Obituaries

Tuesday, April 28, 1998

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Sharon S. Arita, 49, of Honolulu died April 17 in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by brothers Peter H. and Roy K.; and sisters Betty M. Shikada and Margaret K. Terakawa. Private services.

Scott D. Arruda, 32, of Kaneohe died Wednesday in Straub Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by brothers Robert, Joseph and Timothy; and sisters Sandra Bryant and Cynthia and Wendy Arruda. Services: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire.

Richard F. Bovard, 83, of Honolulu, a retired self-employed watchmaker doing business as Sunray Clock Service, died Saturday at home. Born in Butler, Pa., he is survived by wife Fumie, son Glenn M., daughters Irene L. Fujimoto and Shirley D. Bovard and six grandchildren. Private services.

Harry M.F. Chung, 79, of Honolulu, a retired shop foreman at Fort Shafter motor pool, died Friday. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Sylvia; sons Colin, Michael and Nathan K.; brother James; sisters Alice Williams, Roseline Brown and Evaneeline Griffith; and six grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at the United Church of Christ on Judd Street. Call after 9 a.m. Private burial. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Emma De Fontes, 94, of Nuuanu, a retired teacher at Kaiulani Elementary School and administrator for the Honolulu School District, died Wednesday. Born in Anahola, Kauai, she is survived by son James Jr.; brother Wilfred Rapozo; sister Clementine Costa; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire. No flowers.

Nashea L. Erickson-Keaweehu, infant daughter of Ashly and Warren died Thursday. She is also survived by grandparents Valerie and William Hollingshed, Warren and Elaine Johnson, Juana Rasmussen and Gary Erickson; and great-grandparents Louis and Vicenta Medeiros and Colleen Erickson. Services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Burial: 11 a.m. Friday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.

Nelson A. Fernandez, 77, of Waipahu died April 19 in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Puunene, Maui, he is survived by wife Beatrice; sons Nelson Jr. and Jason; daughters Lavern Onekea, Ursula and Cheryl Rosa, Natalie Takitaki, Lana Canenica, Sharon Fernandez and Cindy Gomes; brother Jon Jr.; sisters Vangie Cambra and Lorraine Wardell; 27 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Prayer services: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park.

Kenneth G. Finley, 49, of Honolulu, a disc jockey and entertainer, died Wednesday in Honolulu. Born in Kansas City, Kan., he is survived by parents Mr. and Mrs. Mannis Finley, brothers Ron and Robin; and significant other William Moos. Private services. Call Ultimate Cremation Services of Hawaii.

Harry K. Fukunaga, 79, of Honolulu, a retired carpenter for the Hilton Hawaiian Village, died April 16 in Hale Pulama Mau. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by sons Ross and Mark; brothers Takeshi, Koichi and Frank; and sister Sally Nakamura. Private services.

Isamu Furubayashi, 77, of Honolulu died April 8. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by nieces and care-givers Helen Balmores and Noreen Furubayashi. Private services.

Lin Kiu Hee, 84, of Honolulu died April 20 in Maunalani Nursing Center. Born in Kamuela, Hawaii, she is survived by husband Hong Shin; daughters Millie Liu, Evelyn Soo and Aileen Kelly; brother Dick Pang; sister Goldie Hee; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Mass: 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Helen L.M. Ibarra, 80, died April 17 in St. Francis Hospital. She is survived by sons Balbino “Miki” and Ronaldo “Nalu”; sister Elizabeth Fernandez; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Newton K. Imai, 53, of Hilo died Saturday at home. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Irma; son Shane; daughter Kristi; mother Toshiko; brothers Roy and Dennis; and sisters Kathleen Inouye and Irene Tenn. Services: 5 p.m. Friday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 3:30 p.m. Casual attire.

