and Emmit; daughters Gloria Kawelo and Rita Debebar; and 11 grandchildren.
Mass: 12:15 p.m. May 4 at St. Philomena Church, 3300 Ala Laulani St. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park.
Gladys K.T.C. Goo of Kailua died last April 25 in the Aloha Health Care Center.
Goo, 86, was born in Kohala, Hawaii. She is survived by husband Chock Hin; sons Vernon and Garrett; daughter Nadine Wong; sisters Doreen Killebrew and Cynthia Farm; brother Jacob Chee; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Service: 1:30 p.m. May 4 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after noon. Burial follows.
Richard C. "Manu" Goltry of Palm Springs, Fla., formerly of Hawaii, died March 26 in Cumming, Iowa.
Goltry, 68, a dancer and singer, performed in several motion pictures including "On An Island With You," "Hawaiian Night" and "Excuse My Dust" with Red Skelton. He also appeared on TV in "Harry Owens Royal Hawaiian Show" and "You Asked For It."
Born in Cumming, Iowa, he is survived by wife Tina; sons Charles, Richard and Christian; daughter Kimberly; mother Gertryal Spangler; sister Yvonne DellaRosa; and half sister Adrienne Moen.
Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, Desert Division, 45-120 San Pablo Ave., Palm Springs, Calif. 92260.
Alyce D. Grossman of Honolulu, a retired special education teacher, died April 22 in Honolulu.
Grossman, 89, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. She is survived by daughter Patricia Otake; and son Peter D.
Service and scattering of ashes: 5:30 p.m. May 11 on the oceanside of the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon. Casual attire.
Junichi "Jun" Hatakenaka of Hilo, retired proprietor of the former Hilo Chevron Station and Jun's Auto Repair, died April 30 in Hilo Hospital.
Hatakenaka, 71, was born in Pepeekeo, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Eleanor M.; son Sidney; stepson Gabriel A. Patnaude; stepdaughters June Hodgins and Patricia Tsuda; sisters Haruyo Miyaji and Jane Alatan; two grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Service: 1 p.m. May 3 at Dodo Mortuary. Call after noon. Burial: Homelani Memorial Park.
Casual attire.
John A. Hekking of Haiku, Maui, died April 28 in Maui Memorial Hospital.
Hekking, 84, was born in Rotterdam, Holland. He is survived by sons Fred, Hans and Walt; daughters Lucie Forkner, Elizabeth Hekking and Jeanette Spencer; brother William F.; and nine grandchildren.
Private services.
Julia G. "Ma" Hopps of Kailua, a retired Aloha Airlines senior reservation agent, died April 24 in Castle Hospital.
Hopps, 70, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Rodney, Cliff and Jeff; brothers Stanley Damas, and Raymond, Clarence and Benjamin Au; sisters Adella Johnson and Katherine Fox; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Service: 2:30 p.m. May 5 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 2 p.m. Leis welcomed.
Linda M. Hoshida of Waipahu, formerly of Hilo, a paramedical assistant for Kaiser Medical Center, died last April 25 in Kaiser Hospital.
Hoshida, 31, was born in Hilo. He is survived by parents Iwao and Miyoko; and brother Larry M.
Private services.
Helen L.Y.J. Jay, formerly of Honolulu, died April 9 in San Francisco.
Jay is survived by brothers William and Raymond Jung; and sisters Eva Lee, Barbara V. and Edith Chang, Charlotte Choy and Lily Ing.
Private services.
Ruth M. Kaopuiki of Waianae died April 23 at home.
Kaopuiki, 61, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son Joseph N. Jr.; daughters Florence Moses, Joyce Wond, Ruth Fernandez, Monica Gouveia, and June, Starlite N. and Starlite L. Kaopuiki; brothers Benjamine and David Milikaa Jr.; sisters Peggy Mahiai, Florence Flores and Maryann Boyd; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. May 5 at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Nanakuli Homestead Cemetery. Aloha attire.
Vida Kessler of Kihei, Maui, formerly of California and Princeville, Hawaii, died April 27 at home.
Kessler, 75, was born in Vida Lee, Ind. She is survived by son Michael; sister Frances Hilton; and two grandchildren.
Private inurnment. Donations suggested to Hospice Maui.
Shirley L. Kim of Honolulu died April 23 in Kaiser Hospital.
Kim, 90, was born in Kona, Hawaii. She is survived by husband Karp S.; son Vernon T.; daughter Shirley M.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Private services.
Kenneth G. Kohata of Mountain View, Hawaii, formerly of Hilo, owner and president of KTD Hawaii Inc. and former director of sales for Nani Mau Gardens, died April 24 in Hilo Hospital.
