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.
Deonicio “Dino” Debina Canda
Deonicio “Dino” Debina Canda, 87, of Keaau died Feb. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Kealakekua, he was a basketball referee and baseball and fastpitch softball umpire working UH-Hilo and Big Island Interscholastic Federation games, fastpitch softball player, head coach at UH-Hilo and pitching coach and Hilo and Waiakea High Schools, member of Big Island Sports Hall of Fame, retired state airport crash and rescue operator engineer, worked for the former Puna Sugar Co., Hilo High School Class of 1955 graduate, attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Peace Corps volunteer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial Service at 6 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Carmen Canda of Keaau; sons, Don Canda and Chad (U‘ilani) Canda of Keaau; daughter, Michelle Canda of Las Vegas; brothers, Asterio ‘Terry” (Ruth) Canda of Pahoa, Ronald (Valerie) Rillon of Reno, Nev., and Francisco “Cisco” (Renee) Rillon of Waimanalo, Oahu; sisters, Corazon “Connie” Pascua of Hilo, Bernadette “Bernie” (Daniel Alvarez) Canda of Kailua-Kona and Sandra Silvis of Roseville, Minn.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Wayne George Lawrence Sr.
Wayne George Lawrence Sr., 72, of Papaaloa, died March 18 at home. Born in Haina, he was the retired owner of Hawks Lawn Service and Rainbow Runner Shave Ice, worked for the former Hamakua Sugar Company and was a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran. Celebration of Life at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Laupahoehoe Point Gym, 36-1041 Laupahoehoe Point Road. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Julie Ann Lawrence; children, Liza (Thomas) Hundley, Alexis (Nicholas Becka) Lawrence, Wayne (Sierra) Lawrence Jr., Kasey (Micah DeLuz) Lawrence; sisters, Laura (Armando) Vasquez, Lorna Lawrence; 11 grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lorrielynn Leilani Kawaauhau
Lorrielynn Leilani Kawaauhau, 60, of Captain Cook, died March 7 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in North Kona, she was a school bus driver for Yamaguchi Bus Company and a cafeteria helper at Konawaena Elementary School. Visitation at 10 a.m. April 20, at Yano Hall in Captain Cook. Celebration of life at 11 a.m. with lunch to follow. Casual attire. Survived by brothers, Antone Jr. (Lushanya) Kawaauhau of Las Vegas, Nev., Edward Sr. (Meloney) Kawaauhau of Kealakekua; sisters, Lorrieann (David) Haalilio of Kealakekua, and Anthona Kawaauhau of Ocean View, and Melanie (Jesse) Kawaauhau of Ocean View; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Benjamin Kaleo Kekalia
Benjamin Kaleo Kekalia, 62, of Kailua-Kona died Oct. 27, 2023, at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kaunakakai, Molokai, he owned was owner of BK Landscaping, helped build the wall of the Moku‘aikaua Church and was a Molokai High School graduate. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by sisters, Nancy Ruggiero Marsh and Suzanne Ruggiero; brother, John Ruggiero; nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Robert Marshall Anders
Robert Marshall Anders, 74, of Waimea, died Feb. 19 at home. He was born in Honolulu. Survived by wife Betti; children A. Kaleo Anders, R. Makala Anders and Moani Ruyball; and seven grandchildren. The family asksthat in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Waimea Food Bank. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Ronnie King
Ronnie King, 71, of Holualoa died Feb. 29 at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Survived by sister, Debbie Rayner of Silver Springs, Nev.; his partner of 40 years, William Edwards; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. No services. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Gregory Palmer
Gregory Palmer, 77, of Honaunau died Feb. 2. He was born in Ontario, Canada and lived in Hawaii for 50 years. Survived by wife, Diane Palmer of Honaunau; daughters, Shawnay Palmer of Montana Tanya Palmer of California; brother, Lee Palmer of Ontario, Canada; a grandson. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Lillian F. Santiago
Lillian F. Santiago, 86, of Hilo died Feb. 14 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born on Oahu, she was a member of Kilauea Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Visitation 4:30-5 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2629 Kilauea Ave. in Hilo. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by sons, Gary (Doreen) Santiago of Yucaipa, Calif., Michael (Reina) Santiago of Pahoa and Dennis (Judy) Santiago of Mountain View; sister, Rosita Hernandez of Oahu; brothers, Wayne Alices of Pahoa and Joey Alices of Florida; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Dawn Violet Kehaulani Gomes
Dawn Violet Kehaulani Gomes, 69, of Honaunau died March 16 at Kona Community Hospital. Services held. Survived by husband Lyle Shannon Kealoha Gomes of Honaunau; children Capsun Mino’aka (Linh) Poe of Honolulu, Lincoln (Rose) Gomes of San Tan Valley, Ariz, Shawna (Jessica) Lee Gomes and Loren (Terrance) Gomes-Hadden of Houston. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Helena Cruz
Helena Cruz, 76, of Kohala died March 15. Born in Kohala, she was a retired waitress for Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. She is survived by her husband, Don Cruz; sons, Don Cruz Jr and Michael Cruz; daughters, Jeanette (Julian) Cruz-Tongpalan and Edlyn Cruz; sisters, Loleta Cacal and Frances Ancheta; sister-in-law, Mary Villacorte; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family near and far. Condolences can be sent to: P.O. Box 335 Kapaau, HI 96755. Arrangement by Dodo Mortuary.
