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. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or via email to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
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Delbert Benevides
Delbert Joseph Benevides, 71, of Hilo, died July 1, 2022 at his residence. Born in Hilo, he was the owner of ABBA Appliance Repair and a member of New Hope Church.
A celebration of life will be held on Aug. 17 at Onekahakaha Beach Pavillion #4 in Hilo; visitation from 10 to 11 a.m.; serice at 11.
He is survived by wife, Shelley Bereman-Benevides; mother, Rose Ciaramitaro; daughters, Jennifer Falepapalangi and Jaclyn (Ely Barnett) Herrick; step-daughters, Caralyn (William) Badua and Susan (Zack) Sanders; step-son, Matthew (Mandy Calicdan) Castro; sister, Darla (Hugh) Lovell; sisters-in-law, Lyla Vogeler and Mary Ann Gouveia; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
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Michael Siegelbaum
Michael Emerson Siegelbaum, 57, of Captain Cook, died July 10, 2022 at his residence. Born Sept. 26, 1964, in Portland, Oregon, he was a landlord and car collector.
Private services will be held.
He is survived by sister, Deborah (Andries) Ferreira of Captain Cook; half -brother, Jason Grice; step brothers, John Grice and Tom Grice; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Lillian Fujimoto
Lillian Sadako Fujimoto, 93, of Hilo died July 17, 2022 at a private care home in Hilo. Born Aug. 17, 1928, in Kona, she was the retired proprietress of the former J&J Auto Repairs in Hilo, and a member of the Higashi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Hilo Y’s Men &Women’s Club, Big Island Automotive Trades Association (B.I.A.T.A.), Lehua Women’s Golf Club and AJA Golf Club.
Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary offerings).
She is survived by daughters, Jo-Ann (Craig) Shiroma and Laura (Lance Yamada) Fujimoto of Hilo; grandson, Jared Shiroma of Hilo; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Itsuo Ohta
Itsuo Ohta, 87, of Holualoa died June 20, 2022 at the Kona Community Hospital. Born May 4, 1935, in North Kona, he was a retired painter and maintenance for the former Kona Surf Hotel, member of Daifukuji Soto Mission and a U.S. Army veteran.
Private services were held.
He is survived by wife, Bertha Ohta of Holualoa; sons, Bert Ohta of Sacramento Calif. and Clayt (Patricia) Ohta of Waimea; daughters, Nyla (Douglas) McKee of Waipahu, Oahu and Tricia (Timothy)Buskirk of Kailua-Kona; brothers, Tyrone (Lena) Ohta of Kealakekua and Chugi Ohta of Kaneohe, Oahu; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Alexander Suka
Alexander Hakaaloha Suka, 51, of Puna, died July 19, 2022 at Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu.
Visitation at 10 a.m. Aug. 12 at Lighthouse Outreach Hilo. Service at 11 a.m. Burial 1:30 p.m. at Homelani Memorial Park and Crematory.
He is survived by his daughters Alexis Pacheco-Suka and Hiiakaokalaniikapoliopele Pacheco-Suka; parent, Alofaifo Suka; brother, Robert Suka; sisters Helen (Nathaniel) Bruce, Amber Suka and Brenda Suka; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Dante Del Rosario
Dante James Del Rosario, 63, died July 17, 2022. Born Jan. 31, 1959, in Hilo, he was a staple in the surfing community.
Pule and opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 13 at Bayfront in Hilo; scattering of ashes to follow. Celebration of life at noon Aug. 14 at Honoli’i Beach Park. Condolences can be mailed to: Justis Del Rosario 13515 SE Holgate Blvd., Portland, OR 97236.
He is survived by sons, Dante Beckwith of Richmond, Calif. and Justis Del Rosario of Waimea; hanai sons, Scotty Wagner of Hilo and Maximillian Musacchia of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Moani Houghton of San Diego and Jamie (Ricardo) Hernandez of Brentwood, Calif.; three granddaughters; brothers, Roger (Sue) Del Rosario of Ohio and Frederick (Patti) Del Rosario of Honolulu; sisters, Gloria (Chuck) Garner of Honolulu and Kahala Cromwell of Kailua-Kona; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Robinson Reyes
Robinson “Rubin” Reyes, 73, of Milolii died June 15, 2022 at Kona Community Hospital. Born Aug. 3, 1948, in Kealakekua, he was a utility worker for Hawaiian Host Inc., and a construction worker and a cook at the Kona Community Hospital.
A celebration of life will be held Aug. 13, 2022, at 89-1763-Milolii Rd. in Milolii Village; visitation 8 a.m., service at 11.
