Obituaries

Friday, February 27, 1998

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June Gutmanis, 72, earned
respect as historian

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

June Gutmanis, 72, of Mountain View, Hawaii, a historian, Chaminade University lecturer and author of numerous books and articles, including contributions to National Geographic and Readers Digest, died Sunday in Hilo Hospital.

A founding member of the East Hawaii Historical Society, she worked on numerous projects, including the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s maiden voyage of the Hokulea.

She also served as a consultant for the movie “Hawaii,” based on James Michener’s novel, and the television series “Byrds of Paradise.”

Gutmanis was born in Pawnee County, Neb.

In World War II, she was a pilot and did work with meteorologists. She was skilled in a number of crafts.

Along the way, she became fascinated with Hawaiian culture, ultimately becoming a researcher, writer and teacher.

Her family said she did this with neither credentials nor degrees. Through rigorous scholarship, she earned the respect of kupuna and scholar.

She is perhaps best known for her book “Kahuna Laau Lapaau: The Practice of Hawaiian Herbal Medicine,” in which she covered topics such as the beginnings of Hawaiian medical practices, training of the medical kahuna, diagnosis and medicinal plants.

Her book “Na Pule Kahiko: Ancient Hawaiian Prayers” contains a collection of traditional prayers that go back to before the 1819 overthrow of the kapu system.

“A friend called and wanted a prayer that was appropriate for a wedding on the beach,” she once said. “I found it for him -- and as we talked, I got the idea of gathering the prayers into a book.”

She is survived by sons George Watanabe and William Nelson; daughters Georgia Perkins, Hazel Twelker, Sue Indich, Nancy Volle, Patricia Kaula and Nina Gutmanis-Bauguess; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will take place at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Wailoa State Park, Hilo. Call after 6 p.m. at Pavilion #1 at the park. Casual attire. No flowers.

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Columbia M.B. Bagasol,of Honolulu died Sunday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Laoag City, the Philippines, she is survived by husband Art; daughter Elena B. Caoagas; brother Federico Bungcayao; and granddaughter Arlene Caoagas. Mass: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 229 Queen Emma. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park.

Victorino Cablayan,92, of Pearl City died Tuesday. Born in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Anatalia; daughter Nora Cachola; three sisters; and two grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Pearl City. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Donna M.L. Chaves,40, of Hilo died Sunday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by husband Wilfred; daughter Jetan N. Washington; son Travis Mattews; father Donald Hoopai; mother Anna Brandt; and a grandchild. Wake: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Inurnment: 10 a.m. March 7 at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.

Mary Damas,96, of Waianae died Tuesday. Born in Portugal, she is survived by daughter Edna Swinney; son Frank; godchild Doris Lopes; special child Landis Ornellas; stepchildren Rosalee “Honey” Heine and Frances Lopes; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 8 p.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Church-Waianae. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Waianae Cemetery. Casual attire.

Shirley Ann DeMotta,54, of Vallejo, Calif., and formerly of Kailua died Feb. 2 in Vallejo, Calif. Born in Hawaii, she is survived by husband George “Stanley”; son George Jr.; sisters Patricia Hoapili and Paulette Lapiho; brothers Edward H. and Rodney, Thomas G. and Patrick Schiemmer; and three grandchildren. Services on the mainland.

Eddie Elderts,72, of Honolulu died Saturday in Waianae Comprehensive Center. Born in Puna, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Joan, sons Edward and Kenneth, daughters Sheila Payne and Pili Elderts, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Aloha attire.

Alida G. Ellis,91, of Honolulu, a retired teacher, died Tuesday in Kaneohe. Born in Bartow, Fla., she is survived by daughters Mary Matter and Maury Mulligan, a grandson and a great-granddaughter. Services: 3 p.m. Monday at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Aloha attire. No flowers. Call Ultimate Cremation Services of Hawaii for information.

Verna Ferreira,64, of Hilo, a retired executive from Bank of Hawaii, died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by husband Joseph P.; son Wade; daughter Jodi; brothers Kent, Bert, Kelvin and Paul Kami; sister Sharon S. Allen; stepmother Tessie Kami; and two grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Eulogy to follow. Mass: 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Call from 10 a.m. to noon. Burial: Veteran Cemetery No. 1. Casual or aloha attire.

Isaac K. “Ike” Hale,45, of Honolulu is also survived by niece Kekai Hale. Inurnment: 5 p.m. Saturday at Uluhaimalama Cemetery. Additional information for an obituary published Wednesday provided by the family.

