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.
Warren Allie Hahlbeck Jr.
Warren Allie Hahlbeck Jr., 65, of Waikoloa died Jan. 20. Born in Ridley Park, Pa., he was a firefighter. Funeral with military honors 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by daughters, Lea (Rudolf) Hahlbeck of Denver and Brittney (Troy) Martinez of Kalopa; sisters, Diane (Robert) Robinson of Hawaiian Paradise Park; Nancy (Wyatt) Gots of Las Vegas; five grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Henry “Bozo” Cho Jr.
Henry “Bozo” Cho Jr., 70, of Honaunau died Jan. 27 at home. He was a retired state firefighter and crash fire rescue responder at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, sensei for Kona Judo Club, farmer, fisherman, member of Hawaii Jaycees, Hui ‘Ohana o Honaunau and Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club, and was active in reef restoration for Ako‘ako‘a. Remembrance 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at Kahikolu Congregational Church, 82-5931 Napoopoo Rd in Captain Cook. Celebration of life service at 10:30 a.m. Lunch and fellowship to follow at the church hall. Survived by wife, Gayle Cho of Honaunau; sons, Joel Cho of Maui, Henry “Bo” (Joyal) Cho III and Kula Cho of Honaunau; daughters, Mary Cho of Ocean View and Heidi (Kekoa) Ramos of Honaunau; brothers, Donovan (Jayne) Cho and Wesley Cho of Honaunau; sisters, Sharilyn Dumaguin, Karen (Charles) Nahale and Joycelyn (Daryl) Willinghaml of Honaunau; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Harumi Nakagawa
Harumi Nakagawa, age 94, of Hilo died Dec. 31 at Hawaii Care Choices Pohai Malama Care Center in Hilo. Born in Hilo, she was a retired Bank of Hawaii bank officer in Hilo and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Online condolences: dodomortuary.com. Survived by son, Lee Nakagawa of New Mexico; daughter, Lori (Darrell) Nekoba of Hilo; sister, Tsugiko Miyake of Kauai; brother-in-law, Edwin Masuoka of Honolulu; three grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Robert “Bob”
Thomas Gleason
Robert “Bob” Thomas Gleason, 79, of Kurtistown died Jan. 29 at home. Born in San Francisco, he was a luthier and owner of Pegasus Guitars and Ukuleles, past president of Big Island Ukulele Guild and Big Island Woodworkers Association and avid tennis player. Private services. Survived by wife, Anne Gleason of Kurtistown; son, Robin (KaTrice) Gleason of Orchidland Estates; daughter, Le‘a Gleason of Kurtistown; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
John Charles McConnell
John Charles McConnell, 76, of Keaau died Jan. 26. Born in Oakland, Calif., he owned tropical and wedding flower grower/shipper McConnell Inc. and was a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran of the 101st Airborne. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Flowers welcome; no koden (monetary gifts). Survived by spouse, Mina McConnell; daughters, Kim (Sergio) Nicolau and Lisa (Jeremy) Siegle; stepdaughter, Mika Saiki; sisters, Michael Gowder and Kay (Kevin) Cabrera; five grandchildren; nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Robert “Bob”
Thomas Gleason
Robert “Bob” Thomas Gleason, 79, of Kurtistown died Jan. 29 at home. Born in San Francisco, he was a luthier and owner of Pegasus Guitars and Ukuleles, past president of Big Island Ukulele Guild and Big Island Woodworkers Association and avid tennis player. Private services. Survived by wife, Anne Gleason of Kurtistown; son, Robin (KaTrice) Gleason of Orchidland Estates; daughter, Le‘a Gleason of Kurtistown; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mary Santana Villacorte, 99, of Kapaau, died Jan. 12 at Kohala Hospital. Born in North Kohala, she was a homemaker. Private services. Survived by son, Richard P. Villacorte of Ewa Beach, Oahu; stepdaughters, Trinidad Pasco and Lucia Sumic of Kohala, Maggie Macadangdang of Hilo; brother, Don Cruz of Kohala; 13 grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Nancy C. Lovell
Nancy C. Lovell, 85, of Hilo died Feb. 6, at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hollywood, Calif., she was a retired groundskeeper. No services. Survived by daughters, Jennifer (Pat) Owens of California, Jennine (Alan) Huet of The Woodlands, Texas, and Juliet (Sean) Beaton of Redlands, Calif.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Rofley Kauukai Hao
Rofley Kauukai Hao, 83, of Kalaoa, Kona, died Jan. 3 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Kealakekua, he was commercial fisherman and construction worker for Hualalai Ranch and J.M. Tanaka Construction. Visitation 9-10 a.m. at Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club at Honokohau Harbor. Celebration of life at 10 a.m. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. Survived by daughters, Momilani (Seneti) Kalavi and Sharon Manuel of Kalaoa, Brenda (Misinale) Kalavi of Makawao, Maui, Pearl (Ipo Kuakahi) Hao of Pahoa, Roxann (Darryl) Hao Bissen of Kalaoa; sisters, Annie Mandaquit of Kalaoa, Jane Serion of Kona Palisades and Darlen Senoria of Pahoa; sisters-in-law, Ethel Hao of Captain Cook and Josephine Anakalea of Kailua-Kona; hanai sons, Eddie (Rosalind Rodrigues) Hao Jr. and Shannon (Shannon) Hao of Honaunau, Andrew (Michelle) Hao of Kealakehe, Clayton (Grace) Hao of Kaloko Mauka, James Hao of Kailua-Kona; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; an aunt; nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins. Arrangements by Oahu Mortuary.
Richard “Pepe” Mata
Richard “Pepe” Mata, 67, of Hilo died Jan. 10. Born in Hilo, he was a chef and musician. Celebration of life 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Ballard Family Mortuary. Scattering of ashes noon Saturday, March 1, at Puhi Bay. Survived by sons, Kupono Mata and Kahiau Mata of Hilo; siblings, Penny Mata and Steven Mata of Hilo, Curtis Mata of California, Jonirae Mata of Hilo; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Lynn Henani Kaluhikaua
Lynn Henani Kaluhikaua, 64, of Hilo died Jan. 21. Born in Hilo, she worked at Keaukaha General Store. Celebration of life 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Ballard Family Mortuary. Burial to followed at Homelani Memorial Park. Survived by sons, Kupono Mata and Kahiau Mata of Hilo; siblings, Lucille Vesperas, Solomon Kaluhikaua Jr., Dennis Michaels and Ellenmerle Weber of Hilo; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
