Gillett helped promote
By Jim Witty
Hawaiian music
Star-Bulletin
Dorothy Aulani Gillett, longtime University of Hawaii music professor and teacher at Kamehameha Schools, choral conductor, music arranger and hula preservationist, died Friday in Straub Hospital. She was 77.Daughter Michele described her as selfless.
"She was always very generous with her time," she said. "She always sort of pooh-poohed any recognition."
So it embarrassed her when Kamehameha Schools honored her by dedicating this year's Song Contest to Gillett and performing only songs that she arranged.
It was the culmination of a lustrous career.
Born in Honolulu, Gillett taught for 14 years at Kamehameha Schools and 25 years at the university before retiring in 1982.
Besides numerous awards and accomplishments, Gillett conducted more than two dozen workshops, lectures and demonstrations aimed at introducing Hawaiian music, chant and hula to the music educators of the western world.
In 1967, Gillett urged the director of the State Foundation of Culture and Arts to convene one of the first gatherings of kumu hula to teach workshops in Honolulu and Nanakuli. It helped revive the Hawaiian art form at a time when
it had ebbed in popularity, said Michelle Gillett.
She is also survived by son Mark, brother Jonathan Kahananui and two grandchildren.
A graveside service is set for 1 p.m. tomorrow at National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Kamehameha Schools Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Turney-Gillett Scholarship Fund in care of Kamehameha Schools Activities Association, 1887 Makuakane St., Honolulu 96817.
Roberto Antonio, 49, of Kahuku, a city heavy equipment operator who also worked at Kahuku Plantation, died Saturday in Kahuku Hospital. He is survived by wife Carolina C.; daughters Karlynne Blas and Janelle Auwae; son Robert; brothers Ernie and Getulio Antonio, and Paul, Arnold, Alvin and Robin Bactista; sisters Ann Randall, Laurie Soriano and Valerie Bactista; and four grandchildren. Service: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Kahuku Methodist Church. Call after 6 p.m. Burial: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Maria M.L.A. Arzaga, 75, of Honolulu died Oct. 12 in Kuakini Hospital. She is survived by husband Nicanor D.S.; son Cresencio A.; and four grandchildren. Wake: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa on School Street. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Eileen M. Beter, 67, of Pearl City died Friday at home. She is survived by sons Douglas, Norman, Pathrick and William "Billy"; daughters Rowena Obrero and Maile Beter; sisters Josephine Ornellas, Ethel Keiek, Katherine Chamness and Mary Lou Loa; and eight grandchildren. Service: 7 p.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Graveside service: 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Aloha attire.
Bernice M.C. Chun, 88, of Kailua, a retired bookkeeper for Bailey Furniture Co., died Friday in Kaiser Hospital. She is survived by sons Herbert W.J. and Joseph W.L.; daughters Beatrice Kim and Lydia K.T. Todd; 18 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Taoist service: 9-11:30 a.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Lin Yee Chung Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.
Frances P.F. Chun, 73, of Wahiawa died Friday in Kaiser Hospital. She is survived by husband Albert F.; son Dr. Arnold K.U.; and two grandchildren. Private services.
Kalfred W.H. Chun, 72, of Honolulu, a retired Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard design division engineering technician, died Oct. 14. He is survived by wife Mildred L.; sons Ryan R. and Wesley M.; daughters Kalfreda M. Wataoka, Mildriene Ann C. Uda and Kalene L. Yanamura; mother Yuk Chun S.; sister Dorothy C. Siu; and nine grandchildren. Service: 11 a.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Graveside service: 10:30 a.m. Monday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Stephen Crivello, 87, of Honolulu, a retired Papaikou Sugar Plantation worker, died Tuesday in the Oahu Care Facility. He is survived by sons Stephen Jr. and Richard; daughters Jacqueline LaGris and Diana C. Morris; brother Clarence; sisters Alice Sawichi and Dorothy Okeson; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Service: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.
Kazuko Fujii, 45, of Pearl City died Monday at home. She is survived by husband Yasuyuki; son James H.; daughter Amy A.; mother Fusako Matsumoto; and sister Kyoko Seki. Memorial service: noon Saturday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire.
