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 to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements with photos may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Michael Leialoha
Michael Needham Leialoha, 80, of Hilo died Dec. 16 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Logan, Utah, he was a vice chancellor of administrative affairs at Hawaii Community College, U.S. Army veteran, owned and operated multiple Shell service stations, and was a member of he Hilo Yacht Club. Visitation 8:15-8:45 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3) at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 pavilion. Committal service at 8:45 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Karen Leialoha of Hilo; sons, Michael (Kira) Needham Jr. and Kalae Needham of Las Vegas; four grandchildren and a niece. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Harold Leite
Harold Leite, 78, of Papaikou died Dec. 17 at home. Born in Pepeekeo, he was a retired KTA Super Stores meat cutter, Hawaii Army National Guard Veteran, self-employed yard maintenance worker, member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou. Visitation 8:30-10 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3) at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 27-186 Kaapoko Homestead Rd. in Papaikou. Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Janice Leite of Papaikou; son, Harrison (Danelle) Leite of Hilo; daughter, Allysson Leite of Papaikou; brothers, Walter (Luana) Leite of Hilo, Herbert (Paula Rodrigues) Leite of Papaikou, Gabriel Leite of Papaikou and Michael (Sandy) Leite of Mountain View; sisters, Betty Puakea of Hilo and Marie Matsumura of Papaikou; brothers-in-law, Wendell Kaehuaea of Hilo, Ed Chow of Honolulu, Harold (Marilyn) Pakele and Eric Higuchi of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Maria Leite of Waimea and Charlene (Abraham) Bonoan of Honolulu; three grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John Myers
John Christopher Myers, 73, of Pahoa died Nov. 24 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. Born in Charlotte, N.C., he was a retired U.S. Air Force veteran. Committal service with military honors 11:30 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3) at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Survived by sister, Katherine Cat of Bremerton, Wash.; stepsister, Laura Myers Brouse-Long of Bethesda, Md. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mary Apo
Mary Louise Apo, 82, of Hilo died Dec. 10. Born Ka‘u, she was a former crossing guard and lunch/yard supervisor for Naalehu Elementary School, janitor for Naalehu Public Library and Ka‘u Police Station, and of Kilauea and Ka‘u wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 522 Ponahawai St. in Hilo. Service at 10:30 am. Burial 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Survived by sons, Lawrence (Esther) Apo of San Antonio and Wayde (Billie-Lee) Apo Sr. of Ainaloa; daughters, Sherlene (Robert) Rosario of Pahala and Tanya (George) Garcia, of Crownsville, Md.; sisters, Angeline Moniz and Aileen Mattos of Hilo; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Ruth Bento
Ruth Marie Bento, 94, of Hilo died Nov. 27 in Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was a retired pre-school teacher at the former Co-op Nursery School and lifelong member of Central Christian Church. Private services. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by daughter, Gloriamarie Toni (Charles) Hoffman of Kailua-Kona; sons, Walter C. Bento Jr. of Hilo and Nathan B. Bento of Modesto, Calif.; ieces and nephews. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Masae Mende
Masae Mende, 98, of Hilo died Dec. 6 at home. Born in Maulua, Laupahoehoe, she was a homemaker and member of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Private services held. No flowers oe koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Derrick (Eileen) Mende, Lester (Linda) Mende and Jay Mende of Hilo; daughter, Rhonda Sakai of Honolulu; daughter-in-law, Janice Mende of Honolulu; brother, Shigeru Matsushita of Honolulu; seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Florentino Mina
Florentino “Tino” Abad Mina, 88, of Pepeekeo died Dec. 4 in Pepeekeo. He was born in Claveria, Cagayan, Philippines. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial noon at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima Section. Livestream video by logging on to Dodo Mortuary website under decedent’s obit. Survived by wife, Presentacion Martinez Mina of Pepeekeo; son, Norante Mina of Pepeekeo; daughters, Elsie Manaday of Ilocos Norte, Philippines, Evangeline (Marte) Altamirano of Manila, Philippines, and Emelyn Mina of Pepeekeo; brother, Felipe Mina of Cagayan, Philippines; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Glynda Holcomb
Glynda Holcomb, 38, of Hawaii Island died Dec. 19. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
Stanley Toyama
Stanley Itsuo Toyama, 93, of Hilo died Dec. 16 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired civilian administrator for the federal government, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and member of Hilo United Methodist Church, Hui Okinawa, Wednesday Golf Club and Hilo Community Chorus. Services at a later date. Survived by wife, Sue Kuwaye Toyama of Hilo; son, Gary (Sylvia) Toyama of Albuquerque, N.M.; three grandsons. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.