Kohata, 57, was born in Honokaa, Hawaii. He is survived by son Daniel; and sisters Thelma Lee and Marlene Ng.
Service: 10:30 a.m. May 4 at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Cremation to follow. No
flowers.
Henry K. Kupihea of Anahola, Kauai, an herbicide supervisor for the Lihue Plantation, died April 27 at home.
Kupihea, 71, was born in Kealia, Kauai. He is survived by wife Loretta G.; daughters Margaret "Mahealani" Kaui and Amanda Higa; sons Nathan and Henry; sisters Mary Maunakea, Elaine Watson, Grace Fitzgerald, Dorothy Goo, Deborah Muff, Yolanda Rosa, Rachel Bright and Kealani Torres; brothers Wallace and Henry M. "Peaches"; and 10 grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. May 4 at Borthwick/Kauai Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Kapaa Public Cemetery. Casual attire.
Raymond K.J. Lau of Kaneohe, founder of the Honolulu Gesneriads Society, died April 27 in the St. Francis Hospice.
Lau, 60, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, was born in China. He is survived by wife Joyce H.C.; children Andrew K.P. Lau, June L. Bilyeu and Anna K.L. Lau-Parish; parents Henry and Siu Jane; and brother Herman K.S.
Service: 3 p.m. May 4 at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
Raymond Y.K. Lau of Honolulu, a Pearl Harbor Shipyard retiree, died April 23 at home.
Lau, 71, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Cindy S.C.; children Karen L. Lee, and Raymond W.F., Ronnie W.O., Richard W.F. and Robert W.C. Lau; brothers Henry and George; stepbrother Peter; sisters Clara, Loretta, Janet and Doris; stepmother Soo Lin; and six grandchildren.
Services held. Call from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 5 at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Rimoni T. Lauano of Hilo, a farmer, died April 28 in Hilo Hospital.
Lauano, 77, was born in Western Samoa. He is survived by daughter Sasae Gugu; brother Faai Fata; sister Gutu Young; and three grandchildren.
Mass: 3 p.m. May 3 at St. Joseph Church. Call after 2 p.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery.
Paul E. Lenhart of Kailua, a small business owner, died last April 25 at home.
Lenhart, 71, was also a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. He served during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, and was awarded the Purple Heart and Legion of Merit. Born in Columbus, Ohio, he is survived by wife Betty; daughter Paula Mastroianni; sons Jeffery and Peter; and brother Richard.
Service: 1:15 p.m. May 3 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 12:15 p.m. Burial with military honors to follow at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe.
Donations may be made to Kailua United Methodist Church.
Rosalind C. Lewis of Kaneohe died April 26 in Pohai Nani Care Center.
Lewis, 92, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by niece Dorothea N. Ponte; and nephews William Ponte and Charles Babcock.
Mass: 9 a.m. May 6 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Call after 8 a.m. Graveside service: 10:30 a.m. May 6 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Pelenaise K. Lotaki of Waipahu died April 22 in Kapiolani Hospital.
Lotaki, 38, was born in Tonga. She is survived by husband Sione M.; sons Alfred and Kilioni; daughter Pelenaise K.; mother Fipe F. Manu; brothers Salesi A. Ngata and Liufau Manu; and sisters Talaifina, Lupeolo, Sisifale, Fololiena, Feofaaki and Siniva.
Services: 8:30 p.m. May 3 at the First United Methodist Church, 1020 Beretania St., call after 6 p.m.; and 9 a.m. May 4, call after 7:30 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Rosario T. "Sayong" Lucas of Honolulu died April 27 in Kuakini Hospital.
Lucas, 61, born in the Philippines, is survived by husband Domingo A.; sons Alan and Fredolyn; daughter Jocelyn I. Bumanglag; mother Clemencia Tagupa; brother Benito Tagupa; sister Zenaida Tagavilla; and a grandchild.
Service: 6:30 p.m. May 5 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 10:15 a.m. May 6 at St. Anthony's Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Alice Y.Y. Lum of Las Vegas, formerly of Honolulu, died April 21 in Las Vegas.
Lum, 94, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Francis, Gerald and Herbert; daughter Bernice Jones; brother David Ching; 37 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; and eight great- great-grandchildren.
Call: from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 4 at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Chiyo O. Meyers of Hilo, a retired Hilo Hospital registered nurse who also worked as a clerk-typist for her husband William Jr., died April 26 at home.
Meyers, 87, was born in Waimea, Kauai.
