Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. The content is subject to editing to ensure parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Ramon Rodero
Ramon “Sugar” Rodero, 85, of Hilo, died Oct. 20, 2017, at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. He was born April 6, 1932, in Hilo.
Memorial services and urn committal will be held at a later date.
He is survived by daughters, Ramona (Alfred) Pestrello and Robin S. Rodero of Hilo; step-daughters, U’ilani K. (Karen) Jerrils-Gomez, Christine Pi’ilani (Noel) Namahoe-Loo and Une Kapualani Namahoe of Hilo; brothers, Albert “Benny” Rodero of Puna, Richard “Boby” (Beryl) Rodero of Hilo and Alex Rodero of Oahu; sisters, Lorraine (Vernon) Rodero-Inouye and Vivian (Dominador) Coloma of Hilo, Anita Rodero of San Francisco, California; numerous grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Tsukasa Sugiyama
Tsukasa “Tsuka” Sugiyama, 92, of Laupahoehoe died Sept. 21, 2017, at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.
Born in Kaiakea, he was a retired mechanic for the Laupahoehoe &Hamakua Sugar Company, member of the Papaaloa Hongwanji Mission and a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Private services held.
Family requests no flowers and no koden.
He is survived by sons, Bryan (Faye) Sugiyama of Hilo, Sandy (Diane H.K.) Sugiyama of Waimea; sister, Irene (Abel) Awong of Hilo; two sisters-in-law; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Carol Barco
Carol Ann Barco, 72, of Kapaau, died Oct. 18, 2017, at Queen’s Medical Center. Born June 14, 1945, in New York, she was a homemaker and member of the Kohala Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Friends are invited to the Kohala Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hawi for visitation at 1 p.m. and memorial talk at 2 p.m. Nov. 4. A bring-a-dish gathering will follow at Keokea Beach Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at jw.org.
Carol is survived by her husband, Dennis F. Barco of Kapaau; daughter, Julie (Dean) Luchetta of Kapaau; sons, John (Kim) Barco of Kapaau and James (Tyrissa) Barco of Waianae; siblings, Suzanne Oliberos of San Felipe, Mexico, John (Angie) Baker of Indiana, Beth (Glenn) Brock of New York, Mark (Sharon) Baker of Oahu, Diane (Brian) Sebring of Hawi; seven grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Alice Oda
Alice Akie Oda, 78, of Hilo, died Oct. 2, 2017, at the Hilo Medical Center. Born in Spreckelsville, Maui, she was a homemaker.
Private family services were held.
The family requests that monetary donations be omitted.
She is survived by son, Alan (Carina) Oda of Hilo; daughter, Kimberley (Randy) Oshiro of Hilo; brothers, Stanley (Joan) Honda of Maui and Richard (Janet) Honda of Honolulu; sister, Harriet Itano of Chicago; four grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. – Hilo
Alan Naguwa
Alan Masashi Naguwa, 96, of Hilo, died Sept. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born in Olaa, he was a retired carpenter at the Pohakuloa Training Area, member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and a veteran of the U.S. Army, Cannon Company, 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II.
Private services held. Family requests no flowers and no koden.
He is survived by wife, Chieko Naguwa of Hilo; son, Alvin (Karen) Naguwa of Honolulu; daughters, Debbie Naguwa of San Francisco, Geri Masunaga of Wailuku; sister, Ruth Oshiro of Honolulu; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Grace Laird
Mrs. Grace Angela Laird, 59, of Honomalino, died Oct. 19, 2017, at a friend’s residence. Born on Nov. 19, 1957, in Zumbrota, Minn., she was a landscape gardener and a member of the Keoua Canoe Club.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 29 at the Keoua Canoe Club in Honaunau. Casual attire and loose flowers are welcome.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Laird of Honomalino; mother, Rhoda Kosanke of North Carolina; brothers, John (Irma) Kosanke of North Carolina, and Daniel (Cynthia) Kosanke of Georgia; sisters, Rebecca (Jim) Cothran of North Carolina, Amalee (Charlie) Tyack of Durango, Colo.; stepdaughter, Carey Jean (Daniel) Rowe of Scotland; stepson, Charles (Ashley) Laird of Washington; four stepgrandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Maria Rodrigues
Maria “Mina” Kuamoo Rodrigues, 79, of Milpitas, Calif., died Oct. 5, 2017, at home. Born on the Big Island, she retired from Intel Corp.
Memorial services and celebration of her life are pending.
She is survived by son, Elroy (Eileen) Rodrigues of Hawaii; daughter, Yvonne (Danny) Hernandez of California; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ernest Hasegawa
Ernest Hasegawa, 84, of Kamuela, died Oct. 5, 2017, at Kohala Hospital. Born on Nov. 24, 1943, in Kealakekua, he was a retired bartender.
A private memorial service will be held. Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com.
He is survived by four brothers, Harry (Daisy) Hasegawa, Raymond (Betty) Hasegawa, Edward (Carol) Hasegawa, Mervin (Eunsook) Hasegawa; and a sister, Barbara (Sammy) Kang.
Lois Nakamura
Lois Catherine Nakamura, 91, of Hilo, died Oct. 14, 2017, at Legacy Hilo. Born on Sept. 12, 1926, in New Jersey, she was the owner of Banyon General Store in Hilo and a member of the American Business Women’s Association.
A private memorial service was held. Online condolences: www.homelanimemorialpark.com.
She is survived by partner, James Ferguson of Hilo; son, David (Marlene) Iobst of Easton, Pennsylvania; daughter, Robyn (Steve) Horyn of Port St. Lucie, Florida; and six grandchildren.
Masayuki Kai
Masayuki Kai, 93, of Hilo, formerly of Pahala, died Oct. 2, 2017, at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born Oct. 4, 1923, in Pahala, he retired from the former Ka’u Sugar Company as a supervisor. He was also a self-employed farmer, member of the Pahala Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and a United States Army Veteran of World War II, Company H, 442nd Infantry Regiment, who was a recipient of the Bronze Star.
Visitation will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 28 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo. Memorial service will begin at 11:30 a.m. Casual attire.
He is survived by wife, Fumiko Kai of Hilo; sons, Steven (Sharon) Kai of Kalaheo, Kauai and Russell (Sharon) Kai of Mountain View; daughters, Priscilla (Cary) Shimamoto of Kailua, Oahu, Barbara (Gerald) Takase of Hilo and Lorraine Kai of Hilo; sisters, Chiyoko Yokomizo of Pahala and Sueko Nemoto of Maui; one brother-in-law; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; numerous nephews and nieces.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc. in Hilo, Hawaii.