Isle cultural icon
By Harold Morse
Bailey dies
Star-BulletinWhen Hawaiian composer, singer, musician, choreographer and hula instructor Harold Dole Mahealani "Mahina" Bailey, 71, died of a heart ailment July 19, at his Alexandria, Va., home, the Hawaii congressional delegation lost its cultural resource person.
Bailey also represented the Hawaii Visitors Bureau at conventions by performing with Polynesian dancers and musicians.
A ukulele player and hula dancer, he had performed internationally and helped popularize Hawaiian arts worldwide.
Bailey sprang from a Polynesian heritage of old traditions from his maternal ancestry. He also was descended from New England missionaries.
Bailey had lived in the Washington, D.C., area since 1963. He retired in 1980 after 33 years as a contracts specialist with the Navy.
The Waianae-born Bailey became artistic director of the musical group Mahina and the Polynesians. They performed at the Johnson White House, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and on cable and network television. The group toured on several continents, and Bailey was featured in airline sales promotions.
As composer, Bailey released an album, "Mahina at the Capitol," in 1991. He had operated an Alexandria hula school, the Halau Hula Mahina O Wakinekona, since 1985.
Bailey attended the Kamehameha Schools and graduated from the University of Hawaii. He taught hula while in the Army, serving in Guam and Japan.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Angelina; daughters Lilly Kaipo Walsh, Rosalinda Kaua Bailey and Haroldynne Mahealani Rannels; and six grandchildren.
Services were Monday in Alexandria.
See also: Peace Corps leader Suyat
was mentor to manyLorden M. "Al" Alba, 42, of Manhattan, Kan., died July 18 in Manhattan. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Jane Holmes-Alba; stepson Justin Holmes; daughters Leio Olita, Hope Yoshimoto and Angel and Rainbow Alba; parents Dennis and Loretta; brothers Lew M., Dennis Jr. and Lee M.; sisters Denise Quinabo, Donna Alba and Dee Shimamoto; grandparents Betty K. Denney and Eugenia M. Quisano; and two grandchildren. Private services. Donations suggested for a memorial fund should be sent to the Alba family, in memory of Lorden Alba, 3503 Likini St., Honolulu 96818.
James "Rusty" Boren, 82, of Honolulu, a retired U.S. Air Force major, died July 17 in Honolulu. Born in Carterville, Ill., he is survived by wife Lynnda, son Douglas, daughters Joanne Pontes and Gwendolyn Wyttenbach, sisters Nellie Mae Fisher and Martha Jane Lange, and four grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.
Alvina K. Casperson, 52, of Honolulu died Saturday in Honolulu. Born in Hawaii, she is survived by husband Benjamin Jr.; sons Benjamin III, Roddy and Adam; daughters Ter-lyn, Sheri and Deon; mother Elizabeth Kaopua; brothers Dennis, Sherman and Sherwood Casperson, Hamilton Kaopua and David Sherwood; sisters Lani Rapozo and Edwina Mahelona; and 10 grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Ala Moana Magic Island. Casual attire.
Sharon L. Ferreira, 52, of Las Vegas, formerly of Maui, died yesterday in Queen's Hospital. Born in Wailuku, she is survived by husband Paul; sons Scott and Christopher; parents Peter and Lucille Sierra; brother Peter G. Sierra; sisters Priscilla DeCoite, Cynthia Guzman and Marisa Lewis; and two grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. tomorrow at St. Anthony Church. Call after 5 p.m. Private inurnment. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Ronald G. Gilbert, 97, of Honolulu, a retired life insurance salesman, died Saturday in Honolulu. Born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, he is survived by wife Rose; sons David, Neil and Michael; and daughter Jocelyn. No services.
John W. James, 74, of Poipu, Kauai, a radio technician for communication, died Tuesday at home. He was born in California. Scattering of ashes at sea.
Samuel Keliinoi, 75, of Waianae, who retired from the Pacific Marine & Supply, died Saturday in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in Hilo, he is survived by wife Hilda; sons Samuel "Patty Boy" Jr., Melvin and William "Kelly" Keliinoi and Gerald and Edward Cowell; daughters Ethyel "Mona" Archibald, Raina Keliinoi, Myra "Linda" Acosta, Donna Monagkholthan, Claudia Cornwell, Branda Tiapula and Kathleen Westbrook; brothers Alfred "Red," Edward "Coby" and William "Billy"; sisters Marie Moniz, Betty Burton and Bernice Keliinoi; 53 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. next Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11 a.m. Aug. 6 at the mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire.
Samuel W. Kendall, 85, of Honolulu, a retired movie theater manager, died Monday. Born in Idaho, he is survived by sisters Margaret Heisler, Alyce McConaughey and Lois Fleming. Memorial services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Honolulu Elks Club, upper room. No flowers. Donations suggested to American Cancer Society.
Susan M. Lampron, 53, of Pahoa, Hawaii, a computer technician, died Monday at home. Born in Ohio, she is survived by husband Michael G.; stepson Scott; stepdaughter S. Renee; daughters JoAnne Munie, Suzanne Henson and Nicole Barlow; brother John Lay; sister Judith Villarreal; stepfather Donald Holmes; and four grandchildren. No services.
Ethel Lau, 79, of Kaneohe, died Sunday in California. Born in Hawaii, she is survived by sons Lawrence, Allen and David; daughter Loretta Wogoman; sisters Lydia Shimabukuro and Martha Poai; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Aloha attire. No flowers.
David M. Masaki, 66, died last Thursday. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Eun Soo, children Laverne and Lawrence, sisters Jean and Harriet, and three grandchildren. Burial services held. Memorial services on the mainland.
