James Canfield Heckman was among the few people allowed access to the privately owned island of Niihau as a reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Journalist emphasized
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every inch of the newsBy Lisa Asato
Star-BulletinHeckman is remembered as a "wonderful writer" with a "great sense of humor" by longtime Star-Bulletin reporter Helen Altonn. He held various positions as general assignment reporter, rewrite man and assistant city desk editor from 1958 to 1962.
As an assistant city editor, he would "remind people not to slough off on the little, unimportant stories because every inch of a newspaper costs money," Altonn said.
Heckman, retired picture editor of the Seattle Times, died Saturday at Tacoma General Hospital in Washington of complications following a tractor accident in his driveway on Easter Sunday, which caused several broken ribs, said son-in-law Phil Lou. He was 69.
High school and college friend Bob Monahan, who was also a Honolulu newspaperman at the time, said he "always had a mischievous sense of humor."
"He used to really thrive on writing for the April Fools' edition of the student paper that succeeded in getting us all in trouble," said Monahan, who followed Heckman to the Seattle Times.
Heckman did military intelligence work as an Army corporal from 1953 to 1955, he said. That duty might have productively employed Heckman's penchant for pranks, Monahan mused.
"I always figured that if the military intelligence would have turned Jim loose in a disinformation campaign, the cold war would have ended long before it did. He was a great wit."
Lou recalls his father-in-law telling him he was the first reporter to accompany then-Gov. William Quinn on a tour of Niihau. "He still has the Niihau shell lei," Lou said.
Survivors include Liane, his wife of 45 years; his mother, Hazel Heckman of Anderson Island; daughters Hollie Macdonald of Gig Harbor and Lael Lou of Vashon Island; and three grandchildren.
Kapeli Agasiva, 53, of Honolulu died May 21 in Kuakini Medical Center. He was born in American Samoa. He is survived by wife Iutita; sons Lolenese, Darick, Sasa, Michael and Molilaaufuga'a; daughter Rachel; brothers Lusi and Solomona Momosea, Faga Fiaigoa, Michael and Pioiva Agasiva; sisters Matagagai Inuumamao McGovern, Noela Leomiti, Iesilika Pulu, Punaotala Kereti, Selina Roger, Jacinta Slater and Sally Agasiva; and seven grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church, call after 6 p.m.; and 9 a.m. Monday. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Barth Alfred Baron, 62, of Honolulu died May 21 in Straub Hospital. He was born in Illinois. He is survived by wife Joy, son Barth A. "JR," daughter Laurie, stepdaughters Elizabeth deBerardinis and Pamela Trapp, brother Brian and six grandchildren. Services pending.
Ethel "Dot" Myers Behse, 82, of Kapolei died Saturday in Ewa Beach. She was born in Los Angeles. She is survived by husband James, son Rod and two granddaughters. Services pending.
Walter C.H. Chung, 77, of Loma Linda, Calif., died May 18. He was born in Hawaii. Burial: 11:30 a.m. Monday at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Incorrect information was published in an obituary yesterday.
John Joseph Clayton, 75, of Boston, a retired commander for the U.S. Coast Guard, died May 21 in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Grace, daughter Martha Ann, son Michael, sister Eileen Bruce, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Donations suggested to American Cancer Society. Private services.
Motomi Hirota, 91, of Haleiwa died April 2. She was born in Waialua. He is survived by sister Dorothy Nagamine. Private services.
Harry Tomiki Kimura, 78, of Honolulu, a retired Army counterintelligence investigator, died Friday. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Reiko; son Richard; sisters Ume Furuichi, Yae Yoshiga, Momoyo Hayashi and Grace Kimura; and one grandchild. Private services.
Shizuko Kushima, 91, of Ewa Beach died Saturday. She was born in Ewa. She is survived by sons Ronald "Sonny" and Thomas "Tommy"; daughters Mary "Fusako" Haverluck, Nancy Smith, May Oba and Janet "Hana" Kushima; sister Doris Watanabe; 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 11 a.m. No flowers. Casual attire.
