Obituaries

Thursday, February 25, 1999

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Randy Farden, 57, wrote famed
song 'Beautiful Kauai'

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Funeral services will be Saturday for Rudolph Haleakala “Randy” Farden Jr., the Hawaiian songwriter who wrote the 1968 hit “Beautiful Kauai.”

Farden died Friday at his Waianae home. He was 57.

An ohana service and scattering of ashes is scheduled for noon Saturday at Pokai Beach Park. The family requests casual attire. Leis may be worn in lieu of floral offerings.

Farden wrote “Beautiful Kauai” at a hotel on the Garden Isle in 1967. It became a hit the following year after Don Ho recorded it and later became a hula standard thanks to Kawai Cockett and the Lei Kukui Serenaders.

“His big hit ‘Beautiful Kauai', was inspired by the fantastic view of Hanalei Valley, Mount Nomolo Kama and the bay he saw from his hotel window,” said Tony Todaro, in his book “Golden Years of Hawaiian Entertainment.”

Farden was born in Honolulu but grew up in Waianae. He is a member of one of Hawaii's most accomplished musical families.

“Randy Farden comes from an illustrious musical family -- Irmgard Aluli is his aunt,” Todaro wrote.

Other relatives include Edna Bekeart and the late Emma Sharpe.

Although a member of the class that was first to graduate from Waianae High School, he left school early to enter the Navy, graduating from the Navy-sponsored Yokosuka General High School in Japan. His Navy service took him to the Philippines, Australia, Japan and Vietnam.

He was with the Honolulu Police Department from 1968 to 1975, serving as a patrolman, undercover officer and canine handler.

His career also included time as a private investigator and tour escort.

In 1982, he joined Kentron International Inc., eventually becoming a watch commander and chief of security and customs agent on Wake Island.

Later, he was with the state attorney general's office as an investigator with the child support enforcement unit. He then retired to Waianae to care for his parents, pursuing his hobbies of golf and photography.

He was a member of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts and Kailua Elks Lodge and a life member of the Waianae Hawaiian Civic Club.

Farden is survived by parents Rudolph and Harriet Farden; son Hailama; daughters Cindy Ann Peek, Diane Caswell, Christina Villanueva and Nicole Taylor; and four grandchildren.

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Frank H. Bramlett II, 61, of Kapaau, Hawaii, a journeyman carpenter, died Saturday in Kohala Hospital. Born in Los Angeles, he is survived by wife Mamie, son Andre Bailey, daughters Patricia A. Cooper and Nelda Bailey, mother Lena Derrick, hanai daughter Francine Lawrence-Jackson and six grandchildren. Call after 1 p.m. Saturday at the Kailua Pier fronting the boat Lanakila. Scattering of ashes at sea to follow. Celebration of life gathering: Kailua-Kona View Estates Center. Bring a cooler. Leis and loose flowers welcome. Casual attire.

Benedict S.K. Cho, 76, of Captain Cook, Hawaii, a retired laborer for Holmes & Narver, died Feb. 11 in Keauhou Rehabilitation Healthcare Center. Born in Kohala, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Kuuleinani; son Donald; daughters Abigail Bio, Yonola O. Cho and Charlene Taketa; brothers Henry and George; sisters Mary Sumagang and Annie Aano; 22 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and 12 stepgreat- grandchildren. Services: 9 a.m. Saturday at Lanakila Congregational Church in Kainaliu. Call after 8 a.m. Luncheon to follow. Inurnment at a later date. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.

Cresanto U. Dacquel, 71, of Honokaa, Hawaii, a retired laborer for the Hamakua Sugar Co., died Tuesday in Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua. Born in Cuyapo, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Florentina; daughters Lolita Abad, Virginia Agustin, Mryna Ordonez, Corrine Gonzales, Imelda Justo and Elsa Dacquel; sons Cristome and Florencio; sisters Esmeralda Benavince, Emelia Batalla and Jose Dacquel; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services: 2 p.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery.

Bryant “Mackey” Feary Jr., 43, of Honolulu will be remembered in services 12:30 p.m. March 6 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. No flowers. Donations suggested to Sebastian Feary Trust Fund, P.O. Box 257, Kaneohe 96744. Incorrect information for an obituary yesterday provided by the mortuary.

Ralph Kaui, also known as “Earl” or “Lepo,” 65, of Waimanalo will be remembered in services 11 a.m. Saturday at 41-956 Kalanianole Highway. Scattering of ashes to follow. Casual attire. No floral arrangements. Additional information for an obituary published yesterday.

Macline G. Mendonca, 89, of Montgomery, Ala., died Jan. 6 in Montgomery. Born in Paia, Maui, she is survived by son Robert; daughter Shirley Friar; and seven grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. tomorrow at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wilder Avenue. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Kiyoji “Jack” Miyashita, 79, of Honolulu, a retired Outrigger Hotel chef, died Feb. 11 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in North Hilo, he is survived by wife Tamae “Ellen”; son Ronald K.; daughter Judy A. Jichaku; brothers Tatsuo and Hiroji; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. tomorrow at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. No flowers.

