Obituaries for March 28
Latisha “Tisha” Haleakala
Latisha “Tisha” Haleakala, 25, of Mountain View died March 4. She was born in Hilo. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Thursday, Apr. 3, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Maika Haleakala; father, James Soares Jr.; mother, Juliann “Sweetie” Kapumau; brother, James Soares; sisters, Marie Kapumau, Natasha Soares, Juliann Soares and Moani Soares; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary
Kazue “Dolly” Higa
Kazue “Dolly” Higa, 99, of Hilo died Feb. 6. Born in Honomu, she was a homemaker. Private services. No flowers or koden. Survived by husband Richard Higa of Hilo; son, Clarence (Joy) Higa of Hilo; daughter, Lucky (Roy) Rabacal of Honolulu; son-in-law Patrick Pajo; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Asae Nakano
Asae Nakano, 88 of Aiea, Oahu, died Jan. 3 in Honolulu. Born in Kealakekua, she was a retired public school cafeteria manager and Class of 1954 Konawaena High School alumna who enjoyed cooking with the grandchildren, teaching them how to make manju and mochi for special occasions, traveling and staying connected with family and friends. Visitation 5-5:45 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Mililani Memorial Park, Mauka Chapel. Celebration of life service at 5:45 p.m. Survived by husband, Thomas Nakano; sons, Bruce (Marylou) Nakano, Norman (Christy) Nakano, Calvin (Noi) Nakano and Sterling (Joanne) Nakano; sisters, Lorraine Asakura and Sue (Reynold) Nakano; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitacion “Mariano” Taylan Pagay
Visitacion “Mariano” Taylan Pagay, 84, of Waimea died March 2 at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in the Philippines, he was a retired farm worker for Kawamata Farms, nursery worker for Kahua Ranch and member of the Honokaa Iloco Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Tuesday (April 1) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Nerie Pagay; sisters, Perlita (Clarito) Yago and Mamerta Raras; brother, Felix Pagay; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jeanette Elizabeth Rhamsey
Jeanette Elizabeth Rhamsey, 102, of Pahoa died Feb. 28 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in San Diego, she was a retired social worker and U.S. Army Women’s Air Force pilot during World War II. Private services. Survived by daughter, Genevieve (Edward) Armanini of Pahoa; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Robert “Bob” J. Riley
Robert “Bob” J. Riley, 82, of Hilo died March 21. Born in Seattle, he was a realtor and U.S. Navy veteran whose life was defined by service, family and generosity. Memorial service 11 a.m. Sunday (March 30) at Hilo Missionary Church, 1044 Komohana St. Survived by wife, Claudia Riley; daughter, Sunshine (Riley) Berg; brother, Sean Riley; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with a third on way. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Alan Santa Isabel
Alan Santa Isabel, 67, of Hilo died Feb. 9 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was employed at The Arc of Hilo. Private services. Survived by children, Sonja Soria of Kona, Alanna Vierra of Hawaiian Paradise Park, Erica Isabel and Tara Rudis of Yelm, Wash., Jessica Phillips of Kona; sister-in-law, Paula Isabel of Hilo; 16 grandchildren; great-grandchildren; a niece. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Margaret “Lani” Kahakua Botelho Wong
Margaret “Lani” Kahakua Botelho Wong, 83, of Kauai, formerly of Hilo, died Dec. 27, 2024, at Hopewell House in Beaverton, Ore. Born in Hilo, she was a homemaker and caretaker. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Saturday (March 29) at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou. Mass at 10 a.m. Burial 11:30 a.m. at Homelani Memorial Park, Section 7. Lunch to follow at 738 Manono St. in Hilo. Survived by sons, Robert (Theresa) Botelho of Makawao, Maui, and Herbert (Linnea) Botelho of Mountain View; daughter, Loke Thompson of Beaverton, Ore.; sister, Lei (Lester) Kimura of Waimea; brother-in-law, Daniel Pajimola. Sr of Waimea; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Virginia Davis
Virginia Davis, 76, of Hawaii Island died Feb. 23. No services. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Benioff Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
David Harrington
David Harrington, 75, of Hawaii Island died Feb. 19. No services. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Benioff Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
Thelma Ku‘ualoha Like
Thelma Ku‘ualoha Like, 87, of Hilo died March 25 at home. Born in Hilo, Hawaii, she was a retired Utah real estate agent in Utah and U.S. Navy veteran. Private viewing held. Celebration of life 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday (March 31) at E Komo Mai Diner Bar and Grill. Lunch will be provided. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by sisters, Loretta Leimomialoha Northam of Hilo and Winona Kau‘iwehiohilo Hopkins of Kaneohe, Oahu; caretakers, Michael Trask, Cindy lsely, Kimi Taniguchi and Rindy Yelverton of Hilo; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Ellen Eiko Nishikawa
Ellen Eiko Nishikawa, 96, of Keei died March 12 at home. She was a retired cafeteria worker for Honaunau Elementary and Konawaena High schools, and member of Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Private services. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by daughters, Judi Polito of Ojai, Calif., and Lee Anne (Brian) Sako of Calabasas, Calif.; son, Stan Nishikawa of Honolulu; sisters, Jane (Pete) Poentis of Honolulu, Betty Yamagata of Kealakekua and Carole (Spencer) Ege Weart of Hastings, N.Y.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren;nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Herbert Iopa Paleka Jr.
Herbert Iopa Paleka Jr., 79, of Kailua-Kona died March 23 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Hoolehua, Molokai, he was a retired truck driver for Gaspro Honolulu and of Hawaii Teamsters Local 996. Services at a later date. Survived by sons, Herbert (Melia) Paleka III of Kailua-Kona and Mo‘ikeha (Pua) Paleka of Waipio, Oahu; sister, Irma ‘Aikala of Seattle; three grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.