Erdulfo Ramos
Erdulfo Vicente Ramos, 86, of Kapaau died Oct. 22 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines, a groundskeeper at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and culinary worker at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalow and King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, and member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 18) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi. Mass at 10 a.m. Burial to follow in Hawi County Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Irenio (Shirley) Ramos of Ainakea, Benny (Alicia) Ramos of Hawi and Jojo (Rhema) Ramos of Kawaihae; daughters, City (Jonathan) Juan of Kailua-Kona, Aleta (Rainer) Matundan of Kapaau, Imelda (Jerry) Agustin of Honolulu, Flor Bala of Waimea, Vina (Bong) Arenas of Waikoloa, Nora (Jarry) Regpala of Kailua-Kona, Carmela (Alex) Ramos of Honolulu and Isabella Ramos; 26 grandchildren; great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
George Aguiar
George Perreira Aguiar Sr., 97, of Hilo, died Oct. 28 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a retired supervisor for the county’s South Hilo roads division and U.S. Army World War II veteran. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Graveside committal service to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No.2 Pavilion. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Ruth Aguiar of Hilo; sons, George Aguiar Jr., Gordon Aguiar, Gerald Aguiar and Shyson Olmos of Hilo; daughters, Georgette (Gene) Puaoi and Nolina Olmos of Ainaloa, Susan (Ben) Pagaduan of Honolulu; sisters-in-law, Leilani Aguiar and Rose Rasay of Hilo; brother-in-law, Narsie (Ruth) Fernandez of Kona; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Osamu Fujimoto
Osamu Fujimoto, 92, of Hilo, formerly of Ninole, died Oct. 25 at a private care home in Hilo. Born in Molokai, he was a retired sugar cane planter. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by brothers, Tetsuo (Elizabeth) Fujimoto of Hilo, Takao (Lorene) Fujimoto of Honolulu and Ken (Malia) Fujimoto of Ninole; sister, Kiyomi Nakamura of Hilo; stepsister, Donna Fujimoto of Honolulu; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John Hess
John Delbert Hess, 74, of Captain Cook, died on Sept. 10 at home. Born in Oakland, Calif., he was a self-employed auto mechanic and member of the South Kona Assembly of God Church. Services will be held at a later date. Survived by, wife, Nellie Bess of Capt. Cook; daughter, Leilani (Sam) Berg of Paradise Park; sons, Jerry (Denby) Toci of Mt. View and Jeff (Andrea) Toci of Mt. View; numerous grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc.
Michelle Gonsalves
Michelle Gonsalves, 55, of Pahoa died Nov. 2 2023 in Hilo. Born in Honolulu, she was a school Bus Driver aide for Akita Bus Service. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by husband, Christopher Gonsalves Sr.; children, Christopher Gonsalves Jr., Mark (Dupriese) Gonsalves, Anela Robins, Gordon (Kiana-Rae) Gonsalves, Andrew “Nainoa” (Shyla) Gonsalves, Kasey (Alexis) Gonsalves and Delton (Jadelyn) Gonsalves; siblings, Selena Gould, Joy Duadua and Malia Castro; sister-in-law: Lona Jean Gonsalves; 15 granchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements Dodo Mortuary.
Kim Sweeney
Kim Leonard Sweeney, 75, of North Kohala died Nov. 3 at the Regency at Hualalai. Born in Los Angeles, he was a retired computer draftsman for Keck Observatory, member of Big Island Magic Club and The Magic Castle of North Hollywood, and bandleader of Solar Wind Surf Band. Private services. Survived by daughter, Dawn (Jeff) Sweeney Kniep of Wichita, Kan.; brothers, Michael (Barbara) Sweeney of San Luis Obispo County, Calif., Dennis (Judy) Sweeney of Maricopa County, Ariz., and Kevin (Kathryn) Sweeney of Nevada County, Calif.; sister, Kathleen (Harold) Jackson of Los Angeles; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Katherine Staton
Katherine Mieko Staton, 91, of Kailua-Kona died Aug. 27 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kukaiau, she was a retired elementary teacher at Kailua and Kealakehe elementary schools and member of Hawaii State Teachers Association-Retired, BPW, Kona Community Chorus and the Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission. No services. Survived by daughters, Tetsi (Dave) Wierenga of Grand Rapids, Mich., Jai (Albert) Asuncion of Kailua-Kona and Koco Conner of Honolulu; stepsons, Geoff Staton of Aurora, Colo. and Jon (Gina) Staton of Littleton, Colo.; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Neal Tsunehiro
Neal Patrick Tsunehiro, 73, of Hilo died Oct. 28 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired dental lab technician, U.S. Air Force veteran and avid fisherman, waterman and hunter. Private services held. Survived by daughter, Laura (Stanley Jr.) Tsunehiro Kang of Hilo; sisters, Susan (Alvin) Satogata of Mililani, Oahu, and Lynn (Gerald) Muramoto of Kapaa, Kauai; a grandson. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gregory T. Smith
Gregory T. Smith, 71, of Pahoa died Oct. 24 at home. Born in California, he was a commercial fisherman and U.S. Army veteran. Private services held. Survived by partner, Joyce A. Folena of Pahoa. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.