He is survived by wife, Priscilla Reyes of Milolii; sons, Robinson (Lori) Reyes Jr. of Kealia and Ryan (Annette) Reyes of Ocean View; stepsons, Chaddy (Kellene) Aukai of Ocean View, Troy Aukai of Milolii, Travis (Gerilynn) Aukai of Ocean View and Cory (Martha) Aukai of Mountain View; daughters, Renee (Emrich) Grosch of Kailua-Kona and Rhonda (Martin) Banigan of Captain Cook; brother, John (Gail) Reyes of Kailua-Kona; half-brothers, George (Shirley) Pasco of Ewa Beach, Oahu, and Tony (Alicia) Pasco of Kailua-Kona; sisters, Clara (Douglas) Collingwood of Middleburg, Fla. and Fely Asuncion of Waipahu, Oahu; numerous grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Cordell Waahila
Cordell Lamont Waahila, 54, of Kailua-Kona died Aug. 3, 2022 at The Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born Nov. 29, 1967, in Oakland, California, he was owner of Waahila Construction, and a member of the Lions Club.
Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 at Old Airport’s main pavilion, with a celebration of life and lunch to follow. Scattering of ashes will be at 4 p.m.
He is survived by wife, Rae Waahila of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Tiffany (Jeremy) Catam Waahila of Sacramento; son, Hokuloa Waahila of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Ethan Waahila of Kailua-Kona; hanai sons, Corey Waahila of Los Angeles and Lennox Jones of Kailua-Kona; one grandchild; mother, Sharon Waahila of Kailua-Kona; brother, Calvin Waahila of Honolulu; sister, Cheryl (Beto) Castaneda-Waahila of Kailua-Kona; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Shawn Tanaka
Shawn Kiyoshi Tanaka, 57, of Kalaoa, Kona died May 19, 2022 at Kona Community Hospital. Born Nov. 4, 1964, in Honolulu, he was a banquet porter at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui and Kona and a macadamia nut farmer.
Private services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by companion Maggie Viloria of Kalaoa, Kona; mother, Maureen Farineau and brother, Lyle Tanaka, both of Honolulu; hanai son, Ivan Viloria of Kalaoa, Kona; hanai daughters, Charmaine (Dietrich) Kealoha of Mililani, Oahu and Tracey-Ann (Kaleo Costa) Viloria of Holualoa; five hanai grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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James Ota
James “Jimmy” T. Ota, 86, of Honalo died July 30, 2022 at his residence. Born June 18, 1936, he was a coffee farmer, manager for Hawaiian Host Macadamia Nut Factory, member of Daifukuji Soto Mission and a U.S. Army veteran.
A celebration of life will be held at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the America Cancer Society or Hospice of Kona.
He is survived by wife, Renee-Mae Ota of Honalo, daughters, Rayleen Ota of Kona, Karla (Erik Riefenstahl) Ota of North Carolina; two grandchildren; sisters, Miyoko Sugai of Kona, Janet Ota and Vickie (Jeff) Chan, all of California; brother, Clarence Ota of Honolulu; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Rose Lemanski
Rose Lemanski, 94, of Kailua-Kona, died July 26, 2022, in Kailua-Kona. She was born Feb. 29, 1928, Painesville, Ohio.
Private services will be held at a later date.
She is survived by husband, Thomas Lemanski of Kailua-Kona; son Oswald (Gayle) Mackey of Kailua-Kona; brother Thomas Borelli of Fairport Harbor, Ohio; two grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
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Dennis Cecil
Dennis Lee Cecil, 75, of Kailua-Kona, died July 31, 2022 in Kailua Kona. He was born June 12, 1947, in California.
Services will be held at a later date.
He is survived by spouse, Christie; daughter Dawn (Rick Sonntag) Cecil of St. Petersburg, Florida; son Dubin (Regina) Whitaker of Kailua Kona; brother Garry (Suzanne) Cecil of Rohnert Park, California; one grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
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Vance Sale Sr.
Vance W. Sale Sr., 58, of Hilo, died July 6, 2022.
Celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Aug. 16 at “Driftwood” Beach, or the north side of Honoli’i Beach Park in Hilo.
Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
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Vinolia Moala Sr.
Vinolia Moala Sr., 67, of Hilo, died July 12 at the Hilo Medical Center. Born in Kanokupolu, Tonga and was a self-employed mason.
Services held.
He is survived by wife, Diana (Hose) Moala of Hilo; sons, Vinolia Moala Jr., Sione Moala, Matangi Moala, Tevita Moala and ‘Ata Moala, all of Hilo; daughter, Diana Poulivaati of Hilo; brothers, Sionemanu Latu and Samuela Latu of Australia; sisters, Losaline Afu of Australia and Temalisi Latu of Tonga; 14 grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Bruce Tsuji
Bruce Minoru Tsuji, 64, of Hilo died July 26, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was an outside salesman for T. Hara &Company and Suisan and an avid bowler and fisherman.
Private services will be held. Family requests no flowers or koden (monetary gifts).
He is survived by sisters, Maureen (Carlton) Young and Kathleen (Rick Betts) De Silva, all of Hilo; nieces, Maya (Robert Liberato) De Silva of Boston, and Rae (Scott) Yamamoto of Hilo; nephew, Ty (Sarah) De Silva of Hilo; and umerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.