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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Mitsuko Nakata
Mitsuko Nakata, 84, of Hilo, , died July 23, 2022 in the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born Aug. 30, 1937, in Okinawa, Japan, she was the retired proprietress of an orchid farm.
Visitation will be held at Hilo Hooganji Mission on Aug. 20 from 1 to 2:00 p.m.; memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Casual attire is requested.
She is survived by step-sons, Albert Nakata Jr. of Honolulu and Arnold Nakata of Volcano; and extended family members, relatives and friends.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Donald Burandt
Donald J. “Don” “Squirrel” Burandt, 73, of Volcano died July 27, 2022, at his residence. Born in Waconia, Minnesota, he was the retired owner of Don’s Fire Wood and Puna Protea and a soccer coach for AYSO.
A celebration of his life will take place at a later date. Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 483, Volcano, HI 96785.
He is survived by wife, Bobbie Burandt of Volcano; daughter, Kaylene (Keoni Ellaban) Burandt of Mountain View; son, Danny (Malissa Mukai) Burandt of Hilo; brother, Neal (Laura) Burandt of Chaska, Minnesota; sister, Vicky (Craig) Anderson of Chaska, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Ed (Stella) Lista of Hilo; four grandchildren; two hanai children; four hanai grandchildren; one hanai great-grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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William Medeiros
William “Hobbit” Eugene Medeiros, 72, of Hilo, died Aug. 9, 2022, at home. Born in San Francisco, he was retired.
Services are private.
He is survived by wife, Loida Medeiros of Hilo; son, Josh (Emi) Medeiros of Fairfax, Va.; daughters, Divina (Keola) Medeiros and Sarah (Ryan) Medeiros of Hilo; grandchildren, Luke Medeiros and Dream Medeiros.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Roderick Evangelista
Roderick Evangelista, 72, of Mountain View, died July 22, 2022 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pahala, he worked as a solo bike rider with the Honolulu Police Department and transferred to Hawaii County as a patrol officer and was a U.S. Army veteran.
Friends may call on Aug. 21, 2022 at Dodo Mortuary chapel, visitation from 4 to 6 p.m.; service at 6 p.m. Cremation to follow at Dodo Mortuary Crematory. An Urn Committal will be held Aug. 23, 2022 at the East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery #2 (Pavilion) at noon with military honors. Casual Attire.
He is survived by companion, Marcia Matsumoto of Mountain View; son, Erik Evangelista of Mountain View; daughters, Maila (Micah) Evangelista and Beth Evangelista of Hilo; hanai sons, Lee (Leanne) Sugahara and Chad (Shelly) Ogata of Hilo; hanai daughter, Kathleen Polkowski of New Jeresy; brothers, Vernon (Maelyne) Evangelista of Waimea, Hawaii, Harry Evangelista of Pahala, John (Samuelyn) Evangelista of Hilo and Patrick (Ruth) Andrade of Kona, Hawaii; sisters, Georgette (Eusebio) Ramos of Naalehu, Abigail Kunewa of Hilo, Winifred (Lawrence) De Soto of Waimanalo, Beverly Evans of Washington and Tutie Brennan of Kohala; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Patricia Kualii
Patricia Elizabeth Kualii, 69, of Pahoa, died July 23, 2022 at Hilo Medical Center. Born May 2, 1953, in Barberton, Ohio, she worked for Mason Elementary School as an Office attendant, a Certified Nurse Aide at Life Care Center of Hilo and a waitress at IHOP in Hilo.
Friends may call Aug. 22 at Dodo Mortuary chapel, visitation from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; service at 11:30 a.m. Local casual attire.
She is survived by husband, Albert Kualii of Pahoa; sons, Steven Kualii, Cory Kualii and Nicholas Kualii of Pahoa; daughter, Suzanne (Abraham Duoit) Kualii of Pahoa; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Margaret Fuchino
Margaret Hideko Fuchino, 85, of Waimea, died Aug. 1, 2022, at home. Born May 3, 1937, in Hoolehua, Molokai, she was a retired Waimea Elementary &Intermediate School teacher and member of Kamuela Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Buddhist Women’s Association, Japanese-American Civic Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association-Retired, National Education Association, Hawaii Education Association, and The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
Friends may call between 2-4 p.m. Aug. 26, 2022 at Kamuela Hongwanji Buddhist Temple for a public visitation. Private memorial service follows. Family request casual attire be worn. Face masks and social distancing are being required.
She is survived by husband, Frank Fuchino of Waimea; daughters, Valerie Henckel of Waimea, Sheryl (Scott) Fuchino-Nishida of Honolulu; brother, Orlando Watanabe of Mililani, Oahu; grandchildren, Mikayla (Kasey) Uemoto, Shaun Henckel, Maya, Cameron and Evan Nishida; numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Johnny Ward
Johnny Ray Ward, 68, of Mountain View, HI, died July 22, 2022 in Hilo. Born November 28, 1953 in Texas, he was a member of the Laborer’s Local 392 and a volunteer for the Red Cross of Hawaii after the 2018 Kilauea Volcano eruption.
A memorial will be held at Johnny’s home in Mountain View,and a celebration of life will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska, both at a later date.
Survived by wife, Lorraine Ward; three daughters, Jessica Ward, Marty Ward, and Audrey Ward; brothers, Bobby Ward, Danny Gish, John Gish, and John Hart; sister-in-law, Linda “Barney” Roberts; one grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
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Raymond Montano
Raymond Montano, 84, of Mountain View, HI died July 25, 2022 at home. He was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1938.
