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George Paoa,
65, dies on cruise
The mellow singer-pianist
Services Saturday for ‘Ernest’ Ednie
performed on Lanai, Maui
and Oahu for 40 years
More obituaries By Mary Adamski
Star-BulletinSinger and pianist George Paoa, whose performance of mellow old Hawaiian, hapa-haole and light jazz music was part of vacationers' romantic memories of Hawaii for more than 40 years, died Monday while on a vacation cruise.
Paoa, 65, was with his wife, Pua, and 28 other friends and family members aboard the Holland American liner Volendam which left Miami last week for a Panama Canal cruise.
He collapsed after taking a one-mile walk around the ship's deck, said his daughter, Alika Kapoi of Maui. The shipboard medical team was unable to revive him. She said he took medication for diabetes and high cholesterol but had no history of heart trouble.
Paoa spent most of his professional career as a performer at hotel restaurants and lounges on Maui, including the Peacock restaurant at the former Royal Lahaina at Kaanapali and the Maui Prince at Makena.
He has presided at the piano bar at The Lodge at Koele on Lanai for the past seven years.
"I used to see people listen to his music and it seemed like they would fall in love again," said Kapoi. "There would be couples that the music meant something to, it put them in a different aura, they looked romantically in love."
Paoa grew up on Oahu, a relative of the Kahanamoku family, and graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1952. He was a star quarterback and went onto play football at Pasadena City College.
Steel guitar artist Henry Allen, who has played with Paoa in musical groups for decades, said Paoa became a Honolulu policeman after school. "He worked with the police glee club, that's how he got started. He left the police because of music and was full time in music ever since.
Allen composed music for and produced George Paoa's album "Walking in the Sand" in 1994. Two of Paoa's six children, George Kapulenui Paoa Jr. and Kinau Hicks, both professional musicians, sang on the album.
Paoa began his career in Waikiki. He played with Martin Denny and was in a trio at an International Market Place nightclub in the 1960s. He and his wife worked for some years on the West Coast in a group called the Kona Coasters. Soon after the opening of the Kaanapali resort, the Paoas moved to Maui and focussed their careers there.
Entertainer Jeff Apaka said: "So much love came out of his voice, he was very much of the romantic, hapa-haole era of music. He had the whole room in the palm of his hand, local people as well as visitors, you want to sit all night long and listen to him."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Services Saturday
By Harold Morse
for ‘Ernest’ Ednie
Star-BulletinA native of Scotland who started as a clerk and worked his way up to be senior vice president of Amfac died April 18 at the age of 92. James "Ernest" Whyte Ednie of Aina Haina died in Straub Hospital.
In 37 years with Amfac, Ednie made "significant contributions and was a very valuable part of the team that expanded Amfac dramatically in the 1960s," said Jim Boersema, a community relations spokesman at Amfac.
Ednie joined Amfac in 1934 as an auditor and certified public accountant after earlier employment for two years with the Honolulu firm of Cameron and Johnston.
His earlier education was at Morgan Academy, Dundee, Scotland, and in night courses at the University of St. Andrews and Dundee Technical College there.
His first professional job was an indentureship to a chartered accountant in Scotland at the equivalent of $25 a year.
Arriving in Hawaii in 1931, he drew on his background in Scotland, where his father was in the general farm supply business and set his sights on Hawaii's agricultural economy.
He eventually joined Amfac and rose through various positions to become plantation division manager in 1952 and Amfac vice president of finance and development shortly after. He was named an Amfac senior vice president and director in 1962. He also held directorships in a number of other firms, retiring in 1971.
Ednie is survived by sons George and Richard; daughters Sandra Braham and Betty Jo "Bea" Torres, and nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Holy Nativity in Aina Haina. Casual attire. No flowers.
Yoshino Abe, 86, of Kahului, a retired food service clerk at Noda Market, died April 18 in Kula Hospital. She was born in Paia, Maui. She is survived by son Hideo; sisters Haru Takazawa and Hatsu Sugawara, nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Private services.
Clarence "Bright Eyes" Agena, 85, of Lahaina, part owner and manager of Golden Palace Restaurant in Lahaina, died Saturday in Maui Memorial Hospital. He was also a former reporter for the Maui News. He was born in Lahaina. He is survived by wife Patricia Y.; sons Clarence M., Clayton E. and Carlton L.; daughters B. Dianne Takeuchi and Cynthia L. Garbutt; brothers Paul S., Hideo and Masaru; sisters Nancy H. Agena, Mildred M. Sentinella and Sue S. Manriki, and nine grandchildren. Services: 2 p.m. Saturday at Lahaina United Methodist Church. Call after noon. Lunch reception to follow. Cremation to follow.
