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There are dozens of framed photos covering a wall in a single-story house at the end of Krauss Street in Papakolea. ‘Grandma’ Puha,
More obituaries
known for generosity,
dies at 85By Rod Ohira
Star-BulletinBlack-and-white photos of the late John Puha Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth, are displayed at the top of the ohana wall.
The couple had only one child, John III, but Mrs. Puha always made room in her heart and home for one more.
"If you go back to the '40s, there's been 400 to 500 people living with us -- people who no more house, or kids in Papakolea who got kicked out by their parents," John Puha of San Mateo, Calif., said about his mother, who died Friday at home at age 85.
"One time, around 1975, there were 15 boys living here. We had to buy plenty eggs and chickens but nobody went hungry."
The former Elizabeth Kekaau Wright, better known as "Grandma Puha," was born in Kalihi and moved to Papakolea in the summer of 1921.
The Wrights were one of the first to settle there and Elizabeth, the third youngest of 13 children, never left.
She was a strong-minded, independent woman who worked at the state Capitol as head custodian of the House of Representatives.
"For the last five years, the doctor has told us many times to get the family together because she's going die," Alohanani Jamiais said of her mother.
"But she always made it. Every time, she would tell us she can't die until she retires at age 85."
Grandma celebrated her 85th birthday in March and was still working.
Jamiais daughter, Tiana, wrote at essay for Stanford University about her grandmother's courage, noting how she would go to work dragging her breathing apparatus along.
"In Tiana's essay, she said tutu will never give up," Jamiais said.
Grandma needed the breathing apparatus because doctors had to remove one of her lungs several years ago.
"The Capitol family was her family, too," Jamiais said. "She loved the people she worked with and they cared for her."
John Puha added, "No matter how sick she was, being able to work kept her going."
She is also survived by daughters Patsy Kamalani and Lillian Cameron; son Sam; brother Gilbert Wright; sisters May Wright and Lillian Wahinepio; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Tuesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Burial to follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
Anicia A. Aguda, 60, of Hawaii died Sunday in St. Francis Medical Center. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by husband Toribio P; sons Jonathan and Alvin; daughters Josephine A. Ruedas and Marie Pascua; brother Don Andres; sister Corazon Patag, and seven grandchildren. Mass: 6 p.m. Friday at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Call after 5 p.m. Burial will be in the Philippines.
Mario P. Badua, 70, of Hilo, a retired shuttle driver for Dollar Rent A Car, died Sunday in Hilo Medical Center. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Genevive; sons Mario Jr. and Curtis; daughters Flora Ojano, Marie De Reis and Lorie Ann Yocum; mother Estefania; brother Frederico; sisters Erminia Banquil and Erlinda Torres, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Dodo Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.
Jose V. Barut, 66, of Kahului, Maui died Friday in Hale Makua. He was born in Puunene, Maui. He is survived by the mother of his children, Irene Oficial; son Wesley; daughter Jorene Phillips;, brothers David and Pat, a grandchild and a great-grandchild. Mass: 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at Christ the King Church. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Maui Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Clifford F. Buhl, 73, of Kailua, a retired master chief petty officer master diver for the U.S. Navy, died Friday at home. He was born in Montana. He is survived by sons Richard and Edward; daughters Paula Dela Cruz and Lisa Hamrick; brother Charles, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Friday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Ciriaco C. Cabais, 84, of Lahaina, a retired field irrigator for the Pioneer Mill, died Sept. 26 in Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Lucidia D.; son Jerry; daughter Estrellita "Ester" Grier; brother Domidor; sister Lenora Parel, a sister in the Philippines and a granddaughter. Mass: 7 p.m. Friday at Maria Lanakila Catholic Church. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Call again from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Maria Lanakila Catholic Church. Prayer services and burial: Maui Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Merlin M. Caday, 43, of Hanamaulu, Kauai, a security guard for Freeman, died Wednesday in Queen's Medical Center. He was born in Lihue. He is survived by wife Gail; stepchildren Justine Henriques, Wesley Akama, Daisy Newall and Wilton Yamase; parents Antonio and Crispina; brothers Antonio Jr. and Virgilio, and four grandchildren. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Borthwick/Kauai Mortuary. Services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Church. Call from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Burial: Kauai Memorial Gardens. Casual or aloha attire.
