Obituaries

Tuesday, December 29, 1998

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Leslie Nunes, descendant
of ukulele founder, dies

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Leslie A. Nunes, 82, of Waialua, whose great-grandfather Manuel Nunes was one of five men credited with bringing the ukulele to Hawaii, died Dec. 16 in St. Francis Hospice.

Among his efforts to preserve the ukulele legacy of his great-grandfather, Nunes arranged a centennial celebration in 1979, and a number of master ukulele players performed at the state Capitol and later at Waikiki Shell in celebration.

His great-grandfather arrived in Hawaii from Madeira, Portugal, in 1879, opening a cabinet shop and producing a small, four-stringed Portuguese instrument, which came to be known as the ukulele - "jumping flea" in Hawaiian.

The Nunes family tradition was not lost on latter-day ukulele maker Sam Kamaka, president of Kamaka Hawaii Inc. Kamaka recalled seeing his friend Leslie Nunes before Nunes went to Portugal earlier this year to honor the instrument where it originated.

"He had a beautiful selection of instruments," Kamaka said. "He got me introduced to the history of the arrival of the original ukulele manufacturers."

In the 1980s, Kamaka invited Nunes to go along to music festivals on Maui.

"We would put on a ukulele display," Kamaka recalled. "He (Nunes) came along to talk about the arrival of the ukulele through Manuel Nunes as part of the Nunes family, and we had several instruments on display made by Mr. (Manuel) Nunes and his son."

Leslie A. Nunes was born in Honolulu. In addition to his devotion to the ukulele lore, he was a retired electronics technician with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Also, for 62 years, he was a ham radio operator with call letters KH6KB, known as Kanaka Boy to fellow ham operators. He also was an avid fisherman, fishing all over the world.

Nunes is survived by wife Jean H.; daughter Dr. Ruth E. Heidrick; sons Leslie K. and Don B.; brother Dr. Aubrey J. Nunes; sister R. Estelle Sawyer; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Services are pending. The family requests no flowers, but suggests donations be made to St. Francis Hospice.

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Edith Frembd, 81, was active
member of local actors guild

Edith A. Frembd, 81, formerly of Honolulu, grandmother to actress Molly Ringwald, died Friday in Petaluma, Calif.

A medical transcriber, she also was an active member of Variety Club for Children and the Screen Actors Guild of Hawaii.

Born in Yonkers, N.Y., she is survived by children Jacqueline N. Burns and Adele E. Ringwald; brother John A. Ryer; sister Betty Fettermen; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Private services. Memorial contributions suggested to Variety Club of Hawaii, tent No. 50, 1370 Kapiolani Blvd., #103-A, Honolulu, HI, 96814.

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Takeshi Adachi, 79, of Honolulu, a retired general superintendent for Dynamic Industries Corp., died Saturday at home. Born in Kilauea, Hawaii, he is survived by son Brian; daughters Lynnette McKay, Marilyn Kuamoo and Leila Yee; brothers Arthur, James, Harry, Ronald and Bernard; sisters Ellen Oliveira and Marg Freitas; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. tomorrow at Nuuanu Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Marie R. Anderson, 59, of Kihei died Thursday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Virginia, she is survived by sons Gary, Robert C. and Paul Bland; daughters Margaret Thompson and Janet Grooms; brother Wendell Herron; and 12 grandchildren. Private services.

William T. “Bill” Aoyagi, 39, of Kona, Hawaii, a coffee farmer, died Friday in Kona Community Hospital. He was also a U.S. Army veteran. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Joanne; son Lowen Lewi; hanai son Dustin Samson; mother Lucy H.; father Noboru; and sisters Corrine Largo, and Terry and Paulette Aoyagi. Services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kona, Hawaii. Call after 5 p.m. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Thursday at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 3, Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. 19, Mile Marker 89. Call from 8 to 9 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Erven J. Buss, 62, of Makakilo, a waste management engineer for the federal government, died Thursday in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Sterling, Neb., he is survived by wife Arlene H.; son Jeffrey P.; daughters Patricia R. Browne and Diane Lynne Pebley; brothers Marvin and Richard; sisters Roberta and Margerie Weichel; and four grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Joy of Christ Lutheran Church, 784 Kamehameha Hwy., Pearl City. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire. Donations suggested to Grow in America, c/o Leeward Funeral Home, 849 Fourth St., Pearl City, HI 96782.

Joseph B. Carvalho, 80, of Honokaa, Hawaii, a retired heavy equipment operator for the former Hamakua Sugar Plantation, died Sunday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Paauilo, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Eleanor; sons Joseph E., Richard and Robert; daughter Katherine Branco; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Prayer services: 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire.

