Iolani School fixture
By Gregg K. Kakesako
Bing Fai Lau dies at 93
Star-BulletinBing Fai Lau, who for more than half a century served Iolani School in almost every capacity -- including accountant, business manager, coach and athletic director -- died Wednesday.
He was 93.
Headmaster Val Iwashita described Lau as "a remarkable man" and active into his 90s.
"He was very supportive of Iolani School and very supportive of what we try to do in the community," Iwashita said.
"He also regularly attended events at Iolani. He was a very special spirit and he touched everyone around him, especially all of us at Iolani."
William Lee, Iolani dean of students since 1963, noted that "Iolani had been his life."
"He has done so much for Iolani," said Lee, who graduated with one of Lau's sons in 1953.
"As business manager and school accountant, he was the keeper of the purse so that Iolani School could operate in those rough early years. He also was an avid golfer and one of the founding fathers of the Narcissus Festival."
Lau, who retired in 1971, served under eight headmasters and watched the school progress through various stages and campuses.
His affiliation with Iolani began when the school was on the grounds of St. Andrew's Cathedral. He moved with the school when it opened a Nuuanu campus, and then went to its current Ala Wai site.
In a school history published a few years ago, Lau recalled that after spending 52 years at Iolani he considered the school his "life."
"Not everything was hunky-dory, but the world isn't either," Lau wrote. "Iolani School in those days didn't pay very much, but I was comfortable. We had free meals in Nuuanu. I still had money in my pocket."
Lau arrived from Canton in 1919 at the age of 13. As a student, he worked at Oahu's pineapple canneries to pay for his tuition.
When Iolani moved to Nuuanu, he found himself sleeping in a tent while a dormitory was built.
At Iolani, Lau learned English and rose to become valedictorian of the class of 1928, the first to graduate from the Nuuanu campus.
He also was president of many community associations, including the United Chinese Society, and was honored in 1987 by the United Chinese Society as the model father of the year.
He is survived by his wife, Carrie; two sons, Ron and Herbert; sister, Helen Ing; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services are pending.
Marisa A. Alo, 61, of Aiea died July 22 in Straub Hospital. She was born in American Samoa. She is survived by husband Nofotolu I.; son Randy N.; daughters Flo M., Faalili V., Asiasiga, Vaoesea M. and Mila T.; hanai sons Jr. and Taisone; hanai daughters Tafaoga, Joyce, Judy, Jonnie and Jannelle; brothers Livi and Okesene Iese and Fa'amama Tupua; sister Folole Saelua, and two grandchildren. Services: 3 p.m. Sunday at Waianae Samoan Congregational Church. Call after 2:30 p.m. Services: 9 a.m. Monday at the church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Desmond Byrne, 64, citizen activist and small businessman, will be remembered in services at 10 a.m. Aug. 15 at Diamond Head Memorial Park Mortuary. Desmond Byrne services
scheduled for Aug. 15Friends may call after 9 a.m. Leis preferred. Aloha attire.
Manuel C. Brum, 86, of Honolulu, a retired longshoreman, died Sunday. He was born in Hanamaulu, Kauai. He is survived by daughters Norma, Patricia, Linda and Jean; son Ron; brothers Daniel, Frank, Henry and William; sisters Carol Know and Terry Brum, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Private services.
Steven K. Canady, 47, of Fern Acres, Hawaii, a fisherman, died Monday at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by companion Irene Birchland; father David; brothers David Jr. and Louis, and sisters Audrey Ii, Ada Wallace, April Chock, Arlene Beaman, Louise Augustine, Stephanie France and Raynetta Canady. Memorial gathering: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Maile Beach in Waianae. Call after 10 a.m. Scattering of ashes to follow. Casual attire.
George W. Choo, 75, of Honolulu, a retired Las Vegas hotel executive, died Sunday.He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons John, Joseph and James; daughter Jackie Umeda; brothers Philip and Charles; sisters Annie Chung and Linda Akana; mother of his children Dorothy; and a grandchild. Services: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Aloha attire.
Lydia D.S. Dias, 90, of Lihue, Kauai died Wednesday at home. She was born in Kealia, Kauai. She is survived by daughter Geraldine Dias Willing; sisters Julia Rapozo and Olivia Kanae, a grandson and two great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Raphael's Church in Koloa. Call from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Burial: Lihue Public Cemetery. Casual attire.
Eva M. Dickens, 75, of Lawai, Kauai, died Wednesday in Wilcox Memorial Hospital. She was born in New Mill, Kauai. She is survived by son Melvin L.; daughter Madeline M.; sister Isabella M. Medeiros, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Borthwick/Kauai Mortuary. Call from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Burial: Lawai Public Cemetery. Casual attire.