Jay Lewis Landis, 82, of Waianae, a retired employee for McCandless of Honolulu, died May 4. He was born in San Francisco. Memorial services: 9 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, Waianae. Scattering of ashes: 11:30 a.m. at Pokai Bay Waianae Beach Park. Donations suggested to Hawaiian Studies Scholarship Fund, care of Adrian Silva, 87-164 Maliona St., Waianae. Aloha attire.
Wai Yung Lau, 84, of Honolulu died Saturday. She is survived by sons James, Kenny, Peter and Philip, daughter Karen Long and nine grandchildren. Services: 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.
Maxine Shirley Lucas, 70, of Hilo, a retired sales clerk, died May 19 in Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Olaa, Hawaii. She is survived by husband Alfred, sons John and James A., daughters Laverne Tolmie and Julie Yamamoto, brothers Reginald Keyes and Lawrence Cabrinha, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 7 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Call after 6 p.m. Burial: Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire.
William George Marincovich, 74, of Honolulu died Monday at home. He was born in California. He is survived by wife Marjorie, son Bill G. "Rusty," daughter Marcia Griffin and two grandchildren. Private services.
Elsie Matsuko Matsuyama, 63, of Hilo, a retired office manager for George Matsuyama and Sons Roofing Co., died Monday in the Hilo Medical Center. She was born in Niulii, Kohala. She is survived by sons Ricky and Ray, brother Stanley Nakasone, sisters Caroline Arakaki and Joyce Takiue, and two grandchildren. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pahoa Ward Chapel. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.
Mary Kalani Medeiros, 94, of Captain Cook, Kona, died Saturday in Keauhou Rehabilitation Healthcare Center. She was born in Kealakekua, Kona. She is survived by sons Alfred, Gilbert, Clarence, James "Kimo" and Frank; daughter Phoebe Loo; 23 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Benedict's Catholic Church Hall, Honaunau. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Church cemetery. Casual or aloha attire.
Gishi "Fagan" Miyashiro, 90, of Honolulu, a retired purchasing agent for Pepsi Cola and 7-Up Co., died May 20 in Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. He was born in Kilauea, Kauai. He is survived by wife Ethel O., sons Gerald and Gary, daughter Gloria Ann, brother Masaaki, sister Kameko Mekaru, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Memorial services: 4 p.m. Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. No flowers. Casual attire.
Carmen Nobriga, 84, of Hilo, a sales clerk for Smart Wear department store in Kaikoo Mall, Hilo Center and Kuhio Plaza, died Saturday at home. She was born in Kalopa, Honokaa. She is survived by son Clement Bargamento, daughters Shirley Bargamento and Elizabeth Rahr, hanai son Andres Abad, brother Henry, 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 12:15 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hilo. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Homelani Memorial Park. No flowers. Aloha attire.
Jean Yoshie Osaki, 69, of Honolulu, formerly of Mountain View, Hawaii, died Friday. She was born in Mountain View. She is survived by son Malcolm M.; daughters Lynnete S.O. Mercado and Deborah M. and Iris H. Osaki; brothers Isao and Ronald Ishimaru; sisters Tomoye Mudai, June Hiyoto, Ethel Suzuki and Amy Watase; and three grandchildren. Memorial services: noon Sunday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. No flowers. Aloha attire.
Ambrosia "Magdalena" "Maggie" "Dalene" Romero, 78, of Kalaheo, a retired janitor, died Saturday at home. She was born in Lawai. She is survived by sons Robert, Richard and Roland; brothers Marcelino, Alfonso, Juan and Benjamin Garcia; sister Emeteria Ann Nerpio; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 3 p.m. Saturday at Garden Island Mortuary. Call after 1 p.m. No flowers. Casual attire.