Ida Lou Kailakanoa Hoapili Smith
Ida Lou Kailakanoa Hoapili Smith, 88, of Pohoiki died Feb. 27 at home. Born in Honolulu, she worked for the Sheraton Maui, owned the former Ida’s Flowers at the Lahaina Marketplace and established a Christian camp. Celebration of life noon Tuesday, April 30, at Pohoiki, and 11 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe, Oahu. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by children, Charles (Deborah) Jenks, Terrie Lou (Adolfo) Esparza, Albert (Janet) Jenks, Paul (Bobbie) Hoapili, Victor (Susan) Hoapili, Tracy (Raschad) Galimba and Trudy (Jim) Kistler; 22 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and four great-greatgrandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
David Kyle Johnson
David Kyle Johnson, 60, of Keaau died March 7 at home. Born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, he was a retired manager. Private services. Survived by wife, Lisa Johnson of Keaau; son, Robert Johnson of Keaau; father-in-law, Kevin Baker of Keaau; brother, Mark (Kathi) Johnson of Springfield, Ore. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Melvine Kaohukoulehua Freitas Kualii
Melvine Kaohukoulehua Freitas Kualii, 93, of Kailua-Kona died March 14 at home. Born in Kaumalumalu, North Kona, she was an airport greeter manager for Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, former volunteer with Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary and Hospice of Kona, social director for Kona Inn Resorts and affiliated hotels and member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Kailua-Kona. Visitation 9-10 a.m., Saturday, July 20, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Refreshments to follow. Condolences to: Kualii Ohana, P.O. Box 99, Kailua-Kona HI 96745. Survived by daughter, Kanani (Wayne) Iokepa of North Kohala; sons, Donovan Kualii of Kailua-Kona and Kaleo (Bernadette Haleamau) Kualii of Kohanaiki; sisters, Margie Isaacs of Waianae, Oahu, and Myrtle Bush of Kailua-Kona; brother, Jimmy (Linda) Freitas of Kailua-Kona; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Helena Cruz
Helena Cruz, 76, of Kohala died March 15. Born in Kohala, she was a retired waitress for Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. She is survived by her husband, Don Cruz; sons, Don Cruz Jr and Michael Cruz; daughters, Jeanette (Julian) Cruz-Tongpalan and Edlyn Cruz; sisters, Loleta Cacal and Frances Ancheta; sister-in-law, Mary Villacorte; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family near and far. Condolences can be sent to: P.O. Box 335 Kapaau, HI 96755. Arrangement by Dodo Mortuary.
Jerome Cyrus Pavé
Jerome Cyrus Pavé, 69, of Makaha, Oahu, died March 22 in Hilo. He was a local musician and a member of the Ark Of Safety Christian Fellowship Church. Memorial service 9 a.m.-pau Saturday, Aug. 17, at Makaha Beach, Oahu. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Crisal Pilialoha Pavé; children, Jennell (Pryce) Brooks, Jerome (Jheneya) Pavé, Joleen (Alika) Jardine, Stachia Britos, Isaac Noa and Ewalina (Jered) Jeremiah; siblings, Ben Pavé, Frank Pavé, Tiny Pavé, James Pabe, Lynn Pavé, Haze Pavé and Lani Pabe; 27 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.