Peter G. Kawahara, 79, of Kalaoa, Kona, Hawaii, a retired principal of Kealakehe Elementary School, died April 20 in Queen’s Hospital. He was also a former teacher and principal at Kalaoa Elementary School and a U.S. Army veteran. Born in Kahaluu, Kona, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Florence H.; daughters Christine M. Kawahara, Karen Yoshina, Ferne Jacobs and Lynne Craft; son Glenn P.; brothers Shoji, Mark H. and Karl K.; sisters Emma M. Kuwada, Minnie Mana, Tomie Ahn and Lily T. Risberg; and three grandchildren. Memorial services: 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at Central Kona Union Church. Call after 4 p.m. Casual attire. Private graveside services.

Ruth M. Kawashima, 80, of Honolulu died Friday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Papaikou, Hawaii, she is survived by daughter Joyce M. Nakata; grandchildren Lance Nakata, Lori Domingo and Myles, Myra and Mitchell Mizokami; sister Hanayo Oba; and two great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.

Earl Kepa‘a, 44, of Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii, a janitor at Kona Community Hospital, died Saturday in Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kau, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Laurie Ann S.; sons Earl Jr., Shawn K. and Terrin R.K.; daughter Winola F.K.; mother Eloise; brothers Reid, Wendal, William and Harry; and sisters Noelani, Lehua and Minerva. Call from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Kalani Street, above McDonald’s Restaurant in Kailua-Kona. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Kona Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.

Kenneth K. Kuromoto, 87, of Honolulu, a retired bus driver for Honpa Hongwanji Mission School, died April 17 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility. He was also a meat cutter for Times Super Market. Born in Iwakuni, Japan, he is survived by son James, Perry and Paul; daughters Joan Togikawa and Joyce Matsuda; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Private services.

Jean Wah Ng Lau, also known as Mrs. Kun Tai Lau, 85, of Honolulu died April 18 in Convalescent Center of Honolulu. Born in Chung Shan Buck Toy Village in Canton, China, she is survived by son Chan Sum; daughter Kit Lau Young; sister Chin Ying Lee; and five grandchildren. Taoist services: 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Basilio “Bennie” Ledesma, 83, of Honolulu, who retired from Pan American World Airways, died Saturday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Koloa, Kauai, he is survived by son Roy; daughters Lenora “Wai Lan” Grace, Melissa Nakasato and Naomi Oda; brothers Philip, Manuel, Tony and Matthew; sisters Beatrice Peltier and Lena Perry; and nine grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Monday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Inurnment: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Aaron J. Lee, 25, of Kahaluu died Wednesday. Born in Korror, Palau, he is survived by father Robert; mother Portia; brother Kevin Polloi; sisters Harriet Lee-Walker, Kirsten Miller and Roberta Lee; and grandparents Henry and Soon He Sung. Memorial services: 7 p.m. Thursday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, 800 Kaheka St. Casual attire. No flowers.

Hiroshi Matsuda, 88, of Honolulu, a retired painter for Matsumoto Painting Co., died Friday in Island Nursing Home. Born in Sprecklesville, Maui, he is survived by wife Tomiko; sons Thomas T. and Miles Y.; daughters Mary H. Kunimitsu, Amy E. Marcos and Nancy K. Nakasone; brothers Carl, Jack, Takao, George and Robert; sisters Toshie Tsukamoto, Janet Matsuda, Mae Doi, Jean Matsumoto and Joyce Sakamoto; and nine grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Friday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Aileen J.W.M. McPherson, 77, of Waimea, Hawaii, a floral designer, died last Tuesday in North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Hawaii, she is survived by sons Michael M. and Howard G. and a grandchild. Memorial services: 1 p.m. Saturday at Homelani Memorial Park columbarium. Inurnment to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Haruko “Patsy” Nakashima, 81, of Kahului died Sunday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Lahaina, she is survived by sons Gilbert H., Glen, Brady, Brian and Richie; sister Tokue Torres and Tomie Watanabe; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Kahului Jodo Mission. Casual attire. No flowers.

