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.
Donna Ke‘alaonaonaonapua Mei Lan Leong
Donna Ke‘alaonaonaonapua Mei Lan Leong, 75, of Hilo died May 3 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a teacher at St. Joseph and Hilo High schools, and Laupahoehoe Elementary and High School, member of Halau o Kekuhi and advocate for na mea Hawai‘i, her final stand on Mauna Kea. Visitation 4-5 p.m. Friday (June 7) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 5 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by son, Lani Swain; daughters, Ka‘aka (Matthew Phillips) Swain and Ke‘ala Baker; sister, Sylvia (Dr. Daniel) Belcher; brother: Kernan (Betty) Leong; five grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alexandra “Alika” Kaleinohea Cooke Kaaua
Alexandra “Alika” Kaleinohea Cooke Kaaua, 82, of Waimea died June 13, 2023, at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center in Hilo. Born in Aiea, Oahu, she was a retail manager and customer service agent. Funeral service and reception 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at St. James Episcopal Church in Waimea. No flowers. Memorial donations to St. James Episcopal Church. Survived by son, Grant Kaaua of Hilo; daughters, D’Arcy Kaaua of Washington and Wendy Webster of Oahu; brother, Montie Cooke, five grandchildren; cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jacinta Lopez Reyes
Jacinta Lopez Reyes, 87, of Hilo died April 19 at home. Born in La Union, Philippines, she was a retired housekeeper for the former Hawaii Naniloa Hotel, member of Alpha and Omega Filipino Ministry and New Hope Filipino Ministry. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Burial to follow at Mauna Kea Memorial Park Cemetery in Papaikou. Survived by daughters, Maria (Bradford) Pikini of Hilo, Melinda Teixeira and Marie Reyes of Washington state; sisters, Antonia Lopez, Ceferina Haranay and Feliciana Carbonero of Kurtistown; three grandchildren and a great-grandson; nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Marife “Fay” Valdez Ramos
Marife “Fay” Valdez Ramos, 45, of Pepeekeo died April 25, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Service at 6 p.m. Cremation to follow. Survived by spouse, Keoni Ramos of Pepeekeo; daughters, Kiani Ramos, Alexyah Ramos and Brianna Ramos of Pepeekeo; mother, Feliza Valdez of Pepeekeo; cousins, aunts and uncles. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John “Johnito” R. Santos
John “Johnito” R. Santos, 80, of Mountain View died May 17 at home. Born Kaneohe, Oahu, he was an auto detailer for Big Island Toyota, professional boxer and coach for HI-PAL. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Monday (June 10) at Ballard Family Mortuary in Hilo. Service 11 a.m. to noon. Burial 1:30 p.m. to follow at Alae Cemetery. Survived by wife, Sandra A. Santos of Mountain View; sons, Benjamin (Kim) Cortez of Hilo, Ezra Santos of Maui, John (Naomi) Santos of Hilo, Quintin Santos of Mountain View and Kalani Santos Bertilacci of Pahoa; daughters, Barbara Jean Santos Alavarez of Pahoa, Shirley Santos Roaque of Hilo, Alvina Santos of Pahoa, Lola (Keola) Akui of Keaau, Juanita Santos of Mountain View, Pikake Martin of Honolulu and Vicki Santos of Pahoa; sisters Margaret Santos, Carmelita Tavares and Dolores Santos of Honolulu, Alvina (John) Desoto of Mountain View; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Mary Ku‘uleiaukai (Ewaliko) Pawai
Mary Ku‘uleiaukai (Ewaliko) Pawai, 86, of Hilo, formerly of Nanakuli, Oahu, died April 10 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired executive secretary for the Honolulu Community Action Program and had worked for Straub Medical Center. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel in Waipio, Oahu. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial 12:30 p.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Aloha attire. Survived by son, John Pawai of Honolulu; daughter, Geraldine (James) Kaeo of Hilo; siblings, Nellie Punahele, Jerry Punahele, Elaine Stevens and Wendell Punahele of Honolulu, Evelyn Awai of mainland U.S.A.; 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Edith “Edie” Kalikookamaile Bertlemann
Edith “Edie” Kalikookamaile Bertlemann, née Pieper, 90, of Waimea died May 22 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a medical technician, U.S. Army veteran, 1950 Ka‘u High School graduate, member of St. James Episcopal Church, volunteered in their Thrift Shop and Boutique, sang and played with the ‘Ukulele Aunties and enjoyed reading, Scrabble and gardening. Celebration of life 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15 at St. James Episcopal Church, 65-1237 Kawaihae Rd. in Waimea. Reception to follow. Aloha attire. Condolences can be sent to Christine.Bertlemann@gmail.com. Survived by children: Glen Austin Thompson, Christine Ilima Bertlemann, Larry Bertlemann, Chris Leon Guerrero, Emmy Bertlemann, Pomai Bertlemann and Kai‘u Fergestrom; brother, John Wellington Pieper Jr.; 20 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Michael “Merks” Stephen Kobayashi
Michael “Merks” Stephen Kobayashi, 75, of Hilo died April 14 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Hilo, he was a retired Hawaii County rescue firefighter, U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient and member of Lincoln Wreckers Athletic Club. Visitation 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 4 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by children, Michelle “Michi” Kobayashi, Liane (Don) Yokoyama, Breeani (Keawe Kualii) Kobayashi and Bronson (Alaina Villatora) Kobayashi of Hilo, Brock (Shoshanna) Kobayashi of Torrance, Calif., Tiarre Kobayashi of Hilo; brothers, Terrill (Gail) Harrison and Thomas (Elaine Nakatani) Harrison of Hilo; 10 grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mitzi Mitsue Sako
Mitzi Mitsue Sako, 88, of Hilo died April 26 at home. Born in Pepeekeo, she was a member of Kurtistown Jodo Mission. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by husband, Seiichi Sako of Hilo; son, Neal Sako of Hilo; daughters, Brenda Sako and Gwen (Raul) Kimura of Hilo; brother, Edward (Toshie) Shirota of Hilo; sisters, Ruth Yamamoto of Pepeekeo, Margaret (Roger) Yamasaki of Kaneohe, Oahu, and Kay Shirota of Papaikou; sister-in-law, Mieko Shirota of Hilo; a grandchild; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
