Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Carol Silva
Carol M. Silva, 78, of Hilo, died Dec. 1, 2019. Born in Hilo, she was a member of the Heritage Christian Fellowship in Hilo.
Friends may call from 9-11 a.m. for an 11 a.m. celebration of life Jan. 4 at Heritage Christian Fellowship at 165 East Kawili Street in Hilo next to Hawaii Community College. Casual attire and no flowers.
She is survived by sons, Aaron (Paula) Silva and Royden (Danlynn) Silva of Honolulu; daughters, Annette (Patrick, Jr.) Alcos of Washington, Francine (Randall) Aquino of Kona, Hawaii, Aldene (Eddie) Espino of Hilo; 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
James Thomas Jr.
James E. Thomas Jr. of Volcano, died Dec. 3, 2019, at the age of 89. Born Sept. 2, 1930, in Honolulu, he served as a Marine in the Korean War, was a Purple Heart recipient and one of the few frostbitten survivors of the Chosin Reservoir battle. He also served as a Hawaii National Air Guard Pilot and worked in the food industry until retiring and moved to Volcano in 1992.
Private family service will be held at a later date.
He is survived by sons, Michael (Diana) Thomas of Volcano, Kimo Thomas of Waimea; daughter, Carolyn Thomas of Kohala; sister, Lovette (Lala) Black of Kawaihae; five grandchildren, two great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ernest Kunitake, Sr.
Ernest Jun Kunitake, Sr., 75, of Holualoa, died Dec. 10, 2019, at Kona Community Hospital. Born Jan. 29, 1944, in Honaunau, he was a retired coffee farmer from Blue Skies Kona Coffee Company, worked as a janitor at Uncle Billy’s Hotel, was a former horse racing jockey, and attended St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 10 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kailua-Kona for a 3 p.m. Mass. The family requests aloha attire and flowers are welcome.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Kunitake; son, Ernest Kunitake Jr. of Holualoa; Veronica (Pomaika’i) Anduha of Henderson, Nev.; brothers, Ray Kunitake and Jon Kunitake of Holualoa, Larry (Maxine) Kunitake of Palm Harbor, Fla., Michael (Jean) Kunitake of California, Daniel (Eleanor) Kunitake of Holualoa; sisters, Eleanor (Kiyoshi) Hamada of Los Angeles, Carol (Robert) Koshi of Anaheim, Calf., Marie Kuramoto of Hilo, and Dinah Kunitake, Helen (Jeffrey) Lorance, Jeanne Koyanagi, all of Holualoa; one granddaughter; numerous hanai children, hanai grandchildren, god children, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary Kona.