Richard N. Fujioka, 87, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Hale Pulama Mau. He is survived by son Rodney S.; daughters Toshie "Judy" Kono and Ellen K. Woo; brothers Jack Y. and Yoshio; sisters Tomie Webb and Hatsue Kojima; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorial service: 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Gaylette K. Garcia, 56, of Waianae, a store manager for a Texaco Food Mart, died Friday in Ewa Beach. She is survived by husband Clifford; daughter Vanessa Raquedan; son George Paaoao; daughters Collette Cox and Taralynn Garcia; a brother; a sister; 18 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Private services.
Gladys F. "Sunshine" Gotcher, 93, of Hilo, a retired dietitian for the old Hilo Hospital, died Oct. 14 in the Hale Anuenue Restorative Center. She is survived by brother-in-law Fred F. Hebert; and several nieces and nephews. No services.
Naoto "Nash" Hirata, 76, of Ewa Beach, a retired carpenter, died Oct. 15 in St. Francis-West Hospital. He is survived by wife Carolyn M.; son Carl K.; daughters Peggy K. Fujimoto, Lillian Y. Goya and Della K. Yanagida; brothers Yukuo, Harumi, Mamoru, Katsumi and Richard; sisters Thelma Fasone and Beatrice Hoshino; and three grandchildren. Memorial service: 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.
Mitsue Imamura, 73, of Ewa Beach died Oct. 13 in St. Francis-West Hospital. She is survived by brothers Robert and Yoshio Sueda; and sisters Matsue Okamura and Tillie H. Bargameto. Private inurnment.
Hayako Izuo, 93, of Honolulu died yesterday in Honolulu. She is survived by son Richard T.; daughters Alice C. Fujikane, Doris F. Nishizawa and Grace K. Hamasaki; sister Yaeko Kawabe; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial service: 5 p.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. No flowers.
Sumiko Kawamoto, 70, of Kapaa, Kauai, died Oct. 9 in Wilcox Hospital. She is survived by husband Kenzo; son Edwin; daughters Charleen Mukai and Joyce Kanetake; mother Shigeko Yoshii; brothers Kiyoshi, Frank and Wallace Yoshii; sister Dorothy Kimura; and three grandchildren. Private services.
Nobuko Kishinami, 85, of Honolulu died Monday in Kuakini Hospital. She is survived by sons Tatsuaki, Paul Y. and Henry M.; daughters Louise M. Murakami and Setsuko Yakuma; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Memorial service: 4 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire.
Mann Chi Kung, 54, of Honolulu, a retired bank teller and language teacher, died Monday in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Limin; daughter Linza; stepdaughter Lani M. Bushnell; stepson Limin Jr.; mother Chin-Min Tsung; and brothers Fu Sheng and Hsu Sheng Tsung. Service: 10:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at Makiki Christian Church. Private inurnment. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to Kuakini (Hospital) Foundation.
Violet A. Kunimitsu, 77, of Waialua, a retired Waialua Sugar Co. clerk, died Oct. 8 in Wahiawa General Hospital. She is survived by husband Masaichi; sister Betsy A. Yamamoto. Memorial service: 5 p.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers or monetary offerings.
Yet Foon Lau, 73, of Honolulu, a Chevron Oil Refinery retiree, died Oct. 16 in St. Francis Hospital. He is survived by companion Dolly Maikai; brothers Thomas K.H., Kenneth Y.F., Chew Hing and Ernest C.K.; and sisters Ellen Wong and Barbara Kalino. Taoist service: 11 a.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Procession leaves 2:30 p.m. for Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Jack P. Lucey, 81, of Honolulu, a retired Pan American World Airways manager, died Monday at home. He is survived by son John K.; and several nieces and nephews. Private services. No flowers. Donations suggested to charity.
Jerry L. Lujan, 40, of Kapaa, Kauai, a proprietor in the creative wood carpentry field, will be remembered in a Mass tomorrow. Lujan's body was found on the beach at Barking Sands Saturday. He is survived by wife Sue; daughters Jessica and Lisa; son Jerry J.; mother Lillian Baca; father Al; sister Karol Salazar; and brother Daniel. Mass: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. Call after 9:30 a.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Lawrence J. Mahiai, 54, of Waianae, a former employee for Fletcher Pacific, died Oct. 7 in the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. He is survived by wife Lorna "Mapu"; sons Lawrence J. "Larry" Jr., Lot K., Grant "Alika" and Ryan G.K.; daughter Gail L.; brothers Harris, Stanley and Melvin; sisters Esther Seipel and Elaine Hale; and a granddaughter. Service: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Nanakuli Homestead Cemetery. Casual attire.
