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Bill Azeka,
More obituaries By Gary Kubota
shopping-center
developer,
dies at 79
Maui correspondentA man who built a name and business out of his specialized ribs and generosity has died.
William "Bill" Kusuo Azeka, developer of Azeka Place Shopping Center, died Wednesday. He was 79.
Azeka described himself as a "butcher by trade" who sold a lot of barbecued ribs with his special sauce -- 3,000 pounds during one Christmas Eve.
The community knew Azeka for his generosity and grace.
In the 1950s, when the economy was depressed in south Maui, he sometimes allowed people to trade fish for groceries.
He also gave families food on credit and kept a record of their debt by taping their grocery receipts to the cash register.
For the past 10 years, the Kihei Community Association has been using free office space at one of the Azeka buildings.
"One of the reasons we have been a powerful community association has been because of the tremendous support we got from the Azekas," said association board member Daryl Davis.
Gene Thompson, past president of the Kihei Community Association, said Azeka was also sensitive to issues of growth and would discuss building plans with association members before moving forward with any development.
"He was a very charming man, warm and nice. Everybody liked him," Thompson said.
Azeka learned about business through his family, working in his grandmother's store in Japan, then later at his parents' restaurant in Kahului.
He built a store in 1950 on the family's farm land, now a portion of the shopping center, and later purchased two 10-acre parcels in Kihei.
Azeka turned over most of the management of the business to his son, Tyler, in 1994.
He is survived by his wife Jane; son Tyler; daughters Emilie Preston and Audrey Inaba; brothers Kenji and Joseph; and sister, Jane Tsukazaki.
The family will begin receiving visitors at noon Sunday at Nakamura's Mortuary in Wailuku, followed by services at 1 p.m. and a reception. Casual attire is requested.
Mary "Malia" Ah Yee, 78, of Kaunakakai died June 3 in Kaunakakai. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons William and Thomas; daughters Gwen Burrows and Ruth Soares; sisters Eleanor Daniels and Hannah Tavares; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. June 24 at Ka Hale Laa O Iruselema Hou Church in Kalamaula, Molokai. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Homelani Cemetery.
Virginia M. Bates, 77, of Honolulu, a retired accountant, died June 8. She was born in Massachusetts. She is survived by daughters Marcia Gallivan, Kelly Ann Bruhn, Eleanor Broadbent, Elaine Good and Deborah Buthlay; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Private services.
Nancy G.K. "Neneke" Carden, also known as "Lei" and "Limu Lady," 56, of Waianae, a kupuna for Lanikuhonua Campbell Estate, died May 31 in Waianae. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons David "Boings" and Abraham; daughters Deanna Carden-Asuega and Deonne Carden; brothers Bobby Ke, Lani Walcher, Henry Walcher and Frank and Guy Carden; sister Jessie-Ann Castanares; and six grandchildren. Wake services: 7 p.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Cremation to follow. Scattering of ashes: 1 p.m. June 24 at Lualualei Beach. Aloha attire.
Joseph Frommer, 90, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Queen's Hospital. He was born in Manhattan, N.Y. He is survived by wife Hille; sons Steven and Tony Hugens; daughters Jeannette and Monique Minchau-Nee Hugens; sister Mary Gold; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Committal services: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire.
Yoshio Fujitani, 96, of Pearl City died June 2 in St. Francis-West Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons James, Richard, Ralph, Kenneth and Larry; daughter Sharon; and four grandchildren. Private services.
Dorothy J. Hawthorne, 78, of Honolulu died June 7 at home. She was born in Big Timber, Mont. She is survived by husband Col. Victor J.; son Randolph G.; daughter Victoria J.; and two grandchildren. Graveside services: 1 p.m. Wednesday at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. No flowers. Donations suggested to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Hawaii chapter.
Cecilia Holsti, 60, of Honolulu, a secretary, died June 4 in Honolulu. She was born in Kansas City, Kan. She is survived by sons Eric, Terrance and David; daughter Cecilia Ikeda; and two grandchildren. Private services.
Ronald K. Kawamura, 87, of Honolulu, a retired structural civil engineer with the state, died Tuesday in Kuakini Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Dorothy F.; daughter Sandra A. Yamada; brother James H. Sakai; and two grandchildren. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Wednesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Marion R. Keat, 80, of Makaweli, Kauai, died Tuesday at home. She was born in Makaweli. She is survived by sons Jack and Philip and three grandchildren. Services held. No flowers. Donations suggested to Kauai Hospice, St. John's Church in Eleele or United Church of Christ in Waimea. Casual attire.
Makana Kini, infant son of Chris and Julie Kini, died Wednesday in Kapiolani Hospital. He is also survived by brother Jared; sister Kristin; and grandparents Thomas and Charlotte Kini and Charles and Carol Miyashiro. Private services.