John Y. Matsumoto, 84, of Honolulu, a retired glazer for Cimco Louver Co., died July 19 in Queen's Hospital. Born in Papaikou, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Ellen S.; daughter Mary E. Chee; brothers Charles, Robert and Herbert; and sisters Ruth Arasato and Shizue Gakiya. Private services.
Hanako Mitsukawa, 83, of Aiea, a retired seamstress at Maluhia Hospital, died last Thursday. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sisters Yoshino Tanaka, Katherine Yoshida, Thelma Nakagawa, Frances Asato and Joyce Mitsukawa. Private services.
Melvyn K. Murakami, 56, of Kokomo, Maui, a retired police officer with the Denver Police Department, died yesterday at home. He was also a tour driver for Trans Hawaiian. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Kathryn "Kitty," son Kyle J., daughter Melissa K., father Haruyuki, and stepmother Florence. Private services.
Alfredo D. Narciso, 70, of Pahoa, Hawaii, will be remembered in services 7 p.m. tomorrow at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pahoa. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Burial: church cemetery. Casual attire. Incorrect information for an obituary published yesterday provided by the mortuary.
Yukiko Okamoto, 77, of Hilo died Saturday at home. Born in Ookala, Hawaii, she is survived by husband Hajime "Jimmy," daughters Gale I. Wallace and Jamie Y. Nekoba, brother George Y. Ohara, sister Blanche Maeda, and four grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 4 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.
Masako "Mildred" Ota, 82, of Waialua, a retired waitress, died June 30 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by daughters Joyce K. Shimizu and Nancy E. Whiting, brother George Fujita, sister Fumiko Fujita, and four grandchildren. Private services.
Robyn T. Schaefer, infant daughter of Russell and Jerilynn Schaefer of Honolulu, died Saturday in Queen's Hospital. She is also survived by brother Tyler; sister Krysti; grandparents James and Tatsuko Schaefer and Janis and Michael Togashi; and great-grandparents Lester and Margaret Schaefer, Sam and Beatrice Fujioka and Minoru and Sally Togashi. Private services.
Richard J. Stibbard, 91, of Honolulu, a farmer, died Monday in Honolulu. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by sister Rose M. and brother Alexander. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Oahu Cemetery.
Joan S. Stofan, 57, of Aiea, a self-employed piano teacher, died June 29 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. Born in McKeesport, Pa., she is survived by husband Wayne, sons Gregg and Brian Riley, and six grandchildren. Memorial services: 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Timothy Episcopal Church. Aloha attire. No flowers.
George R. Stuart, 83, of Honolulu, a retired construction project manager, died July 14 in Honolulu. Born in North Haven, Conn., he is survived by wife Mabelle "Lynne," daughter Kay, granddaughter Melissa, half sister Lucy Oville, stepdaughter Carol Sumner, four stepgrandchildren, and six stepgreat-grandchildren. Services at a later date.
Hideo "James" Suekawa, 87, of Honolulu, a retired foreman for Hawaii Meat Co., died Sunday. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Misayo; sons Edward, Kenneth and Thomas; daughters Karen Ono and Lynne Chun; brother Kiyoshi; sisters Masae Takaki, Chikae "Gladys" Takamoto and Fumiko "Alice" Iwane; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 10:30 a.m. Cremation to follow.
Louise Swartz, 83, of Honolulu was born in Nelson, Ohio. She is survived by brothers Ralph and Donny Rogos. Incorrect and additional information for an obituary published yesterday provided by the mortuary.
Kenneth K. Tomasa, of Kaneohe, died July 21 in Kailua. Born in Kahuku, he is survived by wife Nancy; children Diane, Susan, Jennifer and Leslie Tomasa, Wendy Tyson and Carl, Peter and David Yamamoto; brothers David, Kiyoshi, Masaru, Kazuo and Kuro; sister Yoshiko Onishi; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Private services.
Bernhard "Benny" Torgler, 86, of Kihei, a retired chef de cuisine for United Airlines, died Friday at home. Born in Switzerland, he is survived by four stepchildren. Private services.
Adeline K. Williams, 82, of Lihue, a retired manager of the Kauai County attorney's office, died Friday at home. Born in Kalihiwai, Kauai, she is survived by husband Solomon B.; son Kaimi; daughters Sheralyn Williams and Waiola Fields; brother Alan "Mac" Akana; sisters Lauretta Lowry, Kuulei Akina and Judy Holden; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services: 11:45 a.m. Saturday at Lihue First Church. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Kauai Memorial Gardens. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Nancy L.C. Wright, 77, of Keaau, Hawaii, a retired state social worker, died Saturday at home. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Kenneth E., daughter Susan Lynch, brother James Cameron, sister Alice Cameron, and three grandchildren. Private services.
Yumio Yonezawa, 73, of Honolulu, a retired chemist at the Pearl Harbor Public Works Center, died Saturday in St. Francis Hospice. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Yoriko, daughter Lois, and brother Kaoru. Memorial services: noon Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
John C. York, 77, of Honolulu, president of Vermiculite of Hawaii, died July 16. Born in Texas, he is survived by sons James and Chris, daughter Barbara Essman, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Donations suggested to Hospice Hawaii. Private services.
Thomas H. Young, 79, of Aiea, a retired federal employee, died Monday in Honolulu. He is survived by friend Laurie Ann Smith. Private scattering of ashes.
You can also search the Hawaii State Library System's
Hawaii Newspaper Index online for older obituaries at:
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/education/hcc/library/hiindex.html
The index, which goes back several decades,
is available via Telnet software.