Harold M. Nishimura, 80, of Kahului died Monday at home. Born in Punaluu, he is survived by wife Doris K.; son Mel; daughters Natalie Nishimura and Kathy Tokumoto; brothers George and Donald; sisters Fusae Kamitono and Stella Suzuki; and four granddaughters. Services: 4 p.m. tomorrow at Kahului Union Church.

Louise C. Obatay, 81, of Wahiawa, a hula and ukulele teacher for senior citizens, died last Tuesday in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in Pearl City, she is survived by husband Engracio T.; sons Daniel, Charles and Rodney Kaeka and David Hirota; daughters Velma McCaughan, Lily Ann Gaspar, Kathryn Nakoa, Winona Fah, Donna Jo Pelekai, Mary L.K. Campbell, Annie Obatay, Flora Jumawan, Fidelia Kaiwi, Helen Wiggs and Madeline Espinosa; brothers Chester and Francis Clark; sisters Blossom Kaipo, Viola Akina and Redeem Martin; 43 grandchildren; 101 great-grandchildren; and three great- great-grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Richard K. Ohelo, 56, of Waianae, a bus operator for Oahu Transit, died last Tuesday. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Hedda; son Howard; daughters Leimano Ohelo, Gloria Oshiro and Kaleo Kaohe; brothers Victor, Arthur and John; sisters Mary Gomez, Gladys Medina and Amber Ondayog; and 10 grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Aloha attire.

Alfredo L. Ortal, 68, of Kilauea, Kauai, a maintenance man for the hotel industry, died last Tuesday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Juana “Juaning;” daughter Frennie Guerrero; son Charlie; brothers Domingo, Toribio and Remigio; sisters Guillerma Tangalin and Maria Ortal; and five grandchildren. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call again after 5 p.m. Friday at the home, 4271 Momi St. Services: 9 a.m. Saturday at the home. Burial: Kilauea Public Cemetery. Casual attire.

Claro Rabot, 87, of Hilo, a laborer for the former Hilo Coast Processing Co., died April 19 in Hilo Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by son Claro Jr. and god-sister Sally Ignacio. Services: 2 p.m. Thursday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.

Rafael S. Ruelan, 96, of Pearl City, a retired custodian for Moanalua Golf Course, died April 18 in Honolulu. He was born in the Philippines. Services: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Moncado Church. Call after 7 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Mitchell T. Sakamoto, 68, of Honolulu, owner of Waimalu Flower Center, died April 19 in St. Francis-West Hospice. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Misuzu and son Morgan Y. Private services.

Bertram J. Santos, 65, of Kokomo, Maui, died Saturday in Hale Makua, Kahului. Born in Paia, Maui, he is survived by half-brothers Manuel and George; half-sister Florind Ricker; and sisters Frances S. Kakazu and Clarissa S. Pacheco. Prayer services: 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Church. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Friday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire.

Albert H. “One Man” Shigeta, 72, of Wahiawa, a retired supervisor at Wahiawa Water Works, died April 17 in Hospice Hawaii Kailua Home. He was also owner of Shigeta Lures. Born in Wahiawa, he is survived by wife Yoko; daughters Sandra Y. and Tammi Y.; brother Raymond M.; and sisters Doris S. Wakui, Ellen N. Wagatsuma, Nancy S. Honda and June A. Shigeta. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Casual attire. No flowers.

Frederick J. Sueyoshi, 71, of Kaneohe, a retired budget analyst for the Federal Aviation Administration and M&E Pacific, died April 19 at home. Born in Kahaluu, he is survived by wife Denise M.; son Eric; stepson Cris Johnson; brothers Frank T. and Stanley S.; sisters Yoshiko Kaneshiro, Essie S. Zukeran, Karen K. Snook, Sally S. Jakahi and Ethel S. Sueyoshi; and four granddaughters. Private services.

Keiji Tamai, 71, of Honolulu, an accounting technician for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, died April 8. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by son Kent; daughter Tammy; brothers George, Kenneth and Theordore; and sister Florence Tanouye. Private services.