Anita F. "Tutu" Cage, 78, of Pearl City died Friday in Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Robert Hales and Roy Cage; sister Mildred Phillips, five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. Memorial Mass: 11 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Call after 10 a.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Robert J. "Bob" DeGroot, 75, of Ashland, Ore., a retired barber, died Sunday in Honolulu. He was born in Chicago. He is survived by wife Joycelynn; daughter Wendy Ann Wells; son Larry of Honolulu; sisters Marian Haugsnes, Lorraine Falk, Louise Kivland and Lillian Ludwig, and two granddaughters. No services.
Lily K. Fraga, 71, formerly of Honolulu died Friday in Tacoma, Wash. She is survived by sons John A., Timothy A. and Frederick K.; daughters Sheree K., Lovena K. and Iwakilaukapu; brother Karl Kaumeheiwa; sister Luella Peterson, 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services: 8 p.m. tomorrow at Kawaiahao Church. Call from 7 to 9 p.m. Burial: 1 p.m. Friday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
Margaret Z. "Ziggy" Goessling, of St. Louis died yesterday. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband John G.; children Pandy Reiser, Jill Dowd, Wendy Wolfsberger and Gay, Karen and John Goessling Jr., and 13 grandchildren. Services on the mainland. In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to Punahou School or Lyons Arboretum.
Harry R. "Rusty" Hoots III, 18, of Waianae will be remembered in memorial services at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Makaha Surfing Beach. Scattering of ashes to follow. He died in Queen's Medical Center after being found in the water at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park last Wednesday. He was born in Hawaii. He is survived by parents Harry R. and Peggy A. Jr.; brothers John and Jeremy; sister Loana A., and grandfather Harry R.
Robert T. Hyman, of Kalaheo, Kauai, a retired civil engineer for the Federal Aviation Agency, died Monday at home. He was also a post engineer in Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was born in Leavenworth, Kan. He is survived by wife Sally Lee. Services: 3 p.m. Saturday at Koloa Union Church. Call after 2 p.m. Private burial services. Aloha attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 1310 Punahou St., Honolulu 96826.
Elizabeth K. Ishikawa, 72, of Kaneohe died Monday in Honolulu. She was born in Kona, Hawaii. She is survived by husband Mike; sons Calvin, Mike Jr. and Clarence; daughters Stephanie Murakoshi, Jean Tani and Dawn Smith, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. Monday at Kaumakapili Church. Call after 8 a.m. Private inurnment. Aloha attire.
Mae K. "Aunty Mae" Kaleo, 93, of Hauula, a former postmistress for the federal government, died Saturday. She was also a retired schoolteacher and kupuna for state government. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughters Muriel Cabanting and Mae Ferrer; son Richard; sister Eloise Kekona; brother James Williams; 21 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren. Services: 8 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hauula makai chapel. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Services: 11:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church. Call from 9 to 11 a.m. Burial: Laie Cemetery. Aloha attire.
Kuuipo K. Keopuhiwa, 1, of Waianae died Sept. 19. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by parents David and Malia; brothers Kawika, Kapena, Kahana, Kealii and Kekoa; sisters Kiana Malia and Kuumahina Keopuhiwa; grandparents Joseph and Nani Jr., and hanai grandparent Cagle Wilhelm. Services: 6 p.m. Friday at Nanakuli Door of Faith Mission. Call after 4 p.m. Scattering of ashes: noon Saturday at Depot Beach, Nanakuli. Aloha attire.
Jean E. Koselke, 78, of Olympia, Wash., formerly of Hawaii, died Wednesday at home. She was born in Geneva, Ind. She is survived by husband Richard A.; daughters Patti Ahn and Mary Anderson; sister Ruth Huser, and a granddaughter. Private Mass.