No services will be held.
Survived by wife, Nadine Santos and four children.
Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
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Sheldon Haili Sr.
Sheldon Dwight Haili Sr., 46, of Pahoa, died July 1, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born March 23, 1976, in Hilo, he worked for Malama Market in Pahoa and Manuel Farms in Keaau.
Celebration of life from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 20, 2022 at New Hope Puna in Pahoa with a memorial service at 2 p.m. Family requests casual attire be worn.
He is survived by partner, Marie Ramangmou of Nevada; son, Sheldon Haili Jr. of San Diego; daughters, Shannon Haili of Hilo, Rieshel Haili of Pahoa, Phoenix Haili of San Diego; brothers, Walthum Haili Jr. and Chad (Chantelle) Haili of Pahoa; sister, Gerlyn (Louie) Solis of San Diego; hanai parents, Ella and Orlando Manuel of Hawaiian Paradise Park; hanai brothers, Jay Manuel and Justin (Krystalyn Wilson) Manuel of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Riley Asuncion of Pahoa; hanai sisters, Jodie Aiona of Hilo, Janelle (Chris) Gomes of Keaau, Erica (Jeffrey) Menzsa of Mountain View; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Jeanette Howard
Jeanette Kaualani Howard, 98, of Punaluu, died July 2, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Punaluu, she was a Hawaiian studies kupuna for Pahala Elementary and Naalehu Elementary schools, owner of the former Howard’s Curios Shop, member The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Kau Ward), O Kau Kakou and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Kau.
A celebration of life will take place at noon Aug. 20 at Punaluu Beach Park Main Pavilion. Casual attire.
She is survived by Patricia (Elwood) Martin of Harrisburg, North Carolina, Myrajean (Cyrus) Sumida of Pahala, Lorraine Iona of Honolulu, Guy (Julie) Enriques of Punaluu, Jon Pall (Katherine) Enriques of Pahala; brother-in-law, Herman Silva of Honolulu; sister-in-law, Valorie Enriques of Kaneohe; brother, The Rev. Dr. Henry Kanoelani Boshard of Kona; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Christine Hinokawa
Christine “Tina” Kehaulani Solomon Hinokawa, 74, of Hawi, died July 18, 2022, at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she was the co-owner and office manager for Rod’s Repair, former waitress at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, former stock manager at KTA Super Stores in Waimea, member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi, Kaahumanu Society in Kohala, former coordinator of the King Kamehameha Day Celebration in Kohala and member of various other clubs and organizations.
Visitation from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Aug. 20 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi; funeral Mass at 10. Burial to follow at the Halawa Catholic Cemetery. Casual attire.
She is survived by husband, Roderick Hinokawa Jr. of Hawi; children, Dannette Chang of Honolulu, Brian (Judy) Hinokawa of Waimea; sister, Sharon (Wesley) Brum of Honolulu; mother-in-law, Lucy Hinokawa of Kohala; brother-in-law, Eric (Mercy) Hinokawa of Honolulu; sisters-in-law, Diana (Kenneth) Kolish of Mililani, Joyce Hinokawa Kaitoku of Hilo; seven grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Harry Fergerstrom Jr.
Harry Francis Fergerstrom Jr., 73, of Kurtistown died July 30, 2022, at his residence. Born in Kohala, he was a founder and spokesperson for Na Kupuna Moku O Keawe, a priest of Temple Lono, Hiapo Na Koa and Maka’ainana.
A celebration of life will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Wailoa State Park Pavilion #2. Casual attire.
He is survived by wife, Genevieve Fergerstrom; siblings, Wayne Fergerstrom, Dale (Gordon) Roque, Gary (Val) Fergerstrom, Rocket (Melanie) Fergerstrom, Romona (Russell) Kalalau, Don (Gretchen) Fergerstrom, Marla Fergerstrom; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Lorraine Watts
Lorraine Leilani Watts, 92, of Pahoa, died July 13, 2022 at Hilo Medical Center. Born on Oahu, she was a member of the Pahoa High School Booster Club, a member and co-founder of the East Hawaii Foster Parents Association, and childcare provider.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Aug. 17 at Dodo Mortuary chapel; service at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9 to 10 a.m. Aug. 18 at the mortuary; service at 10 a.m.; burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery #2. Casual attire.
She is survived by, husband, Marvin Watts; sons, Marvin Watts Jr., Patrick Watts, Joseph (Christina) Watts and Jeffrey (Debbie) Watts; 23 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Helemana Gago
Helemana “Mana” Kahalua Leava Salanoa Gago, 67, of Pahoa, died July 17, 2022 at his residence. Born May 19, 1955 in Tula, American Samoa, He was a farmer and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 20 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Orchidland; service at 11 a.m.; burial to follow at Alae Cemetery, Mormon Section. Aloha/casual attire.
He is survived by wife, Henrietta Sylvia Gago; daughters, Shantel (Jay) Adolpho, Sina (Heirama) Hanohano, S’mon Gago and Sheanee (Rodney James) Lopez; son, SeanHenry (Ashley) Gago; sisters, Eseneiaso (Sone) Auelua, Thelma (Sampson) Faifili, Janeen (Milton) Kaka and Pelelini (Taupule) Valavala; brothers, Sampson Gago and Suaesi (LaTina) Gago; and 12 grandchildren.
Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.