Obituaries

Thursday, February 26, 1998

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Harold Blomfield had exciting
life working the ocean

By Greg Ambrose
Special to the Star-Bulletin

After a varied career wresting a living from the ocean during which he overcame several cases of the bends and ciguatera poisoning, Harold Blomfield died Feb. 7 of cancer.

“We thought he was just invincible,” said his widow, Tinker.

“We were just glad we had those last two months to have our aloha time before he died.”

Born in Honolulu in a war-time hospital at the Kamehameha Schools and raised in Kahuku, Blomfield was one of the original black coral divers off Lahaina in the ’60s. He quit the business before it became a major industry after he got such a serious case of the bends that doctors told Blomfield he would never walk again.

Blomfield had made a living fishing and diving on all the major Hawaiian Islands before returning to Haleiwa to fish with his brother, Barry. Finally, he got into crab trapping on his own. He also took camera crews aboard his boat Huki to film various action segments for several Hollywood movies, and was featured in a Discovery Channel special on tiger sharks.

He also was featured in National Geographic during his black coral diving days, but he was especially proud of his son Kolohe’s success as a professional surfer.

Blomfield also was a member of the state Shark Task Force in the early ’90s. Later, whenever surfers would complain of being menaced by large, aggressive tiger sharks, Blomfield would catch a few large tigers to keep the state from implementing a shark-eradication program.

Most of people in Haleiwa know him as the crab man, said Tinker.

“He sat under a special kamani tree near Haleiwa harbor to sell fresh crab and talk story. He was a good listener.

“He gave so much of himself to people just by taking the time to listen to their troubles.”

Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Leslie “Tinker”; son Kolohe; daughters Brynn Blomfield and Dane Ward; brothers Barry and Richard; sister Leinaala Benson; and two grandsons. Services held.

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Services Saturday
for accident victim

By Star-Bulletin staff

Tracey H. Teruya, 27, of Honolulu, a physical therapy intern at Queen’s Hospital, will be remembered in services Saturday.

She died Monday after her car was broadsided by a fire truck at Wilder Avenue and Kewalo Street.

Born in Honolulu, she is survived by parents Dr. Thomas and Margie, brother Dr. Ted and sister Mia.

Memorial services: 5 p.m. Saturday at Thurston Chapel, Punahou High School. Aloha attire.

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Victoria J. Burke, 74, of Kapolei, a kupuna with the state Department of Education, died Saturday in Tripler Hospital. Born in Lahaina, she is survived by husband Francis; daughters Anne Ybarrondo III, Julie Burke and Maile Burke Concilla; brother Lawrence Aki; and two grandsons. Mass: 11 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church in Ewa. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Bernice Chang died Feb. 15 in Oceanside, Calif. Born in Honolulu, she issurvived by husband James Elkins and nephew Richard Suzuki. Services on the mainland.

Cherril Dee Clayson, 68, of Keaau, Hawaii, a proprietor of a health food store, died Saturday at home. Born in Escalante, Utah, she is survived by husband Franklin; son Thomas; daughters Linda K. Valentine, Shelly Sheppard-Graf, Shawna Kay and Katherine Wheeles; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services in Utah.

Prospero Domingo, 96, of Honolulu died Feb. 3 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation Nursing Center. Born in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Victoria M.; sons Teofilo and David; daughter Macaria Calzada; brother Jeremias; sister Juana Gonzales; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Harriet K. Hironaka, 72, of Kailua, a retired clerk typist for U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army, died Monday in Castle Hospital. Born in Koloa, Kauai, she is survived by daughters Patti Meerians and Lori Hironaka; sisters Lillian Nishimoto and Margaret Ponce; and two grandchildren. Memorial services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary.

Ernest Y. Ikeda, 62, of Wailuku, a retired first sergeant in the U.S. Army, died last Thursday in Kapolei. He is survived by sons Miles and David; daughter Nanci Samento; brother Gilbert; sister Janice Takenishi; and three grandchildren. Private services. Call Ultimate Cremation Services for information.

Bertram Klask, 76, of Kapaa, Kauai, a retired crane operator for Moses Akiona, Hawaiian Dredging, Dillingham Corp. and Hayward Rock Co., died Tuesday in Wilcox Hospital. He was also a World War II veteran. Born in Paia, Maui, he is survived by daughters Rhonda Lizama, Claire Alfiler and Clifford Klask; sisters Gussie Christensen, Theresa Smith, Lily Franco, Fanny Fernandes, Marynell Pacheco, Elizabeth Walkups and Vivien Fernandez; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Mass: 2 p.m. tomorrow at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kalaheo. Call after 1:30 p.m. Burial: Kauai Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.

