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. Questions 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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Margaret Ynigues
Margaret Ynigues, 97, of Paauilo, died Dec. 25, 2023, at the North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Kukaiau, she was a retired laborer with Hamakua Sugar Co. and member of the Paauilo Senior Citizens. Celebration of life at 11 a.m. Feb. 4 at Paauilo Hongwanji Church Hall. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. She is survived by son, Richard Ynigues of Paauilo; daughters, Annette Paiva of Paauilo and Ivy (Clarence) Alcoran of Kohala; brother, Richard (Aiko) Mahuna of Oahu; sister, Elizabeth Lee Loy of Hilo; 11 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Soledad Ligsay
Soledad B. “Shirley” Ligsay, 89, of Waimea, died Jan. 4, 2023, at the North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and member of the Waianae Sacred Hearts Catholic Church on Oahu. Visitation 8:30-10 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Waimea. Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Waimea Catholic Cemetery. Casual attire. She is survived by daughter, Theresa (Frank) Perez of Waimea; sister, Eleanor Toledo of Oahu; nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Evelyn Hegent
Evelyn Ilima Alani Hegent, 75, of Hilo, died Nov. 16, 2022 at home. Born in North Kona, she was a teacher at Parker School. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Feb. 4 at Dodo Mortuary chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Cremation will follow. A celebration of life will follow at the Hilo Daijingu. C asual attire. She is survived by sons, Ivan Hegent of Hilo and Allan Hegent of Pahoa; brothers and sisters, five grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Kenji Kajiwara
Kenji Kajiwara, 89, of Hilo, died Jan. 12, 2023, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a retired x-ray technician, watercolor artist, art instructor at Kamana Senior Center, fisherman and member of Waiakea Recreation Center Senior Exercise Group. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Feb. 13 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for an 11 a.m. service. Family requests casual attire be worn. He is survived by wife, Sumiko Kajiwara of Hilo; daughters, Karen (Ben Nelson) Kajiwara-Nelson of North Dakota, Wendy (Eben) Jenkins of Oregon; five grandchildren, Nathaniel Cinnamon, Hailey Nelson, Wyatt Nelson, Elise Jenkins, Aaron Jenkins; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Futoshi Shintani
Futoshi Shintani, 90, of Hilo, died Nov. 11, 2022, at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a retired state Department of Transportation Harbors Division Hilo Harbor Enforcement Officer and a U.S. Army Sergeant First Class and Vietnam War veteran. Private services held. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers. He is survived by sons, Wayne (Kay) Shintani of Hilo, Gregg (Christy) Shintani of Kona; daughter, Donna (Richard) Yoshizumi of Waikoloa; stepdaughter, Leanne Mahi of Antelope, Calif.; sister, Faye Hasegawa of Oahu; 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Nathan Branchik
Nathan Richard Branchik, 54, of Pahoa, died Dec. 17, 2022, at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Cleveland, he was a drywall installer. Private services held. He is survived by daughter, Kalena (Titus) Schudel-Branchik of Keaau; father, Richard Branchik of Oregon; mother, Barbara Houghton of Washington; brother, Adam Branchik of Oregon; step-daughter, Jessica Deyoe of Hilo; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
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Kim Hurst
Kim Angela Hurst, 63, of Volcano, died Jan. 12, 2023. Born Feb. 18, 1959 in Pennsylvania, she was an Army veteran. She is survived by husband, Marvin Hurst; children, Jonathon (Francesca) Whitmire of Cecilia, KY; Angeline Irizarry of Shermans Dale, PA; Nathan (Jenn) Hurst of Lancaster, PA; Nalahua Wise-Hurst of Las Cruses, NM, June (Simian) Jones of Haleiwa, Oahu 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Private Services held. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
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Maryalice Matsumoto
Maryalice Matsumoto, 87, of Hilo, died Dec. 29, 2022. She was born Nov. 8, 1935, in Hilo. She is survived by sons, Richard (Melanie) Matsumoto, Lawrence (Sandy) Matsumoto, Christopher Matsumoto, Ernest (Cyndi) Matsumoto Jr., David (Esther) Matsumoto; daughters, Rita Matsumoto (Mark), Ernestine Matsumoto; 22 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews. Service will be held Feb. 10 at Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church, Hilo. Visitation 9 a.m., service 10 a.m. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
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Paul Antonio Jr.
Paul Antonio Jr., 84, of Kapaau, died Jan. 11, 2023 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born Aug. 2, 1938 in Kohala, he was a retired manager for Hertz Rent A Car, former truck driver for Kohala Plantation, retired laundry worker for the former Royal Waikoloana U.S. Army veteran, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kohala Ward and a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard. Visitation will be held 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Feb. 4 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kohala Ward; funeral service at 10 a.m.; burial to follow at Hawi County Cemetery. Casual/aloha attire. He is survived by, children, Paul, III (Cindy) Antonio of Kohala, Michelle Omalley of Kohala and Shane Kalani Chesebro Antonio of Kohala; brothers, Roy (Nancy) Antonio of Kohala and Rudy (Rose Mary) Antonio of Honolulu, Oahu; sister-in-law, Lucy Antonio of Honolulu, Oahu; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kenn Kaneshiro Sr.
Kenn Tadao Kaneshiro Sr., 72, of Hilo, died Dec. 28, 2022, at home. Born in Pahala, he was a drywall contractor. Friends may call at 3 p.m. Feb. 9 at Dodo Mortuary chapel in Hilo for a 4 p.m. Celebration of Life. Family requests casual attire be worn and no flowers. He is survived by wife, Gladys Kaneshiro; children, Kenn Kaneshiro, Jr., A. Kama (Christine) Kaneshiro, Vanessa Higa, Terrilyn (Al) Yanos, Trudi (Michelle) Delfin, Tricia (Bryant) Delfin; sister, Suellen (Leonard) Tanaka; brothers, Lloyd (Linda) Kaneshiro, Wade (Nancy) Kaneshiro; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