Ronald D. Oleyer, also known as “Oly” or “Nanoy,” 61, of Kaneohe, a retired boatswain's mate with the U.S. Coast Guard, died Feb. 17 in Kailua. He also worked at the Kaneohe Marine Corp. Born in Waimanalo, he is survived by wife Catherine F.; children Susan L. Simioni, Reginald M., Russell F. and Ronald F.; brothers Rosendo and Patrick; sisters Nancy Caswell, Claudia Kidder and Veronica Digregorio; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Mass: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. George's Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Casual attire. No flowers.

Guillermo G. “Gerry” Padilla, 51, of Honolulu, owner of Virgy's Barbecue, died last Thursday at home. Born in the Philippines, he is survived by wife Virginia “Virgie;” daughters Sharon and Jenny-Vi; mother Felicidad Ramirez; stepfather Rodrigo Ramirez; brothers Pacifico and Jesus “Jessie;” stepbrother Jun Ramirez; and stepsisters Josephine, Abella, Sally, Helen, Melda and Nelda. Prayer services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Mass: 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Stephen Church. Call after 1 p.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

John L. Perry, 67, of Honolulu, a retired employee for Pan Am, died Saturday in Kaiser Hospital. He was also a U.S. Army veteran. Born in Detroit, he is survived by wife Dorothy, daughters Mary Young and Priscilla Reeves, son Charles Teixeira, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services: 1 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Robert J. “Bob” Roberts, 53, of Honolulu, a maintenance person for B & P Maintenance, died Feb. 15 in Queen's Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by mother Lucy K.; sisters Lee Kapua Roberts and Lisa P. Parker; and brothers Redge K., Thomas K. and Rex K. Wake services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Casual attire.

Marciano Roylo, 82, of Waialua, a retired herbicidal supervisor for Waialua Sugar plantation and also a first cook at Kemoo Farm Restaurant, died last Thursday in Wahiawa Hospital. Born in Cebu, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Nancy V.; daughters Lydia Lunasco and Cecilia Sarabano; brothers Ben and Eddie; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Mass: noon tomorrow at St. Michael Church, 67-390 Goodale Ave., Waialua. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Hiroshi Sato, 86, of Wahiawa, who retired from Schofield, died Friday in Wahiawa General Hospital. Born in North Kohala, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Ayano; son Earl T.; daughters Elaine S. and Rachel T.; brothers Edward H. and Tom T.; sisters Chiyoko Koga, Sakae Uesugi and Kimie Shimamoto; and two grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. tomorrow at Wahiawa Hongwanji, 1067 California Ave. Casual attire. No flowers.

Roy H. Smith, 80, of Haiku, Maui, a retired aircraft mechanic for the U.S. government, died Tuesday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Beaumont, Calif., he is survived by wife Madeline; children Madeline Heitzman, Linda Christensen, Therse Smith-Johle, Alfred Andrade, Mary and Veronica Smith and Vlasta and Fritz Gabriel; sisters Violet Myers and Viola Crawley; and 14 grandchildren. Prayer services: 5 p.m. tomorrow at St. Rita's Catholic Church. Call after 3 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Makawao Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Dorothy H. “Dottie” Stanfield, 75, of Honolulu died Feb. 17 in St. Francis Hospice. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Anthony Jackson; daughters Sen'e Hanakahi, and Hester and Deborah Jackson; brothers and sisters who reside in Molokai, Kohala and Nanakuli; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 6 p.m. Cremation to follow. Aloha attire.

Bernice G. “Aunty B” Sterry, 91, of Honolulu, a retired claims adjuster with Young Laundry, died last Thursday at home. Born in Kapaa, Kauai, she is survived by companion George A. Lee, four grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. Services: 11:45 a.m. tomorrow at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to noon. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Roy M. Tanaka, 48, of Honolulu died Feb. 16 in Kailua. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Lisa; sons Mark and Ross; daughter Ash-Lee; mother Florence Ichimura; and brothers Dennis, Stephen and Brian. Services: 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Private inurnment. Casual attire.

Dr. Harry M. Urasaki, 86, of Hilo, died last Thursday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Waiakea Uka, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Kazuko; sons Hirome and Robert; daughter Michiko; and sisters Mitsuko Nakamura, Shizuko Larose and Yikiko Hara. Services: 5 p.m. tomorrow at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home-Hilo. Call after 4 p.m.

Fernando Valle, 62, of Kahului, a knapsack sprayer at HC&S, died Feb. 13 in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Ilocos Sur, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Georgia; mother Endrica Tapat; stepfather John Tapat; sons Jeronimo and Jun; daughters Anita Alberto, Janet Raras, Theresa Valle-Sur, Jocelyn Valle-Castillo and Rosalina Valle; hanai son Reynold; brothers Domingo, Danilo and Dionisio Tapat; 21 grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Prayer services: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Ballard Family Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at Christ the King Catholic Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park.

Darrel D. Wright, 56, of Makakilo, former owner of Wright's Towing Service, Royal Towing Service & Pacific Towing Service, died Feb. 10 in St. Francis-West Hospital. He was also a bus driver for Robert's Hawaii, Trans Hawaii & Grounds Transportation. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Beverly M.; sons David, Derek, John, Duane and Aaron Wright and Ricky Wright-Cullen; daughters Debra Ieverlino, Darlette Cabison and Catherine “Cathy,” Darrellyn “Nani,” Luana “Ana” and Christine “Christy” Wright; brothers Ernest and Howard; sister Beverly Cullen; 28 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at Mililani Mortuary- Waipio. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.