She is also survived by daughters Valerie Sewell, Helene "Miki" Baysa and Sylvia Tuinei; sisters Kimiyo Kondo and Hanayo Hashimoto; brother Richard Okamoto; 23 grandchildren; and 28 great- grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. May 4 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kilauea 1st Ward. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. May 3 and after 9 a.m. May 4 at the church. Entombment: Homelani Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
Tadashi Michimoto of Napili, Hawaii, died April 27 at home.
Michimoto, 78, was born in Lahaina. He is survived by wife Tokuko; sons Glenn and Walter; daughter Audrey Seki; brothers Isami and Yoshio; sister Shizuko Okubo; and four grandchildren.
Service over his ashes: 4 p.m. May 4 at Lahaina Hongwanji Mission.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Oito Miki of Hilo died April 28 in Hilo Hospital.
Miki, 94, was born in Pepeekeo, Hawaii. She is survived by sons Takashi, Tadashi, Ernest and Lawrence; daughters Sadame Ota, Tsukimi Murashige, Michie Kuwaye and Caroline Fujii; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Service: 4 p.m. May 6 at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 3 p.m.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Beatrice C. Mishina of Honolulu, a retired seamstress, died April 27 in St. Francis Hospice.
Mishina, 77, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Dennis K. and Roger M.; daughter Cynthia S. Wiese; brothers Atsushi, Hiromu, Sunao and Richard I. Tanaka; and two grandchildren.
Memorial service: 5 p.m. May 4 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Tsuneo Murata of Waipahu, a retired Oahu Sugar Co. welder, died April 28 in St. Francis-West Hospital.
Murata, 79, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Miyoko; daughter Elaine Kanemoto; sisters Mae Okada and Doris Kurashima; and a grandson.
Service: 6:30 p.m. May 4 at Mililani Memorial Park and Mortuary.
Casual attire. No flowers.
Nedra U. Pacheco of Honolulu died April 23 in Kaiser Hospital.
Pacheco, 51, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son Bernard Jr.; daughter Kennydene K. Lenchanko; mother Rose Kaneapua; sisters Gail Pacheco and Georgette Sanchez; and four grandchildren.
Mass: 11 am. May 4 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 130 Ohua Ave. Call after 9 a.m. Cremation to follow. No flowers.
Vickie Pecsok of San Diego, formerly of Honolulu, author of "Gullible's Travels," died April 2.
Pecsok, 76, was born in Plymouth, Mass. She is survived by husband Robert; children Helen, Katherine, Jean, Michael, Ruth, Alice and Sara; brother David; and seven grandchildren.
Private scattering of ashes.
Jacob M.I.K. Samoa, infant son of Mary T. Samoa and Ronald H. Kuahuia of Milolii, Hawaii, died April 23 in Kona Community Hospital.
The infant is also survived by grandparents Taiaopo Maiava, and Louis and Dondie Kuahuia; great-
grandparents Faavesi and Amelia Samoa, Amoe Casuga and Albert Barker; and great-great-grandparents Pepe N. Taetuna and Matalena P. Manu`o.
Mass: 1 p.m. May 5 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Milolii, Hawaii. Call after 9 a.m. Ashes to be scattered at sea. Leis welcomed.
Charles F. Simmons III of Waimanalo, a firefighter III for the Honolulu Fire Department, Station 27, will be remembered in a memorial service May 4.
Simmons, 49, drowned April 27 while surfing off Sandy Beach.
Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Maydene I.; daughters Chanelle I. Simmons-Sabey and Charmae K. Simmons; brothers Bobby and Bruce Mossman; sisters Lalani Segool, Kehau Akiona, Della Simmons and Kaohi Holland; and four grandchildren.
Memorial service: 11:30 a.m. May 4 at St. George Church, 41-1323 Kalanianaole Highway. Call after 9 a.m.
Ashes to be scattered at Waimanalo Bay across Sea Life Park.
Casual attire.
Katsu Sugimoto of Wahiawa died last April 25 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Sugimoto, 99, was born in Hawaii.
She is survived by sons Kenneth K. and Tom T.; daughter Pauline M. Kaneshiro; brothers Lawrence and Thomas Kunihisa; sisters Alice Ishiyama and Edith Nishikawa; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Private services.
Kenneth H. Takafuji of Kaneohe, an Ameron HC&D retiree who also was an insurance agent, died April 23 in Castle Hospital.
Takafuji, 75, was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Caroline L.; sons Marshall Takafuji, and Rodney, Sydney and Leslie Mariano; daughters Pennie Tsuha and Jacqueline Asuncion; brother Eddie; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. May 6 at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe.
Casual attire.