Klenan-John K.O.K.K.K. Kuewa, 13, of Haleiwa died Sept. 23 in Wahiawa General Hospital. He was born in Wahiawa. He is survived by parents Adolph and Sandra "Lei"; sisters Johnella Nemoto and Kellei, Karilynn, Kim, Kaylin and Karah Kuewa; brothers Kedward, Kayne, Karson, Kainan and Kaleb, and grandparents John and Maureen "Mitzi" Hardin. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Liliuokalani Protestant Church. Call after 8 a.m. Inurnment: Mililani Memorial Park. Aloha attire.
Dr. Norman Meller, University of Hawaii emeritus professor of political science, will be remembered in memorial services at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in Orvis Auditorium, in the Music Department at UH at Manoa., corner of University Avenue and Dole Street. Parking available for a fee in the parking structure on Lower Campus Road, across from the Stan Sheriff Center. The additional information for an obituary published July 21 was provided by the UH political sciences department.
Carmen D. Mora, 85, of Wailuku died Friday in Maui Memorial Medical Center. She was born in Honda, Colombia. She is survived by daughter C. Stella Bonnet and three grandchildren. Private services. No flowers. Donations suggested to a charity.
Katsumi "Kats" Nakamoto, 78, of Honolulu, a retired plumber for S. Nakamoto Plumbing, died Monday in Kuakini Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Setsuko; son Kenneth; daughters June Kawamura and Katherine Shodai, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Monday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Edward I. Nishioka, also known as "Eddie" or "Nishi," 61, of Kaneohe, a retired heavy equipment construction foreman, died Sunday in St. Francis Medical Center. He was born in Ewa. He is survived by wife Aimee E.; sons Kevyn K. and Kyle I., and sisters Florence Ichinose, Tomiko Tanaka and Nancy Oda. Services: 4 p.m. Saturday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Casual attire.
George M. Ottinger, 53, of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, a high school teacher at Kealakehe High School in Kona, died Wednesday in Kona Community Hospital. He was born in Philadelphia. He is survived by mother Frances and brothers John D. III and Paul F. Services will be on the mainland.
Ken Toyama, 83, of Honolulu, a masseur, died Sept. 26. He was born in Makawao, Maui. He is survived by wife Kimiko; son Paul; daughters Winifred Akioka, Lillian E. Kogasaka and Kathleen Hollison; sisters Eunice Masumura and Mazie Vincent, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.
Pamela K. White, 48, of Mesa, Ariz., a family advocacy social worker at Tripler Army Medical Center, will be remembered in memorial services at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Tripler Army Medical Center. The additional information for an obituary published yesterday was provided by the family.
Marian B.H.N. Wong, 75, of Honolulu, a former owner of the Maile Cash & Carry Superette, died Friday. She is survived by husband Frederick; sons Gerald, Nelson and David; daughters Patricia La Londe, Sandra Wong-Bannister and Rebecca Wong-Benevidez; brothers Gordon and Alan Ng; sisters Helen Wright and Sterling Kaahaaina, and 11 grandchildren. Services: noon Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial: Manoa Cemetery.
Dr. Samuel J. Wong Jr., 69, of Honolulu, a retired dentist, died Sept. 26 in St. Francis Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Agnes Jean; mother Margaret; children Vikki Wong-Webb, Lisa Delaney and Ronald and Michael Wong; brother Stanley; sisters Barbara Dung, Arleen Wong and Patricia Frank, six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Services held.
Mitsugu Yoshimoto, 85, of Honolulu, a retired contractor, died Sept. 24 in Straub Clinic and Hospital. He was born in Punaluu. He is survived by sons J. Alwin and Allan I.; brothers Watson Yoshimoto and Gordon Gau; sisters Matsuyo Sato and Tsuneko Ikeda, and four grandchildren. Private services.
Herbert L. Zane, 75, of New York City died Aug. 31 in New York. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sisters Winifred Lum and Vera Hong and brother Warren. Inurnment: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
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.