Violet A.H. Matildo, 57, of Honolulu died Friday in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Raymond; daughter Tina W.; brothers Clyde W. Kaaiakamanu, and Daniel K. III, Clifford T., Chester and Joseph Hanakahi; and a grandson. Service: 9 a.m. Nov. 3 at Sand Island Beach Park. Ashes to be scattered at Waikiki Beach.
Hattie H. Medeiros, 71, of Waianae, a retired housekeeper for the hotel industry, died Oct. 13 in the Waianae Comprehensive Hospital. She is survived by husband Edward C.; sons Edwin C. and Raymond C.; daughters Naomi Winston and Colette Sanchez; brothers Frank, Clarence, Albert and Manuel; sisters Mildred Pogtis and Mary Jumalon; several hanai children; 12 grandchildren; several hanai grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Service: 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial to follow. Aloha attire.
Manuel F. Mendes, 93, of Kula, Maui, a U.S. Navy blacksmith, died yesterday at home. He is survived by wife Antoinette; daughter Theresa Costa; brother William "Bill"; sisters Louise Medeiros, Ida Nascimento, Isabelle Valant, Mildred Cardoza and Bernice Medeiros; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Homelani Cemetery.
Clifford W. Nilsson, 86, of Kaneohe, a retired Los Angeles Fire Department fireman, died Oct. 14 in the Pohai Nani Care Center. He is survived by sister Lola N. Mench; and half sister Ruth N. Larsen. Private services.
Kiyoshi Oda, 83, of Honolulu, a Grove Farm Sugar Plantation Co. retiree, died yesterday at home. He is survived by wife Umeno; daughters Sharyn Kanemaru and Gail Uyehara; sisters Kii Inouye, Harue Okimoto and Kimie Hiraoka; and three grandchildren. Private services.
Mitsuru Omori, 77, of Honolulu, president of Hawaii Business College, died Friday in Hale Pulama Mau. He is survived by wife Anne; son Walter H.; daughter Frances; brothers Itaru and Morio; and sisters Jean Murakami and Myrtle Toda. Memorial service: 6 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Elsie Y. Pang, 82, of Honolulu, a registered nurse, died Oct. 15 in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Michael, Roger, Fred, Steven and David; daughters Sandra P. Sarcedo and Stephanie Pang; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Service: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.
Edward G. "Pops" Puaoi, 74, of Papakolea, a retired Hickam Air Force Base automobile mechanic, died Oct. 15 in Queen's Hospital. Puaoi, a World War II veteran, is survived by wife Alvina N.; sons George E., Edward S.M., William K. and Gene A. Puaoi, and Mervin L. Kawainui; daughters Eileen N. Hill, MaryAnn L. De Cota, Noreen K. Inoke and Stephanie K. Arakaki; brothers William, Ernest K. and John B.; sisters Nora Kahaulelio, Lillian Oliveira and Bernice Briggs; 38 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Blessed Sacrament Church. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary and after 9 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
Harriet H. Saito, 77, of Hilo, a retired proprietress for the former Carl K. Saito Nursery and Waiakea Uka Kumiai, died Saturday in the Life Care Center of Hilo. She is survived by daughters Jeannette Horio, Charlotte Gleim and Leilani Inouye; brother Everett Umeda; sisters Sachiko Waialeale, Mariko Kekuewa, Akiko Nishiyama, Mae Miyoshi and Tsukiko Sakai and Josephine Like; and six grandchildren. Service: 4 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 3 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Janis S. Sakamoto, 87, of Kapaau, Hawaii, retired proprietor of J. Sakamoto Store, died last Oct. 16 in the North Hawaii Community Hospital. She is survived by daughters Tsuyako Miyashiro, Ayako Imai, Natsue Yoneda, Akiko Maekawa, Harue "Helene" McKee and Shizumi "Joyce" Gromfeld; sisters Takeko Ogasawara, Itsuko Yamamoto, Hisayo Nakamura and Terue Kita; 18 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren. Service: 1 p.m. Saturday at Kapaau Jodo Mission. Call after noon. Burial: mission cemetery. Casual attire.
