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.
George Kahumoku Kamaka
George Kahumoku Kamaka, 86, of Pahoa died Sept. 11 at home. Born in Kealakekua, he was a retired construction laborer and member of Kalahiki Church. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Kalahiki Church in Kona. Memorial service at 10 a.m. Urn burial to follow at Kalahiki Church Cemetery, and celebration of life at Hookena Beach Park. Survived by daughter, Penny Iwalani Kamaka of Pahoa; brother, Phillip Keohuloa of Kealakekua; sister, Harriet Wentworth of Kealakekua; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Lucy Makala Carreira
Lucy Makala Carreira, 87, of Keaau died Feb. 12 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Honolulu, she was a homemaker. Private services held. Survived by sons, Kelly Carreira of Keaau and Jason (Gloria) Carreira of Henderson, Nev.; daughter, Cheryl Carter of Keaau; brother-in-law, John Paul Jr. of Honolulu; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gordon “DC” DeCosta
Gordon “DC” DeCosta, 72, of Mountain View died Feb. 14 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a “certified hammah” and member of Hawaii Drag Racing League. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, March 1 at Ballard Family Mortuary. Services at 10 a.m. Lunch to follow. Survived by wife, Patricia “Pat” DeCosta of Mountain View; sons, Joey (Dana) DeCosta of Keaau, Bo DeCosta of Las Vegas and Chad (Ree) DeCosta of Keaau; brother, Leroy DeCosta of Waimea; sisters, Debbie Wong Yuen of Pahala and Charna Ontiveros of Pahoa; four grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Reid Mahiai Sanchez
Reid Mahiai Sanchez, 54, of Hilo died Jan. 7 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a manager at Manono Mini Mart. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at Ballard Family Mortuary. Service at 10 a.m. Survived by mother, Carol Ann Sanchez of Hilo; brothers, Rene (Gina) Sanchez and Richert (Marisa) Sanchez of Honolulu, Royce (Anne) Serrao of Hilo; sisters Genai Keliikuli of Honolulu, Aster (Myron) Dolor of Hilo; aunts, uncles and cousins.
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. on March 22 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.
Lynn Iwalani Smith
Lynn Iwalani Smith, 77, of Hilo died Feb. 17 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Visitation 11 a.m.-noon Monday (Feb. 24) at Homelani Memorial Park Chapel. Celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by hanai daughters, Franchelle Gonzalez of Las Vegas and Tabree Pe‘a of Hilo; brothers, Byron (Donnamae) Smith Sr. of Hilo, Allen (Monica) Smith of Las Vegas and Ryan Smith of Oahu; sisters, Diane Smith of Las Vegas, Maraiah Armstrong Jr. of Yamamoto of Pahoa, Elizabeth Andrew of Arizona, Betty (Gary) Gifford, Bonnie (Robert) Latham, Deolinda Rubi Guzman of Las Vegas and Mapuana Rasso of Arizona; hanai grandchildren; an uncle, an aunt, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Teodora “Dora”
Velasco Tabilang
Teodora “Dora” Velasco Tabilang, 79, of Hilo died Jan. 12 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Laoac Manaoag, Pangasinan, the Philippines, she was a retired laundry attendant for Hawaiian Linen Supply and worked for Diamond Head Papaya. Visitation 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday (March 1) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 3 p.m. Burial to follow at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by daughters, Alma (Charles “Kale”) Ha‘o III and Julie Tabilang of Hilo and Sonia (Eric) Reyes of San Diego; sisters, Francisca Velasco Rondolos of Suisun City, Calif., and Leonora Velasco Valdez of Pangasinan, Philippines; sister-in-law, Feliza Tabilang Tabboga of Kona; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Eiichi Okajima
Eiichi Okajima, 99, of Hilo died Jan. 16 at private care home in Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a retired mail carrier. Private services held. Survived by son, Michael (Gayle) Sasaki of Hilo; sister-in-law, Katherine Sasaki of Pepeekeo; nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Hannah Leilani Kahee
Hannah Leilani Kahee, 86, of Hilo died Feb. 9 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired instructor at the Arc of Hilo and part-time driver for the former Laupahoehoe Transportation Co. A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21 at Four Mile Beach Park. Survived by sons, Benjamin P. “Ben” (Jolette “Joey”) Kaili Jr. and James K.K. (Lynell) Kaili of Hilo; daughter, Hannah L. (Mark Spencer) Kaili of Hilo; sister-in-law, Kikue Kahee of California; grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Dennis William Leatherman
Dennis William Leatherman, 78, of Hilo died Jan. 19 in Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Kankakee, Ill., he was a federal civil service employee and illustrator/artist. Private services. Survived by daughters, Eri Leatherman and Emi (Jim) Marika of Hilo; three grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mark Phillip Conley
Mark Phillip Conley, 67, of Waimea died Jan. 7 at home. Born in Garden City, N.C., he was a cowboy at Ponoholo Ranch and a coach for and avid supporter of Special Olympics. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday (March 1) at St. James Episcopal Church in Waimea. Celebration of life will at 10 a.m. Refreshments to follow. Survived by children, Sean Conley of Waimea, Alika (Jordon) Conley of Washington state and Hannah Conley of Waimea; father, Phillip Conley of Waimea; sister, Marianne Conley-Ramsey of Keaau; two grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Teresita Jose Ranan
Teresita Jose Ranan, 91, of Keaau died Feb. 12 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Pasay City, Manila, the Philippines, she was a retired housekeeper. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 27) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Prayer services at 6 p.m. Graveside committal service 11 a.m. Friday (Feb. 28) at Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Geronimo (Conchita) Ranan Jr. of Pahoa, Roberto (Maria) Ranan of Keaau, Renante (Jocelyn) Ranan of Las Vegas and Ferdinand (Renielle) Ranan of Dededo, Guam; daughter, Ruby (Rodolfo) Calimquim of Keaau; 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