Cesario Sandi Sabio, 73, of Mililani, a Marine and retired taxicab driver, died May 18. He was born in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, the Philippines. He is survived by wife Juana, sons Rogelio and Jerry, daughter Virginia Valiente and nine grandchildren. Memorial services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary, call after 6 p.m.; and 10 a.m. Monday, call after 9 a.m. Committal services to follow at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. No flowers. Casual attire.
Charles "Chuck" Richard Salrin Sr., 66, of Kailua died Sunday at home. He is survived by wife Lorraine; sons Dana and Darren Kenny and Charles R. Salrin Jr.; daughters Rhoda Pagan, Robin Kenny and Yvonne and Tammy Salrin; and 16 grandchildren. Memorial services: 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Kailua. Call after 6 p.m. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire.
Brandee Nicole Samura, 27, of Waimea, a real estate agent, died Sunday at home. She was born in Plentywood, Mont. She is survived by husband Bradley, son Shannon, parents Dean and Irene Nielsen, sister Gerri L. Jolly, maternal grandmother Priscilla Kanning and paternal grandmother Luella Nielsen. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Solid Rock Ministries, Kaloko Light Industrial Center Park, Kailua-Kona. Call after 10 a.m. Burial to follow at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, located on Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Mile 89, in Kailua-Kona. No flowers. Casual attire.
Patricia Miyoko Fuimoto Smith, 70, of Honolulu died Tuesday in Ewa Beach. She was born in Lahaina. She is survived by husband Robert "Bob," son Robby, daughter Lili Everson, sisters Shirley Shishido and Lillian Chur, brothers Roy Fujimoto and Edward and Bert Tomasu, and three grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Monday at Oahu Cemetery Chapel. Call after 5 p.m. Private inurnment. Aloha attire.
Felix Vidad Suguitan, 57, of Honolulu died May 23 in St. Francis Medical Center. He was born in Laoag City, Philippines. He is survived by wife Amelia; son Alex; daughter Melifel Childers; brothers Jose, Joe and Ruben; sisters Martina Acantilado, Ofelia, Teresita Tulla and Dolores Agustin; and two grandchildren. Memorial services: 7 p.m. Monday at Nuuanu Mortuary, call after 6 p.m.; and 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.
Vincent Tavares, 32, of Waianae died May 6 in Louisiana. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by sons Kainoa and Vincent; hanai sons Tavis and Micah; daughters Valisha Paulino and Tanisha Tavares; mother Charlene "Nina"; brothers Danny, Jason and Alfonso "Fonz"; sister Stacie Tavares-Hong; stepbrothers Alton and Tony Narvaez; and grandparents Henry Burns Sr., Jackie Yamashiro and Antone Tavares. Services: 4 p.m. Thursday at Maili Beach Park, across Kimo Street. Scattering of ashes to follow. Casual attire.
Jean Yuriko Tsai, 66, of Honolulu, a retired occupational therapist, died Saturday at home. She is survived by sons Stephen and Michael; daughter Stephanie Burch; father Shinichi "Charles" Kubo; brothers Richard, James and Francis Kubo; and five grandchildren. Memorial services: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 6:30 p.m. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Wednesday. Aloha attire.
Pulou Pauafa Tusi, 76, of Kaneohe, a retired cook, died Sunday in Kaneohe. She was born in Vaitogi, American Samoa. She is survived by sons Faitala and Alofa Lue Tauvaga and Pita and Bell Tusi; daughters Vale Keener, Fiasili Malaki, Ruth Osborne and Mirable Fili; 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services: 7 p.m. tomorrow at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Burial: 10 a.m. Saturday at the Valley of the Temples.
Howard Isao Uchida, 64, of Waipahu, a retired mason, died May 22 in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by daughter Ida Clark; sons Harris, Ivan and Hugh; sister Elsie Fong; brother James Machida and six grandchildren. Japanese Buddhist services: 4 p.m. Sunday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 3 p.m. Committal services: 10 a.m. Monday. Aloha attire.
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.