Federico A. Catiggay, 69, of Lihue, a maintenanceman, died Dec. 18 in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Jovencia; sons Manuel and Angelo; daughters Everlina Dantis, Paula and Nenita Catiggay, and Corazon Balben; sister Veronica; and five grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Immaculate Conception Church. Call from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Burial: Lihue Public Cemetery. Casual attire.

Margaret M.H. Devera, 70, of Honolulu, a retired housekeeper for Kuakini Hospital, died last Tuesday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by husband Joseph; children Valerie, Gary, Gerald, Jennifer and Marshall Lee, Roberta “Bobbie” Kiyuna, Lionel Horne, Janie Zalyotnov and David Horne; brothers and sisters Gilbert Ching, Marguarite Lee, Mew Ung Look, Jean Liang and Judy Lum; and 14 grandchildren. Memorial services: 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Casual attire.

Lawrence E. Hare, 68, of Kahana, Maui, formerly of Honolulu, died Thursday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Iowa, he is survived by sons Gene and Kelly; and sisters Joyce Even and Marilyn Brott. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.

Helen L. Heau, 89, of Honolulu died Dec. 21 in Convalescent Center of Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Henry Young; daughter Rosita Scott; brothers Donald and Robert Ling; sisters Dorothy Shea and Ella Wong; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Private services.

Wallace Y. Higa, 79, of Honolulu, a retired carpenter, died Wednesday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Pearl City, he is survived by wife Kikuye, sons Wendell Y. and Richard M.; daughter Audrey N. Murakami; brother Warren H.; sister Kimie Kamisato; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Private services.

Pearl N.N. Ing, 78, of Honolulu died Dec. 20. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by brother Wah Kim; and sisters Leatrice and Yuk Jin. Private services.

Walter Kaohelaulii, 58, of Makaweli, Kauai, a service technician with Gay & Robinson Plantation, died Thursday. Born on Niihau, he is survived by sisters Lei Pahulehua and Winona Teeters; brothers Palenapa Kaohelaulii and Opuulani Kahokuloa; and hanai daughter Leiohu Kanahele. Services: 10 a.m. tomorrow at Garden Island Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery. Casual attire.

Kristine K. Kuewa, 34, of Haleiwa died Dec. 21 in Haleiwa. Born in Wahiawa, she is survived by parents Adolph and Sandra; brothers Kedward, Kayne and Karson; sisters Johnella Nemoto and Kellei, Karilynn and Kim Kuewa; and grandmother Rachel Chun. Services: 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Larry Kwiatkowski, 58, of Honolulu, flight attendant with Northwest Airlines, died Saturday in Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by brothers Thaddeus and Ski; and sisters Bernadette Vondran and Noel Makovsky. Services: 9 a.m. tomorrow at St. Augustine by the Sea in Waikiki. Casual attire. No flowers.

Yayo Matsumoto, 98, of Wahiawa died Dec. 15 at home. Born in Japan, she is survived by daughters Evelyn M. Yoshida, Ellen F. Kato and Grace M. Primiano; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Private services.

Irene V. Mehrhoff, 69, died Wednesday in Boise, Idaho. Born in Elmwood Park, Ill., she is survived by husband Arch; sister Jeanette McLysaght; sons Loyal and Kevin; daughter Jeannine; and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to the American Diabetes Association, (Attn: ADA Web, P.O. Box 96911, Washington, D.C., 20090-6911, URL: http//www.diabetes.org/ada/mem.asp); or to a favorite charity.

Shigeo Miyashiro, 84, of Aiea, a retired mason, died Dec. 16 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Pearl City, he is survived by wife Hisano; sons Ernest Y., Glenn H. and Keith H.; daughters Mildred M. Mickelson and Karen K. Clayton; sister Tsuneko Higa; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Private services.

Toshi Morita, 100, of Kamuela, Hawaii, died Monday in Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua, Honokaa Hospital. Born in Hiroshima Ken, Japan, she is survived by sons Harry Y. and Toshiro; daughters Kimi Onodera, Fudeko O. Matsumoto and Milicent Lurito; sister Konami Sato; 16 grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Noboru Moriwaki, 90, of Torrance, Calif., formerly of Hawaii, died Dec. 19 in Little Company of Mary Hospital. He is survived by wife Kikue Y.; sons David S., Ben H. and Bert S.; daughter Carolyn S. Sobotka; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services held.

