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.
Densiann Denno
Densiann Denno, 20, of Keaau died June 25 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. She was born in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. Visitation 2-5 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 3) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 5 p.m. Final services and burial will take place in Chuuk. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by mother, Lorcy (Paren) Suta of Hilo; brothers, Denjunior Denno, Donson Denno, Ferden Denno and Brian Defang of Hilo; sisters, Dinorciann Denno and Pefercyann (Daren) Defang of Hilo; maternal grandparents, Donak Suda and Febronia Oneitan of Hilo; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kekoa Hakeem Gentry
Kekoa Hakeem Gentry, 45, of Hilo died May 1 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he graduated from St. Joseph School, Hawaii Community College and attended University of Hawaii at Hilo. Graveside service 9 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 3) at the Homelani Memorial Park Chapel. Celebration of life 4 p.m. Sunday. Aug. 4, at Uncle Robert’s in Kalapana. Casual attire. Survived by mother, Diane Anderson of Hilo; father, Gary Gentry of Hilo; sisters, Elan Gentry and Marlena Giraldo of New York; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Muyces “Moke” Michael Manarpaac
Muyces “Moke” Michael Manarpaac, 80, of Honokaa died Mar. 24 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Honokaa, he was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and its choir and U.S. Air Force veteran. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Wednesday (Aug. 7) at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Memorial Mass at 10 a,m. Inurnment at 11:30 a.m. Thursday (Aug. 8) at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by five children and 12 grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ronald Norman Hall
Ronald Norman Hall, 86, of Kailua-Kona died at home on June 12. Born in Ookala, Hawaii, he was a natural gas sales representative. Services will be held in summer of 2025. Survived by daughters, JoAnna (Kyle Wawrzyniak) Hall of Silver Lake, Minn., Rebecca Tereise of Kailua-Kona; sister, Dorothy Glenn of LaCrosse, Wis.; two grandchildren; two great grandchildren and nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Inc., Kona branch.
Setsuko Higuchi Isa
Setsuko Higuchi Isa, 93, of Hilo died May 13 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born Ωin Hilo, she was retired from Honsador Lumber in Kapolei, Oahu, worked for City Mill in Honolulu and was a member of Hui Okinawa. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Russell Isa of Hilo and Darryl (Mary) Isa of Kohala; sisters, Chizuru Sugawara and Carole Yano of Hilo; sister-in-law, Amy Higuchi of Hilo; brothers-in-law, Yoshiharu Mikami of Hilo and Richard (Leilani) Isa of Honolulu; a grandson; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Diana Toshiko Nakamori
Diana Toshiko Nakamori, 77, of Hilo died July 14 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she attended senior activities at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Luau Hale. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sister-in-law, Aileen Nakamori of Hilo; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Hisako Hirai
Hisako Hirai, 92, of Kealakekua died June 24 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Shizuoka, Japan, she was a clerk for Ben Franklin Store, server at Kona Tei and Kazan restaurants, worked for Japanese tour companies, participated in a senior bowling league and line dancing, and enjoyed yarn crafting. Private services. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, George (Kathy) Hirai of Ewa Beach, Oahu, Tommy (Sharon) Hirai of Hilo and Jeffrey (Lacey) Hirai of Captain Cook; daughter, Linda Hirai of Kealakekua; brother-in-law, Richard (Ruth) Hirai of Kaneohe, Oahu; seven grandchildren; great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Roland Mendoza III
Roland Mendoza III, 30, of Pahoa died June 27 at home. He was born in Hilo. Celebration of life service and potluck noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Onekahakaha Beach Park, Pavilions Nos. 3 and 4. Survived by mother, Angelina Pooloa of Pahoa; stepfather, Gary Phillips of Hilo; brothers Kaula Pooloa of Pahoa, Jacob (Malia) Williams of Keaau, Jeremy (Leah) Williams of Ka’u, Kahekili Haa of Keaukaha, Josiah William of Keaau; Tasha Williams of Kona. Roycie Williams of Hilo, Hiiaka Haa of Hilo, Kaniku Haa of Keaukaha; grandparents Caridad (Collins) Leyson of Keaau, Katherine Mendoza of Arizona, Nadine Mendoza of Volcano; numerous uncles, aunties, and cousins. Arrangements by Dignity Memorial.
Michael Robert Wanwig
Michael Robert Wanwig, 74, of Pahoa died July 19 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in King County, Wash., he was a retired UPS driver. Survived by wife, Nancy Wanwig of Pahoa; son, Kirk Tuesberg of Colorado; daughters Lauren (Ian) Hernandez and Hannah Wanwig of Seattle; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dignity Memorial.
Charley-Ann Ka‘aumoana Palakiko
Charley-Ann Ka‘aumoana Palakiko, 43, of Ocean View died May 26 in Kealakekua. Celebration of life at a later date. She was born in Honolulu. Survived by lifetime partner, Shane Leffew of Ocean View; children, Kupono Palakiko-Leffew of Las Vegas, Kaimipono Palakiko-Leffew, Kaleopono Palakiko-Leffew, Kalaipono Palakiko-Leffew and Tihati Palakiko-Leffew of Ocean View; goddaughter, Kilohana Kuhiiki of Las Vegas; mother, Betty Malloe of Las Vegas; siblings, Althea (Ron) Vincens of Oahu, Hawaii, Orsine (Charles) Kuhiiki and Nehemiah (LaShay) Palakiko of Las Vegas; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Thelma Lillian Hakau Akeo
Thelma Lillian Hakau Akeo, 79, of Hilo died July 13 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a homemaker. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Cremation to follow. Scattering of ashes Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Kaloli Point. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Ruben (Noelani) Coltes, Anthony Coltes and Michael Coltes of Hilo; brothers, George (Espie) Akeo and Preston Hind of Honolulu; sister, Ala (George) McCabe of California; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Leigh Cleghorn “Lee-C” Landgraf
Leigh Cleghorn “Lee-C” Landgraf, 67, of Hilo died July 6 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, he was a County of Hawaii heavy equipment supervisor. Private services. Survived by wife, Louanne “Shanna” Landgraf; son, Kapena (Cecily) Landgraf; father, Libert (Miliaulani) Landgraf; sister, Jaime (Jacob) Hanohano; sister-in-law, Noella (Robertson) Landgraf; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.