Isami Kokame, 96, of Waimea, Kauai, a retired laborer with Olokele Sugar Co., died Saturday in Kauai Care Center. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, he is survived by son George; daughters Paulette Edmonston and Sylvia Inouye; and two grandchildren. Private services.

Yoshi Kuramoto, 88, of Pearl City nd formerly of Pawaa died yesterday in Maluhia Hospital. Born in Kealia, Kauai, he is survived by daughter Joan Tanimoto; sister Betty Hiramatsu; and a grandson. Memorial services: 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 3:30 p.m. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Stephene E. Litke, 52, of Waianae, a retired admissions registrar for St. Francis Hospital, died Monday. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Richard S.; son Richard S. Jr.; daughters Sterie Cortez and Stacie Cota; brothers John “Kimi” Ahlo, Andrew “Elaine” Naeole and Diamond “Naihe” Kekahuna; sisters Hazel Balisbisana, Lorraine Bahilot, Georgiana Aquino and Theresa Kekahuna; and 10 grandchildren. Memorial services: 9 a.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Casual attire.

Alyssa Lee Maurer, 10, of Waialua, a student at Waialua Elementary School, died Friday in Waialua. Born in California, she is survived by mother Beth C.; father Glenn L. Callaway; sister Leslyn Rae K.; brothers Christopher and Devin Callaway; grandfather D.L.; and grandmothers Mary A. Morrison and Kathryn Hare. Services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Waialua United Church of Christ. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Alan M. Nakagawa, 38, of Honolulu died Saturday. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by father Tamotsu and brothers Gary and Thomas. Memorial services: 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Mary K. Okura, 78, of Hilo, a retired salesperson, died Saturday in Hale Anuenue Restorative Healthcare Center. Born in Kealakekua, Hawaii, she is survived by sons Stevens, Sanford and Leland; daughters Sally Lee and Joyce McPherson; 19 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kilauea Ward. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.

Estrelita L. Ramiscal, 53, of Ewa Beach died Feb. 17 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in the Philippines, she is survived by husband Ernesto A.; sons Ernest Jr., Nerlito and Daniel; daughters Aprilyn Ragasa and Rosemarie and Emily Ramiscal; mother Prudencia Atad; brothers Paul, Peter, John, George and James Limos; sisters Maunalisa Limos, Prudence Anich, Leonila Green and Marilyn Miller; and nine grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at the mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

John A. Sharp, 50, of Waimanalo died Feb. 8 in Kailua. Born in New York, he is survived by wife Janet and brothers Thomas E. and William E. Memorial services: 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Turtle Bay Hilton.

Natsuko “Eleanor” Takayama, 80, of Kahului died Tuesday in Wailuku Hale Makua. Born in Haiku, Maui, she is survived by husband Takejiro; sons Robert “Bobby” and Clifford “Butchie;” daughters Jo Ann Endo, Sharon Keahiolalo and Charlene Yamashiro; sisters Fumiko Teraguchi and Doris Yoneshige; 15 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services over ashes: 5 p.m. tomorrow at Iao Congregational Church. Casual attire. No flowers.

Ernest S. “Tex” Texeira, 73, of Honokaa, Hawaii, founder and proprietor of the Tex Drive In Center, died Sunday in North Hawaii Community Hospital. He was also a land developer, former Realtor and retired rancher and cane grower. Born in Kalopa, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Christina S.; sons Ernest A., Eric R. and Edward; daughter Elizabeth L. Rapozo; sisters Evangeline T. Racine, Clara T. Medeiros and Louise G. Patcher; and five grandchildren. Memorial Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Call after 8 a.m. Inurnment: Kalopa Catholic Church cemetery. Aloha attire.

Doris K. Urasaki, 63, of Hilo died Monday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Paia, Maui, she is survived by husband Richard; sons the Rev. Alan and Tracy; brothers Shoye, Akira, Yoshinori and James Katena; sisters Akiko Matsuda, Aileen Nagamine and Elaine Rodrigues; and three grandchildren. Memorial services: 2 p.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m.

Orie Watanabe, 96, of Ewa Beach and formerly of Liliha died Feb. 7 at home. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, she is survived by sons Jou and Harold and daughters Patsy Okawa and Lily Hiroshige. Private services.