Futomi “Tommy” Nagata, 81, of Hilo, a retired employee for the Hawaiian Telephone Co. in Hilo, died Sunday in Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, he is survived by wife Toyome “Betty;” son Roddy; daughter Gail Pisciotto; sisters Yoshiko Hamada, Hisako Nakata, Nancy Hiromasa and Evelyn Fujimoto; and three grandchildren. Services over ashes: 2 p.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Tadao P. Naito, 79, of Hilo, a retired carpenter, died Tuesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hilo, he is survived by daughter Pearl H.; and sons Roy, Harvey and Earl. Services: 6 p.m. Sunday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 4 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire.

Ann T. Nishimura, 86, of Wailuku died Saturday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born on Molokai, she is survived by daughter Joan Sanderson; brothers James, Ralph, Patrick and John Murakami; sisters Umeko Oura, Hazel Nitta and Myrtle Tajiri; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Mass: noon tomorrow at St. Anthony Church. Call after 11 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park.

Fred M. “Masa” Okumura, 80, of Kaimuki, retired proprietor of Okumura Cleaners, died Sunday in Queen's Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by daughters Sandra Takata, Carol Kuniyoshi and Cindy Okumura; brother Bert; and a grandson. Services: 6 p.m. tomorrow at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Casual attire.

Mary I. Santos, 99, of Hilo, a retired laborer for the former Honokaa Sugar Plantation, died Thursday at home. Born in Kukuihaele, Hawaii, she is survived by daughters Lydia Vierra, Ethel Souza, Eleanor Gusman, Hazel Snedeker and Betty Baguio; 16 grandchildren; 35 great- grandchildren; and seven great-great- grandchildren. Mass: 12:15 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Call from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire.

The Rev. Ellis Shaw, 85, of Kailua-Kona, a retired Presbyterian minister, died Dec. 18 in Kona Community Hospital. He was also an interim pastor for 11 United Church of Christ congregations on Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii. Born in Fillmore, Calif., he is survived by wife F. Lorraine; sons Jon and the Rev. David; and five grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Central Kona Union Church. Call after 9 a.m. Casual attire.

Harry K. Shimonishi, 65, of Hanapepe, Kauai, proprietor of Shimonishi & Sons Painting Contractors, died Thursday in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. He was also a U.S. Army veteran. Born in Waimea, Kauai, he is survived by wife Janet; son Duane; daughter J.J.; brother Masao; sisters Tomoko Miyamoto and Takako Nakamura; and two grandchildren. Services: 3 p.m. Saturday at Garden Island Mortuary. Call after 2 p.m. Burial: Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe. Casual attire. No flowers.

Mildred L. Sone, 61, of Honolulu, a retired manager of Acumed in Oregon, died last Tuesday in Kailua. Born in Dallas, Ore., she is survived by daughters Lisa J. Ponce de Leon Terai, Colleen K. Benevedes and Kathleen A. England; brothers Ernie and Jon Rawlins; and a granddaughter. Memorial services: 5-6 p.m. Saturday at 1133 Waimanu St., Honolulu, HI. No flowers.

Janet K. Sueda, 70, of Ewa Beach died Dec. 19 in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Ewa, she is survived by husband Robert M.; son Blake M.; daughter Christine M. Vecchio; sisters Mabel Endo, Mildred Higa and Claire Fujioka; and a granddaughter. Private services. Inurnment held.

Chiyoko “Kimiko” Tani, 84, of Honolulu, a retired employee of the Dole Cannery glove room, died Dec. 17 in Castle Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by brother Daniel; and sisters Doris Hamamoto, Miriam Kaminaka, Ethel Kuwaye, and Florence Tani. Private services.

Doris E. Toyama, 54, of Honolulu died Dec. 18 at home. Born in Tokyo, she is survived by husband Stanley; daughter Natalie Hayashi; son Stephen; and sisters Sachiko Bannai, Echiko Crick and Miwako Abe-Thomas; and twin grandsons. Private services.

Phyllis T. Watanabe, 52, of Kahului, Maui, died Sunday in Kahului Hale Makua. Born in Wailuku, she is survived by brothers Wayne and Lloyd, and grandmother Hatsue Goshi. Services: 4 p.m. tomorrow at Wailuku Door of Faith Church.

Carl W. Weber, 73, of Waipahu died Dec. 19 in Kaiser Foundation Hospital. Born in Alameda, Calif., he is survived by wife Miyoko; brother Edward A.; and sister Dorothy J. Halterman. Private services. Inurnment held.

Sharon Lynn Wischnesky, 37, of Hilo died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in El Paso, Texas, she is survived by husband Randy “Rang;” mother Judy Mallis; father William Sanford; sons Mark and Michael Lawrence; daughter Tenisha Lawrence; brothers Jerry Hammond and John Sanford; sister Julie Gruppe; and grandmother Evelyn Burley. Services at a later date in Nevada.