Eva P. Arruda-Arthur, 73, of Kailua died Sunday in Kailua. She was born in Kahuku. She is survived by husband Gilbert Arthur; sons Herbert Morris, Raymond Grillot and James and Mark Arthur; daughter Candace Lii; sisters Agnes Lewis, Ida Naki, Barbara Boles, Francis Brazil, Irene Butler, Annie Berry and Geraldine Nichols, 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Services: 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Aloha attire.
Emily K. "Maile" Aucoin, 60, of Honolulu died April 17. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Wayne and Howard Sees; daughter Kathy Louis; brothers Joseph, Gordon and Kirkwood Keoho; sisters Gladiola Aiana and Johanna Lean, and 11 grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial to follow. Casual attire.
Walter M. Butler, 74, of Honolulu died Saturday in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. He was born in Wilmington, N.C. He is survived by wife Blossom; daughters Deborah Gaffey, Ginger Suderman and Wendy Reeves; sister Addie Smith, and four grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Zoila C. Cachola, 85, of Honolulu, a retired trimmer for Del Monte Pineapple Cannery, died April 15 in Kuakini Hospital. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by husband Bernandino; sons Frankie Cachola and Silvestre Rapanut; brother the Rev. Mariano Caneso, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Friday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Melinda Ching, 53, of Waipahu died Thursday in Ewa. She was born in Hobart, Okla. She is survived by husband Walter; daughter Rebecca Waldrop; mother Mary Davis; brothers James Mosley and Eddie Willhelm, and a granddaughter. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Waipahu Ward. Private inurnment. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Wah Chew Chun, 89, of Waianae, a retired hog farmer, died April 17 in St. Francis Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Janet; sons Hubert S.B., Lowell S.T., Leonard S.H., John S.K., Glenn S.C. and Jeffrey S.W.; daughter Mary Agnes S.K.; brothers Wah Pui, Wah Jick, James W.S., Stephen W.S. and Thomas W.H., 12 grandchildren and a great-grandson. Taoist services: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Jacinta C. Domion, 78, of Honolulu died March 29. She was born in the Philippines. Graveside services: 8:30 a.m. Friday at Oahu Cemetery.
Sadie J. Doyle, 87, of Honolulu, a retired editor for Bishop Museum, died Sunday in Honolulu. She is survived by brother John F. Myers. No services.
Alfred B. Du Ponte, 60, of Makawao, Maui, a retired contractor, died Friday at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Patricia; son Alfred "Duke" Jr.; daughter Nicol "Duchess" Botelho; stepsons Keala and Kekoa Gomard; brother James; sister Jeannette Elliot; father Fred De Ponte and seven grandchildren. Mass: noon Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Call after 10 a.m. Cremation to follow. Aloha attire.
Helen E. "Honey Girl" Kaaekuahu Fernandez, 54, of Hana, Maui, a retired kitchen worker for Hana Ranch Restaurant, died Saturday at home. She was born in Hana. She is survived by husband Graciano B.; sons Kepano Kaina and Graciano K. Fernandez; daughters Gracelyn W.A. Fernandez and Jaclyn Revilla; brothers Murphy, Frank, Joseph and Kaleo Kaina; sisters Elizabeth Summers, Henrietta Revilla and Mary Medeiros, and a grandson. Mass: 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter's Catholic Church. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Puuiki Cemetery. Casual attire.
Wilfred W. Freitas, 65, of Honolulu died April 18 at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Bryan and Wilfred; daughter Alice Watanabe; brothers Lawrence and Clifford; sister Sylvia Riveira, and three grandchildren. Memorial services: 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 2 to 5 p.m. Inurnment: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Mabel T. Garcia, 82, of Wahiawa, a former paramedical assistant at Waimano Training School & Hospital, died April 18 at home. She was born in Kona, Hawaii. She is survived by son William E. Mathers; daughter Connie M. Pulawa; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and hanai grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Services: noon Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Paul Gouveia, 91, of Honolulu, a retired electrician from Pearl Harbor Shipyard, died April 16 in Honolulu. He was born in Kahuku. He is survived by wife Margaret; son Paul; daughter Paulette Hepa; sister Mabel DeMello, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Church. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Ruth Mae Hughes, infant daughter of Terrance and Heather Hughes of Honolulu, died Sunday in Tripler Hospital. She is also survived by grandparents Bernard Hughes and Carolann Burlison and Jaime, Donna and Robin Leon, and great-grandparents Ella Mae and Tom Graham and Robert and Pauline Phillips. Private services.
