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.
Bryan Fujimori
Bryan Fujimori, 61, of Captain Cook died Nov. 23 in Kealakekua. Born in Kona, he was a ship greeter for Destination Hawaii and U.S. Army veteran. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at St. Benedict’s Church. Prayer service 10-11 a.m. Lunch to follow at the church. Burial with military Honors, noon Wednesday, Jan. 15, at West Hawaii Veteran’s Cemetery. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by sisters, Clara Fujimori of Hookena, Leonida (John) Marquez of Kaneohe, Oahu and Annie Fujimori of Hookena; a nephew. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Elizabeth “Liz” Lee Loy
Elizabeth “Liz” Lee Loy, 92, of Hilo died Oct. 26 at home. Born at Kukaiau Ranch, Paauilo, she was a retired surgical nurse at the former Hilo Medical Center and member of Glad Tidings Church. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday Dec. 21) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by children, Walbert (Rickie) Lee Loy of Hilo, Wanda Lee Loy of Milwaukie, Ore., Benedict Lee Loy of Hilo and Pete (Betsy) Lee Loy of Keaau; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Pearl Yukimi Towata
Pearl Yukimi Towata, 75, of Hilo died Oct. 24 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Pepeekeo, she was retired from the state Department of Human Services. Private services held. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by spouse, Winston Towata of Hilo; sons, Wayde Towata, Weston (Tania Shimazu) Towata and Waylen (Cherise Harada) Towata of Hilo; sisters, Jeanne Tanigawa of Inglewood, Calif., Ginger (Mas) Nagaoka and Haroldene (Wayne) Mayezaki of Gardena, Calif.; four grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Joanna Joy (Senn) Graves
Joanna Joy (Senn) Graves, 48, of Hilo died Nov. 9 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. She was born in Odessa, Texas. Celebration of life and potluck 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 at Lewis-Arriola Community Center, 21176 Road S, Cortez, Colo. Survived by father, Wes Senn of Odessa; parents, Benny and Sondra Cordova of Cortez, Colo.; son, Tyler (Taylor) Tapey of Grand Junction, Colo.; daughters, Tori Reyes of Odessa and Tera Graves of Volcano; sister, Tina (Dante Sanchez) Jackson of Cortez; step-siblings Shiela (Josh) and Ben Cordova; three grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Her spouse, Charles Bruce Graves of Hilo, has been missing since May 17, 2021. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Luz Corrales Alipio
Luz Corrales Alipio, 84, of Hilo died Nov. 29 at a private care home. Born in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, she was a retired activities aide at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center, worked at Tiki Garden in the former Hilo Lagoon Hotel and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Big Island Filipino Community Council, Puna Saranay Club and Sampaguita Club. Visitation 9:30-11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Prayer service at 11 a.m.. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima Section. Casual attire. Survived by children, David (Jessica) Alipio, Samuel Alipio, Ligaya (Brian) Hill and Jan-Marie (Nathan) Osorio; son-in-law, Alfred Tipon, Jr.; sister-in-law, Alfe Corrales; 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kanani Olds “Kanak” Kawaihae Sr.
Kanani Olds “Kanak” Kawaihae Sr., 71, of Papaikou, died Nov. 12 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a hunter and fisherman. Celebration of life 4-11 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 22) at Wailoa State Recreation Area Large Pavilion. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. Survived by wife, Cresencia Kawaihae of Papaikou; sons, Kanani (Aiyana) Kawaihae Jr., Bryson (Tessie) Kawaihae and Rody (Trisha) Kawaihae of Papaikou; daughters, Desiree “Aloha” Kawaihae and Lily Kawaihae of Papaikou; brother, Larry “Pogo” Kawaihae of Papaikou; sister, Debra Kuamoo of Hilo; hanai sons, Ryan (Jojo) Fukui of Hilo, Joel (Susanna) Brunger of Colorado and Sonny “Uce” (Julie) Taomia of California; 11 grandchildren; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and hanai family. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alytha “Sis” “Tita” P. Rosehill
Alytha “Sis” “Tita” P. Rosehill, 73, of Hilo died Nov. 25. Born in Hilo, she was a retired U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, telephone operator for the former GTE Hawaiian Tel and U.S. Army air traffic controller. She enjoyed time with family and friends, crafting and cooking. Services pending. Survived by brothers, Clarence K. (Etta) Rosehill Jr. of Hilo, Delbert K. (Miki) Rosehill of Hawaiian Beaches, Myron K. (Kim) Rosehill of Hilo, Markham K. (Luana) Rosehill of Hilo and O. Scot (Gail) Rosehill of Kurtistown; cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Tetsuya Yamada
Tetsuya Yamada, 87, of Hilo died Nov. 27. Born in Hakalau, he was a retired agricultural researcher for University of Hawaii at Hilo. Visitation 10:30-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Ballard Family Mortuary Chapel, 570 Kinoole St. in Hilo. Services at 11 a.m. Lunch to follow. Contact family more info. Survived by wife, Maria Alvarez Yamada of Hilo; sons. Theodore (Donna) Yamada of Florida and Gerald (Wendy) Yamada of Hilo; siblings, Yoichi Yamada, Yoko Takai, Bob Yamada, Ernest Yamada and Kazuko Kaneshiro of Hilo, May Takafuji of Oahu; stepsons Carlos Ramirez and Harold Ramirez of Hilo, JP Ramirez of Texas, Benjamin Ramirez of Colorado. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Richard Arao Matsumoto
Richard Arao Matsumoto, 100, of Kainaliu died Aug. 6 at Hospice of Kona’s Nakamaru Hale in Holualoa. He was a vegetable and coffee farmer, member of Kona County Farm Bureau and honorary life member of Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. Private services held. No koden (monetary gifts). Survived by daughters, Edith (Mel) Morimoto of Captain Cook and Catherine (Vincent) Pang of Kailua, Oahu; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Yachiyo “Janet” Hamada
Yachiyo “Janet” Hamada, 102, of Hilo died Oct. 30 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Olaa, she was a retail sales clerk for Ben Franklin Store and the former Farmer’s Exchange and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Carl T. (Valerie) Hamada, Wayne Y. (Lynn) Hamada and Howard M. (Sandra) Hamada of Honolulu; daughter, Eva (Melvin) Nishina of Hilo; brothers, Tadashi (Ann) Yoshizawa and Rodney (Grace) Yoshizawa of Honolulu; sister-in-law, Evelyn Yoshizawa of Honolulu; five grandchildren and a great-grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.