Gov. Linda Lingle has ordered U.S. and Hawaii flags to fly at half-staff at state, county and federal buildings today for Spc. Presley Tagaloa, who died April 6 from complications resulting from leukemia.

Tagaloa, 23, will be buried at 1 p.m. today at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. Funeral services were held yesterday at Borthwick Mortuary.

The Farrington High School graduate was on active duty in Kuwait with the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment's Delta Company when he became ill and was medevaced to Germany.

Sgt. 1st Class Alika Naluai, Tagaloa's platoon sergeant, said the soldier was then taken to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, where he was diagnosed with leukemia.

The Ewa Beach soldier was sent to Tripler Army Medical Center on April 2 and died four days later.

Naluai said friends had planned to hold a fundraising event Friday when Tagaloa was alive “;to show our love and support for him and his family.”;

“;Now it will be the last time everyone can get together,”; Naluai added, “;and pay a tribute to him.”;

Friday's fundraising event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Tiki's Grill & Bar in Waikiki for Tagaloa's wife, Reva, and their two daughters, ages 2 and 3. Entertainment will be provided by Kunoao, Vaihi and the Kaala Boys.

Tagaloa enlisted in the Army Reserve on Nov. 8, 2007.

The 100th Battalion deployed to Kuwait in October 2008 as part of more than 1,700 soldiers assigned to the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team. The unit returned last August.

Naluai said Tagaloa worked despite feeling ill.

“;He never complained,”; Naluai said. “;He was always a little bit more mature than other soldiers of his age. He was stoic. He was reliable. I didn't worry about him doing anything stupid.”;

Naluai said that Tagaloa's cancer was in remission after a bone marrow transplant, “;but his immune system was shot and he died from complications.”;