Leatrice T. "Lea" Ing, 67, of Honolulu, a retired administrative officer with the Honolulu City Council, died April 14 in Queen's Hospital. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband David A.; son Strather D.; daughters Avis Ing and Tracy K. Teruya; brothers Robert, Ralph, Dean and Daniel Takazawa; sisters Rosaline Sasaki, Grace Shojinaga, Lily Yamamoto, Gail Fujikawa, Ellen Tokunaga and Faye Kobayashi, and two grandchildren. Private services.
Lesly K. Kahalewai, 37, of Honolulu, an employee with Estee Lauder at Liberty House, died Monday. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by parents Samuel and Iwalani; brothers Carl and Allen, and sister Carinthia. Mass: 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Star of the Sea Church. Call after 10:30 a.m. Inurnment: Diamond Head Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
Emma Yoshida Kaiwi, 72, of Las Vegas died April 13 in Las Vegas. She was born in Wailuku, Maui. She is survived by husband Robert; sons Robert Jr., Ronald, Randall and Russell; brothers James, Donald, Robert, Clifford, Wilfred, Edgar and Wayne Yoshida, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Services: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Mitzie M. Oshiro Kamiya, 79, of Honolulu, a retired beautician who operated Starlet Beauty Salon, died Monday in Kuakini Hospital. She was born in Anahola, Kauai. She is survived by sons Raymond Jr., Don and Owen; daughter Amy Fujita; brothers Henry and Kazuo Kaneshiro; sisters Grace Skelton, Daisy Christmas, Ethel Swann and Elaine Edmondson, 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Services: 4 p.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 3 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Tetsuo "Tetchan" Komatsu, 86, of Wailuku, a retired carpenter, died Friday in Maui Memorial Hospital. He was a veteran of Company F, 442nd Infantry Regiment. He was born in Hana, Maui. He is survived by brother Susumu and sisters Alma "Sadame" Lau Hee and Betty "Satoyo" Leong. Services: 1 p.m. Friday at Nakamura Mortuary. Call after noon. Burial: Maui Memorial Park. Reception to follow. Casual attire.
Mauricio Laiz, 87, of Kaumakani, Kauai, a retired laborer with Olokele Sugar Co., died Saturday in Kauai Veterans Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Priscilla; son Maurice; daughter Jocelyn; sisters Consolation Galleto, Beatrice Opena and Vicky Ramos; brothers Espiritu and Florintino, and a grandson. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Garden Island Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hanapepe Public Cemetery. Casual attire.
Edward F.S. Ling, also known as "Foxy," 82, of Honolulu, who retired from Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, died Saturday at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Marie; son Marvin; daughter Mavis Nellas, and sisters Mabel Yee and Carolyn Chun. Taoist services: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Eulogy: noon. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers.
Kenneth P. Long Jr., 44, of Lanikai died Sunday in Kailua. He was born in California. He is survived by mother Mary and sister Michelle Cavin. Scattering of ashes: 4 p.m. tomorrow at Baby Makapuu Bay, across from Rabbit Island. Casual attire.
John Marinuzzi, 85, of Hilo, a retired salesman, died March 20 in Hilo Hospital. He was born in New York. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2.
Helen K. Mashiyama, 64, of Honolulu, formerly of Hilo, Hawaii, a registered nurse at Queen's Hospital, died Saturday. She was born in Hilo. She is survived by sons Ken and Keith; daughter Dee Lee; parents Yasuo and Hatsuyo Higa; brothers Harold and Lawrence Higa; sister June Wahiashi, and two grandchildren. Services: 2 p.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m.
Sharon S. Morita, 70, of Honolulu, a retired reprographic section file clerk for the state Department of Education, died yesterday in Queen's Hospital. She was born in Ewa. She is survived by husband David; son Ralph; brother Ritsuo "Rancho" Itao, and sisters Atsuko "A" Iguchi and Leatrice Yukinaga. Services: 5 p.m. Saturday at Manoa Valley Church. Call after 4 p.m. Casual attire.
Tamotsu Nakagawa, 83, of Hilo, Hawaii, a retired stevedore with Castle and Cooke, died April 15 in Hilo Hospital. He was born on Kauai. He is survived by sons Gary R. and Thomas T.; brother Sueo Ichikawa; sister Elsie Harada, and six grandchildren. Private services.
Kiyoko Nakama, 97, of Honolulu, a housekeeper, died April 18 in Honolulu. She was born on Okinawa. She is survived by daughter Jean. Private services.
Shige "Naka" Nakasone, 75, of Wailuku, a retired construction carpenter, died Sunday at home. He was born in Honomu, Hawaii. He is survived by son Bruce T.; daughters Sandra R. Kiesel, Iris F. Hayashida, Susan S. Yamauchi and Juliet Nakasone; brother Nobushige; sister Tomiko Miyashiro, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Private services.
