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
Craig Kiyoshi Nakagawa
Craig Kiyoshi Nakagawa, 65, of Hilo died April 1 at home. Born in Hilo, he was a retired heavy equipment service mechanic for Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd., also worked for Constructors Hawaii Inc. and Goodfellow Brothers, and member of the Operating Engineers Local 3. Visitation 2-3 p.m. Saturday (May 4) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial services at 3 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, April Nakagawa of Hilo; daughter, Arissa (Jeff) Sayles of Hilo; son, Trey Nakagawa of Portland, Ore.; parents, Yoshimasa and Akiyo Nakagawa of Hilo; brother, Mark Nakagawa of Kona; sisters, Charlene Oniwa and Claire (Sheldon) Furutani of Hilo; brothers-in-law, Eric (Ruby) Kawamoto and Michael (Suzie) Kawamoto of Hilo; a granddaughter, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Edgardo “Edwin” Antonio Dela Cruz Jr.
Edgardo “Edwin” Antonio Dela Cruz Jr., 63, of Kapaau died April 16 at home. Born in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, he was a retired host, busser, and food runner for Lava Lava Beach Club and Roy’s Restaurant and also worked for Tropics, Blue Dragon and Big Island Steakhouse. Visitation 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday (May 4) at Hawi Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Gina Dela Cruz of Kapaau; parents, Edgardo Sr. and Clara Dela Cruz of the Philippines; daughters, Lita (Naldy) Santos and Lerma (Michael) Monsalve of the Philippines, Gemma Monsalve and Liza (Eric) Monsalve of Kapaau; sister, Edna (Danny) Buen of Las Vegas; brothers, Eugenio (Malia) Dela Cruz of Kapaau, Edgardo (Dina) Dela Cruz III of Tennessee, Edgardo (Cathy) Dela Cruz IV of Kapaau and Edgardo (Marline) Dela Cruz V of Honokaa; half-sister, Lyza (Cesar) Cinco of the Philippines; 14 grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Tiffany Lynn Kapiolani Javier
Tiffany Lynn Kapiolani Javier, 46, of Ocean View died April 18 at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu. Born on Oahu, she worked for the late Dr. Frank Ferren and was a member of DIA-mend Ministries. Celebration of life service 10 a.m. Saturday (May 4) at Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club Pavilion in Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Jeremy Javier of Ocean View; sons, Israel (Taina) Manini of Washington, Jadon (Millilani) Malloe of Kona, and Kenzo Javier of Ocean View; daughter, Tabbatha (Andrew) Niihau of Ocean View; mother, Pamela (Rego) Ako of Ocean View; brothers, Lancelot Kainalu (Hannah) Ako III of Kailua-Kona and Chadwick Keoni Ako of San Diego; parents-in-law, Jerry and Jamina Javier of Maui; brother-in-law, Jerry (Kim) Javier of Kihei, Maui; sisters-in-law, Joy (Kili) Brown and Joanna Javier of Kahului, Maui; three grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jesse Rios
Jesse Rios, 66, of Kailua-Kona died April 5 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honokaa, he worked for the former Hamakua Sugar Co. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday (May 4) at King’s Chapel Honokaa, 45-3370 Mamalahoa Hwy. Service at 10 a.m. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by son, Jeremy Rios of Oahu; siblings, Laurie (James) Moeller of Ahualoa, Cindy Rios of Kalopa and Kathleen DeRego of Paauhau; four grandchildren and a great-grandchild; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Pauline “Pee-Wee” Grace Naungayan
Pauline “Pee-Wee” Grace Naungayan, 48, of Makapala, died Feb. 19. She was a stay-at-home mother. Memorial Mass and burial 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi. Survived by son, Benjamin Okubo of Kohala; siblings, Patrick (Rachel) Black-Santiago of Kailua-Kona, Paul Santiago of Las Vegas, Priscilla (Douglas) Atkins, Peter (Eva) Naungayan and Patti (Timothy) Stivers of Kohala; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Marino Valenzuela Acosta
Marino Valenzuela Acosta, 84, of Hilo died March 13 at home. Born in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, he was a retired steward for Mauna Lani. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Survived by wife, Arsenia Acosta of Hilo; sons, Joseph (Kanani) Acosta of Honolulu and Reynald (Azelyn) Acosta of Hilo; daughters, Evangelyn (Erwin) Galapon of Honolulu, Annabelle (Nestor) Ganotisi of California, Delia (Cris) Ragasa of Hilo and Norma (Orlando) Ulep of Honolulu; sister, Norma Ganir of Las Vegas; 18 grandchildren and a great-grandchild; nephews, nieces, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Bernette “Pua” Hui-Collo
Bernette “Pua” Hui-Collo, 64, of Waimea died Feb. 28 at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Kohala, she was a homemaker. Celebration of life 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Spencer Beach Park. Casual attire. Survived by husband, John Collo; children, Shalome (Kalden Esquerra) Collo, Junior John (Wallissa Carvalho) Collo, Franklin Juan (Melynie I‘i) Collo, Sunny (Andrew Carvalho) Collo; sister, Dorothy (Gary) Souza; 11 grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Francis T.P. Zee
Dr. Francis T.P. Zee, 70, of Hilo died March 29 in Honolulu. Born in Hong Kong, he was a retired research leader/horticulturist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service’s Daniel K. Inouye Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, received his doctorate in horticulture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, held a second-degree black belt in kendo, and was an avid gardener and cook. Visitation 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 3:30 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Julia Kohashi Zee of Hilo; son, Benjamin (Jenny Greenland) Zee of Allenspark, Colo.; daughter, Samantha Zee of Bellingham, Wash.; brother, Gabriel (Dixie) Zee of Portland, Ore.; sister, Jean (Joe Cheng) Zee of Mililani, Oahu; sister-in-law, Lois Kohashi (Mickey) Sinclair of Port Ludlow, Wash.; brother-in-law, Owen (Miky Ishida) Kohashi of Seattle; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ralph Masaru Nishiyama
Ralph Masaru Nishiyama, 83, of Kainaliu died April 8 at a private care home. Born in Waipahu, Oahu, he was retired from the state Division of Workforce Development, a food and beverage manager for the former Kona Surf Resort, and manager for the former Spencecliff, Uncle Billy’s, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, Colony Resort Kanaloa, and Jolly Roger restaurants. Services at a later date. Survived by wife, Geraldine Nishiyama of Kainaliu; daughter, Laura Samaranayake of Kainaliu; brother, Melvin (Soon Wah) Nishiyama of Honolulu; two nieces and a nephew. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ethel Yuko Matsuno
Ethel Yuko Matsuno, 89, of Hilo died March 6 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired director of human resources for Suisan Co. Ltd. and retired public schoolteacher. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Calen Matsuno of Hilo; daughters, Lu Ann Matsuno and Sam Matsuno of Hilo; sisters, Keiko Mimaki and Pauline Horiuchi of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Karen Konishi, Alice Koizumi and Bessie Shindo of Hilo; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jay N. Ishimoto
Jay N. Ishimoto, 87, of Hilo died April 7 at home. Born in Waialua, Oahu, he was a retired teacher at Hilo Intermediate School, retired member of Hawaii State Teacher’s Association, photographer for the Lyman Museum and founding member of the former Big Island Film Club. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Maureen Ishimoto of Hilo; sons, Guy K. (Rosemary) Ishimoto of Roswell, Ga., And Dean H. (Shelley) Ishimoto of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Mabel Ishimoto and Sheila Black of Honolulu; brother-in-law, George Ueda of Hilo; a granddaughter; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.