Januaria G. Estimo, 81, of Honolulu died Sunday in St. Francis Hospital. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by husband Santiago; daughters Asuncion Erediano, Christy Cruz and Lucy Cablay; brother Roberto Gonzales; 13 grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Monday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Arma P. Fonseca, 72, of Honolulu, a retired typesetter, died Sunday in Kaneohe. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughters Nancee Ching and Laynee K. Fonseca; brother Walter Pomroy; sister Mattie Ho, and two grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at Aunty Dudee Ahuna's home, 41-483 Kalanianaole Hwy. Scattering of ashes to follow. Comfortable attire. Leis welcome.
Harold W. "Haloti" Hanson Jr., 65, of Kilauea, Kauai, president for a chief executive office, died Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. He was born in California. He is survived by daughters Crysty Kerr, Lisa Pazooki and Tami Burns; sons Erik and Leif; sister Page Fox; brother Tom, and six grandchildren. Memorial services: 2 p.m. Sunday at the family residence, 2320 Kolo Road in Kilauea. Casual or aloha attire.
Seiroku "Cowboy" Hashimoto, 82, of Waimea, Kauai, a retired state supervisor for the Department of Transportation, died Sunday at home. He was born in Waimea Valley, Kauai. He is survived by daughters Hedy Ladek, Lynn Sabate, Laverne Apo and Janice Oyama; brother Junichi; sisters Otome Hashimoto, Yaeno Nishikawa and Setsue Iinuma, and seven grandchildren. Private services.
Kameko M. Higa, 90, of Honolulu died Saturday. She was born on Okinawa. She is survived by sons Marshall, Charles and Richard; daughters Grace Asari and Edna Funakoshi; sisters Matsu and Haru Miyasato and Kanae Takaezu; 18 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Private services.
John W. Kellett Jr., 69, of Kaneohe, a retired Navy commander and aerospace engineer with Grumman Aircraft, died Wednesday in Kaneohe. He was born in Philadelphia. He is survived by wife Heidi; sons Bruce and Brian; daughter Diane, and a grandson. Inurnment on the mainland. No flowers. Donations suggested to Hospice Hawaii.
Hannah H. Koshi, 84, of Aiea died Monday in Straub Hospital. She was born in Kona, Hawaii. She is survived by son Marvin; daughter Ginny Kawasaki; brother Norman Okamura, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Burial: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Laureano S. Lopez, 74, of Waipahu, retired minister of Waipahu Church of Christ, died July 26 in St. Francis-West Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Rebecca D.; sons Alexander D., Wilson Laureano D. and William D.; daughters Reyma D. and Maricris D. Lopez, Ruth L. Savellano and Grace L. Alvarez; brother Fernando; sister Susanna Suetos, and 11 grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Burial in the Philippines. Casual attire.
Max T. Matsuoka, 82, of Honolulu, a retired painter, died Wednesday in Queen's Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Irene; sons Malcolm, Milton and Millard; daughters Myrna Kanemoto, Maxine Levine and Marian Jewell, and 12 grandchildren. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Casual attire.
Emiliano L. Navarro, 87, of Waipahu, a retired barber at Hickam Air Force Barber Shop, died July 29 in Convalescent Center of Honolulu. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Rosalina C.; daughter Emilyn G.; stepchildren Franklin Montero, Annie Lu Tomas, Harold Navarro and Adora Aurelio; brother Simeon, and eight grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at the mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Agnes E. Salcedo, 70, of Maile, a retired custodian, died Saturday in Honolulu. She was born in Hawaii. She is survived by husband Sabino; sons George, Rudy, Leo and Austin; daughters Rosenda Silva and Jovita Salcedo; brothers Phillip Carizosa and John, Adam, Donald and Benito Ilaban; sisters Pat Perreira and Josephine Torralva, 22 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Rita Catholic Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Ritsuko Sato, 76, of Pearl City, a retired chambermaid for Ambassador Hotel, died Wednesday in Queen's Hospital. She was born in South Hilo, Hawaii. She is survived by sons Andrew K. and Guy Y.; daughter Ellen M.; brother Mitsuo Osaki, and sister Janet Souza. Services: 8 p.m. Tuesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Wallace H. Sunahara, 55, of Honolulu, a retired repairman for Hawaiian Telephone, died July 27 in Honolulu. e was born in Ewa. He is survived by mother Natsuyo; brothers George, Harry and Edward, and sisters Florence Sato, Nancy Shibuya and Diane Sunahara. Private services.
Roy J. Williams, 59, of Hilo died Tuesday at home. He was born in Naalehu, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Faye H.; son Roy Jr.; daughters Cathy Williams and Caridad Leyson; hanai son Duwayne Asperilla; hanai daughter Raynette Hulama; sisters Dorothy Kaeo and Irene Yoshioka, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Monday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 5 to 9 p.m. Cremation to follow. Scattering of ashes at a later date. Casual attire. No flowers.
Koon Po Yeung, 72, of Honolulu died Monday in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in China. He is survived by wife Yang Sun; sons Kenneth, Ricky and Frankie; daughter Karesse Young; brother Ken Po; sisters Mui Chum Lee, How Chun Lee, How Nien Lau and How Ling Yuen, and 10 grandchildren. Chinese buddhist services: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
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.