Blossom K.S. Knaus,71, of Makaha died Wednesday in Kaiser Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son John “Jak”; daughters Sharon Braido, Trudie Punohu, Joan Elian and Katchen Moa; brother Patrick Auyong; sisters Bertha Char and Helen Higgins; and 13 grandchildren. Call from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday at NOB Hill I Park, 94-084 Anania Drive, Mililani. Private scattering of ashes.

Kazuye T. Kumabe,75, of Honolulu, professor emeritus of the University of Hawaii school of social work, died Tuesday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Marysville, Calif., she is survived by son Lawrence; sister Kay Korematsu; and two grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Monday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Cremation to follow.

Lloyd A.L. “Bud” Lee Jr.,72, of Honolulu, a retired Army major, died Tuesday in Honolulu. Born in Alamosa, Colo., he is survived by wife Lucille; sons Dennis and Paul; two granddaughters; and a grandson. Services: 4 p.m. Saturday at Tripler Hospital Meditation Chapel. Casual attire. Call Ultimate Cremation Services of Hawaii for information.

Frances B. McGrath,78, of Honolulu died Tuesday in St. Francis Hospice. Born in New York, she is survived by daughter Natalie Lang and grandchildren Michael, Sheila and Erin Lang. Memorial Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at Star of the Sea Church. Aloha attire.

Mary K.T. Okura,78, a sales representative for World Book Encyclopedia Corp. and Pola Cosmetics, died Saturday. Born in Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii, she is survived by sons Stevens, Sanford and Leland; daughters Sally Abe Lee and Joyce McPherson; 21 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery.

Tatsuo Orimoto,87, of Pearl City, retired owner of Ted’s Tire Recapping Shop, died Feb. 19 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Hana, Maui, he is survived by wife Masaye; sons Stanley K., Douglas I. and Gary T.; daughters Alice S. Togashi and Nora N. Shiratori; brothers Mitsuru and Gilbert Okada; and 10 grandchildren. Private services.

Frank M. Shiira,69, of Honolulu, a retired Central Service & Sales machinist, died Feb. 14 in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Millie M.; sons Kenneth N. and Lorin Y.; brother James S.; sister Rose S. Yamaguchi; and three grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Jeanette S. Tamada,74, of Honolulu, a retired state teacher’s payroll clerk, died Monday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Kahului, she is survived by husband Peter H.; sons Clinton F. and Gerald H.; daughter Tammy T. Yoshimura; sisters Marian A. Yamamoto and Tsugie Hamasaki; and two grandchildren. Services: 4 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Doris H. Toyama,78, of Honolulu, a retired salesclerk for Russell’s Men’s Clothing, died Wednesday in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Lahaina, she is survived by brothers Tetsuo, Richard and William Okuma; and sisters Ann and Jane Okuma. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Wednesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 3 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Reece T.J. Toyama,infant son of Derek S. and Susan S. Toyama of Mililani, died Feb. 18 in Kapiolani Hospital For Women and Children. Born in Honolulu, he is also survived by grandparents Kathryn K. Toyama and James S. and Jean J. Oshiro; and great-grandmother Shizue Fujita. Services: 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Christine Thi Tran,2, of Honolulu died Monday in Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by mother Tam Thi Kim Tran and sister Diana. Call from 1 to 3 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Cremation to follow.

Robert I. Ueoka,64, of Vancouver, Wash., and formerly of Kaneohe, a retired county and state hospitals administrator in Hawaii, died Saturday at home. He was also an Army veteran. Born in Hanapepe, Kauai, he is survived by wife Evelyn; daughters Carrie Lee Foster, Nadine Huestis and Alison Ueoka; son Alan; brother David; and two granddaughters. Inurnment services: 2 p.m. next Friday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. Services: 10 a.m. March 7 at Calvary Episcopal Church, Aumoku Street, Kaneohe.

Ayako Urakawa,89, of Pearl City and formerly of Lihue, a retired baker’s assistant from Tip Top Cafe in Lihue, died Sunday. Born in Lihue, she is survived by daughters Harriet Takashima, Nora Honda and Ethel Kiikuni; son Minoru Nanbu; brothers Isamu and Kenneth Miyoshi; and six grandchildren. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Monday at Lihue Hongwanji Kauai. Casual attire. No flowers.

Asao Yanagi,79, of Honolulu died Feb. 5 in Honolulu. Born in Kahaluu, he is survived by wife Yoshiko; son Ronald; stepson George Okino; brothers Masao and Walter; sisters Ethel Takesue, Grace Wong and Shirley Kawano; and three grandchildren. Private services.