Genevieve C.C. Salado, 80, of Kaneohe died last Oct. 16 in Castle Hospital. She is survived by mother Bella Q. Camara; children Catherine S. Wong and Jeanette S. Martin; siblings George, Albert, Valerio, Raymond and Bernard Camara, Agnes Duarte, Bertha Moniz, Lorna Mascoto, Filomena Martinez and Helen Costa; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Pelisa "Peling" Salvador, 62, of Las Vegas, formerly of Honolulu, died Oct. 15 in Las Vegas. She is survived by husband Lorito; son Lorito Jr.; daughters Carmella Magee, Margaret Thomas and Phyllis Ann Elderts; brothers Francisco and Jose Berano, and Juan and Raymond Birano; sisters Dolores Aiona and Nancy Cui; and 11 grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Nuuanu Mortuary, call after 6 p.m.; and 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the mortuary, call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire.
Edward M. Shimizu, 74, of Waianae, a retired dairy farmer, died Sept. 30 in Honolulu. He is survived by son Steven H.; daughters Deborah Frasco and Joan Lai; brothers James and Robert; sisters Glorian Yamamoto, Harumi Takahashi, Helen Hong and Florence Matsukawa; and four grandchildren. Private services.
Ethel T. Shower donations may be made to the Aloha Council, Boy Scouts of America. Additional information for an obituary published Monday was provided by the mortuary.
Francis T. Suwa, 75, of Wahiawa, a Bank of Hawaii retiree, died Oct. 12 in Wahiawa General Hospital. He is survived by wife Mitsuko; sons Rollin, Stephen Y. and Clifford; daughter Sharon Toma; brothers Katsuhiko, Robert, Miles and Clarence; sisters Vivian Matsukawa, Grace Nakamura, Jane Shinki, Lillian Ishida, Nancy Torii and Carol Fujii; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Private services.
Ricardo "Ricky" Torrijos, 69, of Kealakekua, Hawaii, a retired hotel houseman who also was a commercial fisherman and coffee farmer, died Oct. 15 in the Kona Community Hospital. He is survived by wife Estrillia P.; sons Ricardo Jr. and Dominic K.; daughters Gloria Jean Fleming, Sylvia Kawamoto, Deanna Lopes and Vicky W. Yuen; sisters Marcelina Hera and Conception Texeira; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Catholic Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Kona Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Winifred Toyota, 72, of Honolulu, a retired University of Hawaii, College of Arts and Sciences, head academic adviser, died Sunday in Kuakini Hospital. She is survived by husband Ralph H.; son David K.; daughter Ann T. Rabinko; brothers Ruben and Lawrence Kawamoto; sisters Margaret Yoshimoto, Lillian Doi, Agnes Okumoto and Helene Doi; and a granddaughter. Memorial service: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd. Casual attire. No flowers.
Paul M. Umetsu, 73, of Kailua, a city Health Department retiree, died Oct. 8 in St. Francis Hospice. He is survived by wife Jennie; son Vernon M.; stepsons Robert M. and Michael Makiyama; brother Thomas; sisters Takiye Kiyono, Umeyo Watanabe, Michie Tamane, Dorothy Hatanaka and Ruth Nakao; and several grandchildren. Private services.
Satsuye Yonemoto, 77, of Honolulu, a retired seamstress, died Oct. 13 at home. She is survived by husband Hiromune; sons Richard M. and Jimmie N.; daughter Ellen M.; brother Hiroshi Takamiya; sisters Margaret Oda, Hanako Murata and Sadako Watanabe; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Private services.
Shige Yoneshige, 100, of Honolulu died last Thursday in the Ann Pearl Care Facility. She is survived by sons Hiroshi, Shoji and George; daughters Toshiko Miyamoto, Momoye Kurabashi, Chieko Oda and Masako Yokota; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Haruko "Edna" Yoshimura, 86, of Honolulu, a retired California Packing Corp. timekeeper, died Friday in the Hale Nani Health Care Center. She is survived by sons Richard T. and Donald A.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Private services.