Yonetaro Takara of Honolulu, a retired Flamingo Restaurant cook, died April 18 in Kuakini Hospital.
Takara, 71, was born in Los Angeles. He is survived by wife Mitsuko; daughter Jean M.; brothers George and Frank; and sisters Haruko and Masako.
Private services.
Isamu Tamura of Waialua, a Schofield Commissary retiree, died April 24 in Wahiawa General Hospital.
Tamura, 73, was born in Waialua. He is survived by wife Violet Y.; brothers Mamoru, Yoshito, Shoichi Joe and Nobuo; and sisters Haruko Tamura and Helen Matsuda.
Private services.
Levale T. Tauvao of Laie died April 23 at home.
Tauvao, 61, born in Western Samoa, is survived by sons Sione and Ululoloa; daughters Faataualofa Lemalu, Laloifi Smith, Sina Ah Hong, Fou Laulu, Kome Vea and Della Tauvao; brother George Purcell; sisters Laloifi Malifa and Luse Solovi; and 20 grandchildren.
Service: 11 a.m. May 4 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 55-110 Lanihuli St. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Laie Cemetery.
Roy I. Toyota of Wahiawa, a retired general contractor, died April 28 in Wahiawa General Hospital.
Toyota, 64, was born in Kahuku. He is survived by wife Dorothy S.; sons James T. and Wesley T.; sister Kay Y. Kimura; and two grandchildren.
Memorial service: 6 p.m. May 4 at Mililani Memorial Park and Mortuary. No flowers.
Loimata Tufono of Ewa Beach, a Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Supply Division, retiree, died April 18 in St. Francis-West Hospital.
Tufono, 63, was born in Faganeanea Village, American Samoa. He is survived by wife Avasa; sons Loimata Jr., Alfred, Albert and Matthew; daughters Kaleve Iosefa, Agiga Vaa and Jean Tufono; brothers Amani, Toalei and Toamalama; sisters Magauli Fiame and Leigaga Poumele; and 11 grandchildren.
Wake: 3 p.m. May 5 at the Samoan Congregational Christian Church, 602 Turner Ave. Service: 11 a.m. May 6. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe.
Epifania B. "Paniang" Ucol of Honolulu died April 5 at home.
Ucol, 90, born in the Philippines, is survived by sons Francisco B., Maximino B., Emmanuel B. and Andres B.; daughters Connie B. Ucol and Concepcion Madamba; sisters Isabel Hermano and Filomena Ramos; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Service: 7 p.m. May 3 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 8:30 a.m. May 4 at St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Mary A. Udo of Honolulu died April 20 in Hale Pulama Mau.
Udo, 93, was born in Hilo. She is survived by son Wallace; daughter Jane U. Parker; brothers Raymond and Charles Uchimura; sister Michiko Asai; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Private services.
Visitacion G. Usita of Honolulu, owner of Oahu Keikis, died April 11 in Kaiser Hospital.
Usita, 51, born in the Philippines, is survived by mother Celedonia G.; brother Benjamin G.; and sisters Lerma U. Dela Cruz, Feliciana G. Usita and Milagros U. Viloria.
Services: 6:30 p.m. May 3 at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary, call after 6 p.m.; and 9:30 a.m. May 4, call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Kristen D.A. Velasco, infant daughter of Gary Velasco and Paulette Amigable, died April 22 in Kapiolani Hospital.
The infant is also survived by grandparents Rodolfo G. Velasco, Jacinta Cabe, and Antonio and Hedy Amigable; and great-grandparents Encarnacion, Morris and Eva Cabe, and Florentina Altuna.
Graveside service: 10 a.m. May 5 at Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Yin-Yee Lau Wong of Honolulu died April 4 in Nuuanu Hale Hospital.
Wong, 85, was born in Chungshan, China. She is survived by son Kam Yan; daughters Shui-Chun Lui, Sin Ying Wong and Sin Fong Leung; brother Wah Chow Lau; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great- grandchildren.
Taoist service: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 4 at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Helen H. Yamachi of Honolulu died April 24 in Straub Hospital.
Yamachi, 86, was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Stanley M. and David T.; daughters Jane H.Y. Higa, and June F. and Amy M. Yamachi; sister Natsuko Takahashi; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Private services.
Kimiko Yamamoto of Volcano, Hawaii, died April 28 in the Life Care Center of Hilo.
Yamamoto, 95, was born in Japan. She is survived by son George and Akira; daughters Teruko Fujioka, Kazue Hanabusa and Emi Takauye; two brothers; a sister; 16 grandchildren; and 14 great- grandchildren.
Memorial service: 4 p.m. May 4 at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 3 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.