Obituaries 100413

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Haruko Akiyama

Haruko Akiyama

Haruko Akiyama, 96, of Keaau died Sept. 27, 2013, at her home. She was born in Hilo and retired as a proprietor for Akiyama Store and an agent for American Mutual Life Insurance Company. She was a member of the Keaau Village Association, Puna Hongwanji Kyodan and Fujinkai, Kurtistown Jodo Mission and the Keaau Senior Citizen Club.

Friends may call at 2 p.m. Oct. 9 at Puna Hongwanji for a 3:30 p.m. service. A reception will follow at Keaau Community Center. Family requests casual attire be worn and flowers be omitted.

She is survived by sons, Ben (Diana) Akiyama of Hilo, and Alvin (Jan) Akiyama of Keaau; daughters, Aileen (Bruce) Yanagihara of Honolulu, and Karen (Lenny) Akiyama-Paik of Hilo; brothers, Frank (Mitsuko) Iwashita of California and Henry Iwashita of Honolulu; sister, Amy (George) Kamiyama of California; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.

Carol VanDermyden

Carol VanDermyden, 43, of Captain Cook died Sept. 27, 2013, at Kona Community Hospital. Born Dec. 14, 1969, in Mather, Calif., she was co-owner of Oven & Butter and a former mortgage broker.

A service and pupu potluck will be held at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 4 at Manini Beach in South Kona. For information call 640-8074.

She is survived by husband, Steve VanDermyden of Captain Cook; sons, Dakota Clark, Maverick Clark, Caymen Clark all of Loomis, Calif.; stepdaughters, Kirstyn (Rob) Langley of Manhattan, Mont., Shawna VanDermyden of Federal Way, Wash., Kara (Tanner) Jossi of Great Falls, Mont., Stephanie VanDermyden of Montana; mother, Ellen Larson of Folsom, Calif.; sisters, Julie (Ruben) Cruz of Yuba City, Calif., Dianna (Don) Blair of Wilmington, N. C., Jean Larson of Oregon, Genevieve (Ike) Nagasawa of Auburn, Calif.; numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.

Laverne Lui

Laverne Kaanohiokala Keaulana Lui, 68, of Hilo died Sept. 24, 2013. She was born in Kalama Valley, Oahu.

Friends may call at 9 a.m. Oct. 12 at Trinity Community Church at 2282 Kanoelehua Ave. in Hilo for a 10 a.m. service. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Mauna Kea Memorial Park Cemetery in Papaikou.

She is survived by sons, Marc (Gay) Spatz of Kona, Wayne (Roxane) Spatz of Hilo, Dane (Sarah) Ireland of Washington, T.R. Ireland, Luke (Shelly Bohol) Keaulana; daughters, Michelle Ireland all of Hilo, Shanna (Matthew) Arthur of Puna; hanai daughter, Desire’e (David) Shortt of Mountain View; brothers, Moses (Ann) Keaulana of Waimanalo, Oahu, and Joseph Lui of Kahaluu, Oahu; sister, Moana Keaulana-Dyball of Waimanalo; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts.

Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.

Nancy Griffith

Nancy Griffith, 79, of Captain Cook died Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. Born in Ithaca, New York, she was a renowned sailor and a Kona coffee grower.

A service will be held Nov. 2 in Napoopoo.

She is survived by son, Robert Griffith; daughter, Fiona Griffith; stepdaughters, Maureen Rohwer, Marilyn Azevedo and Melouise Pfeffer; one grandson; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.