Obituaries

Saturday, September 26, 1998

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Irwin Tanaka,
71, retired state
Judiciary director

By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

Irwin I. Tanaka came out of retirement to become administrative director of the state Judiciary in 1989, taking the job at a time of turmoil and change.

He lobbied the Legislature unsuccessfully for a new court building in Hilo and worked to upgrade telephone and computer technology for the courts, creating an infrastructure separate from that of the executive branch.

"Irwin was a no-nonsense person, not afraid to make tough decisions and hard calls no matter what the consequences," said Deputy Administrator Clyde Namuo. "He was hard-working and dedicated, a tough administrator."

Tanaka, 71, died Sunday at his Wahiawa home.

"The most controversial matter was when he had to dismiss Tom Okuda, based on the outcome of his jury trial and appeal. It was a tough thing to do because of Tom's long service," Namuo recalled.

Tom "Fat Boy" Okuda, former deputy courts administrator and Traffic Violations Bureau head, was convicted of traffic-ticket fixing in 1989. His role as a supporter of prominent Democratic politicians brought scrutiny for years before that by the media, the community watchdog organization Common Cause and a court-appointed citizens panel.

Tanaka directed significant restructuring of jobs and responsibilities within the 1,700-employee Judiciary system after Okuda's dismissal. Namuo said it was done without public fanfare. "Irwin was not one for the limelight."

Namuo said Tanaka is credited for the updated telephone system. "It sounds routine, but it is one of the initiatives that Irwin adopted to get the Judiciary an up-to-date system." The choice to use a different telephone vendor than the state administration became a controversy, the subject of legislative hearings.

Tanaka retired in 1993 when former state Chief Justice Herman Lum retired.

He had served from 1969 to 1983 as director of the State Law Enforcement and Juvenile Delinquency Planning Agency, appointed by Gov. John A. Burns to administer the tide of federal funding for law enforcement programs. He had spent several years with the Department of Education working in programs for dropouts, disadvantaged and special-education students.

He was born in Honolulu. After serving in the U.S. Army, Tanaka earned bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from Michigan State University.

He is survived by his wife, Mae F.; sons Keith E., Darrel T. and Lowell I.; daughters Irwina-Mae Lee and Dee-Ann Nishioka; brother Gary; sisters Valerie Manner, Linda Stapleton and Myrna Takasaki; and eight grandchildren.

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Cyrus Afalava Jr., 54, of Honolulu died Sept. 14 at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by son Daniel; daughter Renee; mother Lena “Faatoatuiga”; brothers Foster, Raymond and Wallace; and sisters Ramona Barber, Dolly Chang, Shirley Lantrip and Fia McMahon. Services: 7 p.m. today at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m.

Mathilda C. “Tillie” Arsisto, 70, of Waipahu, retired from Pearl Harbor Naval Exchange, died Sept. 17 in St. Francis Hospital. She was also a cashier for Lanakila Meals program. She was born in Waipahu. She is survived by children Sheilah Tatemichi, Valerie Marcello, Tomilyn Antone, Theresa Leanio and Thomas D. and Melissa Arsisto; brothers Philipe, Jessee, Pablo, Pedro and Manuel Canoy; sisters Trinidad Batalon and Fedalina Petilos; 18 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Monday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Felix A. Carillo, 96, of Kekaha, Kauai, a retired employee at Kekaha Sugar Co., died Thursday at home. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by sons Fernando and Ernest; daughters Nora Patricio, Voronica Carillio, Roseline Kunipo and Carol Abara; stepsons Bernardo, Valeriano and Federico Olores; stepdaughters Lourdes Unciano and Angelina Machado; sister Erinia; 49 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren. Mass: 4:30 p.m. Friday at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Kekaha. Call from 3 to 4 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Juan L. “Johnny” Cayan, 88, of Lanai City died yesterday in Maui Memorial Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Josefa B.; sons Jimmy, Douglas and Juan Jr.; adopted son Rodelio; daughters Jean Cuaresma, Doreen Pedro, Gwen Cayan Kaukeano and Lucille Cayan Baltazar; brother Salvador; 17 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at the Union Hall in Lanai City. Call after 11 a.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at Sacred Hearts Church. Burial: Lanai Cemetery. Casual attire.

Lloyd E. Flood, 77, of Honolulu, an architect with the International Architect of Renown, died Sept. 17 in Kailua. He was born in Frostproof, Fla. He is survived by friends. Private services.

Marian D. Hamilton, 86, of Kaneohe, a retired telephone operator with the Las Vegas Police Department, died Monday in Ann Pearl Nursing Home. She was born in DePew, Ill. Services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Clement's Church. Call after 10 a.m. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to the church.

Larry E. Lee, 66, of Honolulu died Aug. 10 at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by daughter Tracy Levan, sons Larry Edwin Jr. and Kam Lee, sister Bobby Tom and 10 grandchildren. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Toshiko Matsuoka, 76, of Kahului, Maui, died Aug. 4 in Kahului. She was born in Tokyo. She is survived by son Lowell S. and daughter Janice. Private services.

Simone R.L. Mossman, 82, of Honolulu, who worked at Honolulu Airport, died Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. She was born in Papeete, Tahiti. She is survived by son Rayman, brother Maurice Leverd, sister Carmel, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Scattering of ashes: this afternoon at Kahala Beach Park.

Lois E. Reed, 85, of Honolulu died Sunday in Honolulu. She was born in Pilot Rock, Ore. She is survived by daughters Mary McMillan and Barbara Cargill, brother William Scharpf and three grandchildren. Services over ashes: 6 p.m. Friday at Diamond Head Memorial Park. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to Honolulu Chapter of the American Cancer Society, St. Francis Hospice or charity.

Reid J.K. Richards, 33, of Honolulu, an accountant, died Sept. 19 in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Wendy, son Jason, daughter Jenna, parents Creighton K. and Roberta M., brother Ross, sister Kealanalani and grandparents Frances H. Aiona, Louis K. Richards and Carolyn K. Kelly. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Geminiano D. Sarmiento, 90, of Wahiawa, retired from Dole Co., died Monday in Wahiawa General Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Leonida C.; children Lisa Lynn, Geminiano C. Jr., Gilmore C. and Lorelie C.; and two grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Monday at Our Lady of Sorrow Church. Call 6 to 9 p.m. Services: Noon Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Iliganoa Sivasa, 40, of American Samoa, a packer in a fish cannery, died Sept. 15 in Straub Hospital. She was born in American Samoa. She is survived by mother Barbara Matuu; daughter Palepa; brothers Sofai Sofai Jr., Joe and Faletolu Fiu and Vincent Matuu Jr.; and sister Blanche Matuu. Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 1525 Waimano Home Road. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Conner R. Stone, infant son of Jeffrey and Lorrie, died Wednesday. He is also survived by sister Chynna and brother Sean. Private services. No flowers. Donations suggested to Conner's Memorial Fund, 1157 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu 96813.