Lyons K. Naone, 78, of Honolulu, a retired stevedore worker, died Sunday in Ewa. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by son Daniel; daughter Elaine Loring; sisters Elizabeth Donlin, Sarah Kapua, Emily Makakoa and Lucille Pinto, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 3 p.m. tomorrow atthe National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Aloha attire.
Terrence H.K. Ngum, 74, of Kailua died April 15. He was born in Hilo, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Jean; daughters Barbara Keith, Terrie Jean Ingle and Nancy A. Ralston; brothers Alexander and Albert Ngum and Lawrence Wah Hin, and five grandchildren. Private services.
Setsuyo Okayama, 92, of Pearl City, a retired coffee farmer and owner of Okayama Store, died Thursday in Pearl City Nursing Home. She was born in North Kona, Hawaii. She is survived by sons George, Kusato, Jack and Wallace; daughters Hatsune Hirano, Sakiko Nishimura and Berlye Yamaki; brothers Kichiro and Tatsuo Nishihara; sisters Fumie Naito, Chieko Okuda and Yukiko Koochi, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services: 2 p.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Arturo I. Pascua, 73, of Honolulu died Friday. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Mabel; companion Julieti Navarro; sons William and Marion; daughters Corazon Rule, Trelly, Elena and Arlyn; sisters Carmen Pascua, Matilde Lacuesta, Laureana Tesoro, Irene Paet and Genoveva Atienza, and 10 grandchildren. Services: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at Oahu Cemetery. Call after 6:30 p.m. Cremation to follow. Aloha attire.
Jose B. Pascual, 78, of Waipahu, who retired from Oahu Sugar Co., died April 1 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Marcelina B.; sons Simeon and Johnny; daughters Norma Agor, Encarnacion Calma, Vicky Aldoz, Florida Ganir and Nida Curameng; brother Andres; sisters Celestina Respicio and Eugenia Agor, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Maria B. Sagun, 82, of Pahoa, Hawaii, died Sunday in Hilo Hospital. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by brothers Basilio and Abelardo Bulosan, and sister Angela Castro. Wake services: 7 p.m. Friday for an all-night vigil at the Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Call after 6 p.m. Mass: 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial to follow. Casual attire.
Manuel P. Santos, 96, of Kahului, a retired field planter for HC&S, died Saturday at home. He was born in Kaupakalua, Maui. He is survived by sons Manuel Jr., John, Jules, James and Edward; daughters Mary S. Hamrick, Roseline Rubucan and Violet Martinez; sister Christina Paneto; 25 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 24 great-great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at First Assembly of God Church. Call 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: First Assemblies of God Cemetery. Aloha attire.
Warren K. Sawada, 89, of Waialua died March 15 in Wahiawa. Graveside services: 8:30 a.m. Friday at Oahu Cemetery.
Mi Ja Park Shin, 66, of Aiea died April 17 in Aiea. She was born in Korea. She is survived by daughter Valorie N. Ward; sister Kyung Ja Park, and two grandchildren. Services: 2 p.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m. Private scattering of the ashes.
Col. Lowell A. Stiles, 82, of Honolulu, a retired officer with the U.S. Air Force, died April 20 in Honolulu. He was born in Arkansas. He is survived by wife Doris; son John L.; daughters Bini Easley and Carson Stiles-Maxilom, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Ruben Tabiolo, 48, of Waipahu, a maintenance supervisor for the state Department of Hawaii Housing Authority, died April 15 in Honolulu. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Josefina; daughters Roselyn, Rizamaxine and Rheanne; parents Pedro and Emiliana; brother Wilfredo, and sister Luzviminda Marcos. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Waipahu. Call from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Kenneth W. Verhagen, 77, of Kapolei, a retired colonel with the U.S. Air Force, died last Wednesday in St. Francis-West Hospital. He was born in Green Bay, Wis. He is survived by wife Phyllis; daughter Nancy Graber; sons Paul and Patrick; brother Wayne, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mass: 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Jude Church. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Schofield Post Cemetery. Donations suggested to Disabled American Veterans, 2685 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu 96819. Casual attire. No flowers.
Hideo "Jimmy" Yakushiji, 80, of Honolulu, a retired painter with Tuna Packers, died April 13 at home. He was born in Hilo, Hawaii. He is survived by sons James H. and John Y.; daughter Sharon K.; brothers Thomas H. and Charles T.; sisters Betty M. Murashige, Anna C. Noborikawa and Amy A. Moriguchi, and two grandchildren. Private services.
Francis Y.S. Zane, 67, of Honolulu, a Bank of Hawaii retiree, died April 17 in Queen's Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Barbara; sons Gregory and Jerald, and brother Alvin. Services: 10:45 a.m. Friday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Inurnment: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire. No flowers.
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.