Domingo A. Lucas, 90, of Honolulu is survived by daughter Patricia Foo. Incorrect information for an obituary published yesterday provided by the mortuary.
Moses P. "Bruddah Moke" Makuakane, 53, of Pahoa, Hawaii, a security guard, died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital after a motorcycle accident. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by mother Lydia A.; brother Junior Ah Hee; sisters Elizabeth Hansen, Annie Makuakane, Teresa Makuakane-Drechsel and Gail Makuakane-Lundin; and grandmother Annie Ah Hee. Services 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Graveside services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. Bikers are welcome to participate in a bike run before the Thursday services. Meet 9:45 a.m. at Dodo Mortuary.
James E. McArthur, 79, formerly of Los Angeles, a retired medical administrator for the Department of Surgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine, died May 20 at home. He was also a retired Army colonel. He was born in St. George, Utah. He is survived by wife Joyce; daughter Dorian Manke; son Marc; and a grandson. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Mariner's Cove Bay Club, 800 Lunalilo Home Road. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to hospice or Habitat for Humanity.
Mildred E. "Millie" Miyahara, 63, of Wahiawa died Wednesday in Straub Hospital. She was born in Lahaina, Maui. She is survived by her husband Richard Y.; son Todd M.; daughter Trudy M. Okazaki; brothers Donald Y. and Robert A. Yanagihara; sisters Leatrice K. Sato, Thelma K. Miyahara and Naomi Watanabe; and three grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 5 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Bertil M. Mortenson, 94, of Kailua, a building construction contractor, died Tuesday in Kailua. He was born in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. He is survived by wife Myrtle; daughter Kristine Mortenson-Giannasio; son Sven-Karl Bertil; and three granddaughters. Private services. No flowers. Donations suggested to Hospice Hawaii-Kailua Hale Mana.
Genevieve M. "Gene" Mundon, 72, of Ewa Beach died Tuesday. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son Albert C. and two grandchildren. Services: Noon Monday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 11 a.m. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire.
Stella K. Nako-Paresa, 82, of Kahului, Maui, died yesterday in Maui Memorial Hospital. She was born in Paia, Maui. She is survived by husband Louis J. Paresa; son James Paresa; daughters Betty Bak and Barbara Paresa; brothers Harold, William, Roy and Spike Nako; sisters Lillian Cassel, Betty Yonamine, Amy Kigawa and Gladys Nako; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Prayer services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Norman's Chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
George Ponte, 74, of Kona, Hawaii, a retired beverage manager, died Tuesday at home. He was born in Massachusetts. He is survived by wife Juanita G.; sons Gary, Ronald and Jayme Depontes; daughters Joanne Alcoran, Valarie Yamagata, Rhonda Freedman and Daphne Miguel; brothers Joseph and Edward Pontes; sister Alice Mueller; 18 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Monday at Solid Rock Ministry Church, 73-4855 Kanalani St. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Call 9 to 10:30 a.m. Casual attire.
Ben P. Romero, 89, of Ewa Beach will be remembered in services 7 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Mass: 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples. Incorrect information for an obituary published Wednesday provided by the mortuary.
Mike K. Shimabukuro, 72, of Honolulu, a retired manager for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, died Monday in Kaiser Hospital. He was born in Waipahu. He is survived by brothers Toshimitsu and Karl K. Shimabukuro and George T. Shima. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Daniel Y. Tober, 43, of Oakland, Calif., former manager of Indigo in Honolulu, died June 10 at home. He is survived by girlfriend Helen Gee; sons Lance and Arthur James; brothers Taran, Lee and York; and stepfather Art Josue. Services on the mainland. Condolences suggested to Helen Gee, 295 Lenox Ave. No. 406, Oakland, CA 94610.
Howard J. Yamane, 45, of Honolulu, a bellman for the Hyatt Regency Hotel, died Wednesday in Queen's Hospice. He was born in Tokyo. He is survived by mother Eiko, brother Calvin J. and sister Barbara K. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Tuesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.
Henry Younge, 90, of Kawela, Molokai, died Tuesday in Molokai General Hospital. He was born in Louisville, Kan. He is survived by daughter Frances Barnes, son Henry Jr., grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Scattering of ashes at a later date.
Dorothy M. Yue, 70, of Honolulu, a registered nurse, died Tuesday in Honolulu. She was born in Butte, Mont. She is survived by husband S.C.; daughter Cindy Juelharte; son Sanford; sisters Helen Lyum, Alice Totten, Shirley Park and June McMeekin; brothers Chang J. and Randy Park; and a granddaughter. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha 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.
