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.
Mary Jane May
Mary Jane May, 69, of Pahoa died June 13 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Surviving family members are asked to call Ballard Family Mortuary at (808) 935-8445.
Sue Tsuyuko Saiki
Sue Tsuyuko Saiki, 102, of Hilo died May 30 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired secretary and stenographer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, former secretary at the Hawaii State Legislature, record keeper in the Genealogy Department at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kaumana Ward. Private services held. Survived by sons, Wesley (Michelle) Saiki of Nevada, Nathan (Enid) Saiki and Dan (Noe) Saiki of Hilo; seven grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kenneth Takeo “Bosho” Komatsu
Kenneth Takeo “Bosho” Komatsu, 82, of Hilo, died May 30 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was retired state Department of Health vector control inspector and a food preparation instructor for the Peace Corps. Private services were held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by wife, Leatrice Komatsu of Hilo; son, Marc (Christopher) Komatsu of Las Vegas; brother, Donald Komatsu of Hilo; sister-in-law, Sandra (Aaron) Hirano of Hilo; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Benjamin Kaliti Nau
Benjamin Kaliti Nau, 34, of Hilo, died June 9 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo he was a stone mason. Services held. Survived by mother, Evelyn Lopiparo-Nau of Puna; daughter, Kaleianuhea Nau of Volcano; son Makakoa Nau of Volcano; partner, Mele Morrison of Volcano; brothers Brandon Nau, Talo Nau and Noa Nau all of Puna; sisters Lynn Nau and Kiani Nau of Puna and grandfather Sam Kaawaloa of Kalapana.
Wayne C. Metcalf III
Wayne C. Metcalf III, 71, of Bend, Ore., formerly of Hilo, died April 6 in Bend. Born in Portsmouth, Va., was a former state representative and state senior from Hilo, state insurance commissioner, Third Circuit District and Family Court per diem judge he graduated from University of Hawaii at Hilo and UH-Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law, worked for the United Nations in Liberia and International Monetary Fund in Bermuda, and served as a special deputy insurance commissioner in Washington state, member of Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii County Bar Association, Swedish Club of Washington and Japanese American Society of Central Oregon. Visitation 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Shirley Imada Metcalf; sisters, Alison Metcalf and Jan (Kerm) Swartz; sister-in-law, Katie (Bob) Wirsing; brother-in-law, Clyde (M’Liss) Imada; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gregg Curtis Sorbets
Gregg Curtis Sorbets, 69, of Waikoloa died May 24 in Waikoloa. Born in Portland, Ore., he was a custom picture framer. Private services held. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by spouse, Suzzette; sons, Brandon (Amber) Steinke of Tucson, Ariz., and Kayman McCord of Seattle; daughters Jacki Sorbets of Lebanon, Ore., Randi (Keegan) Phillips of Tucson, Ariz., and Kinsey McCord of Ocean View; brother, Stevan (Nancy) Sorbets of Veronia, Ore.; sister, Shari (Andrew) Wilson of Wales, Great Britian; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary-Kona.
Kenji Oshita
Kenji Oshita, 93, of Hilo died May 11 at a private care home in Keaau. Born in Hilo, he was a retired mason and member of Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sisters, Charlotte Tsukamoto of Kaneohe, Oahu, and Ruby Kadota of Pearl City, Oahu; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Tatsue “Tats” Nakamura
Tatsue “Tats” Nakamura, 94, of Hilo died May 27 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was a retired admissions clerk for University of Hawaii at Hilo and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Dean (Colleen) Nakamura of Hilo; daughter, Lyn (Ed) Pasno of Champlin, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Harumi Nakagawa of Hilo and Tsugiko Miyake of Kapaa, Kauai; brother-in-law, Edwin Masuoka of Honolulu; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kenneth “Kenny” James Creekmur Sr.
Kenneth “Kenny” James Creekmur Sr., 74, of Waimea died June 10 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a former Honolulu Police Department officer, lead law enforcement officer at Hilo and Kona international airports, private security, professional Hawaiian musician and la‘au lapa‘au practitioner. Private services held. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by sons, Kenneth James “Vilai” (Janice) Creekmur Jr. of Honolulu, Abraham Joshua Creekmur of Kona, John Elias (Jamie Rudder) Creekmur and James Deogracias (Shaira Martins) Creekmur of Hilo; daughter, Jerusha Elizabeth (Warren) Creekmur-Dela Cruz of Hilo; 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a niece. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Roger Earl Knoblauch
Roger Earl Knoblauch, 90, of Kailua-Kona died May 30 in Kailua-Kona. Born in Alhambra, Calif., he was an electronics engineer. Services at a later date. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by partner, Joy Nelson; daughters, Denise Lazo of Los Angeles and Nadine (Jonathan) Nguyen of St. Albans, Mo.; three grandchildren; a nephew. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Walter “Wally Boy” Paul Yutaka Watai
Walter “Wally Boy” Paul Yutaka Watai, 62, of Ocean View died June 18 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he was a painter for United Painting Co., member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Hawaii National Guard veteran. Private services. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Lavaina Watai of Ocean View; brother, Jerry (Arlene) Watai of Kailua-Kona; sister, Paula Jelsma Watai of Lahaina, Maui; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jon Clark Mossman
Jon Clark Mossman, 60, of Waimea, died June 9 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a graduate of Kaiser High School and worked for lead convention services at the former Hyatt Regency Waikoloa, was also a slaughterhouse worker and commercial fisherman. Celebration of life and scattering of ashes at a later date. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Tina Mossman; brother, Raynard “Dee” Mossman of Waimea; brother-in-law, Calvin “Pika” Lindsey of Waimea; sister-in-law, Lorraine Lindsey of Waimea; children, Keoni Mossman, Tanea Mossman, Laua‘e (Sean Smith) Mossman and Hoaka Mossman of Waimea; seven grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.