Obituaries
Honolulu Star – Advertiser November 14, 2010 | Anonymous Richard K. Ajifu Oct. 31, 2010 Richard K. Ajifu, 88, of Aiea, a retired city draftsman and an Army veteran who was a member of Infantry Company G, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and a recipient of a Silver Star and Purple Heart, died in Aiea. He was born in Ewa. He is survived by sons Glenn and Jon, hanai daughter Wanda Padasdao, sister Peggy Sakamoto, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Visitation: 9 a.m. Wednesday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary, 20 S. Kukui St., Honolulu. Services: 10 a.m. Committal services: 1 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Casual attire. No flowers. go to site old lahaina luau
Shizuo Awa Oct. 13, 2010 Shizuo “Shu” Awa, 82, of Kailua-Kona, a commercial fisherman, laborer at the former J.M. Tanaka Construction Co. and an Army veteran, died at home. He was born in Papaikou, Hawaii. He is survived by son Gregory; daughters Alberta Yates, Puanani Lopez and Sadie Awa; brothers Harold and Eddie; sisters Gladys Nacis, Margie Amoguis, Ulu Llanes and Mae Minamishin; nine grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday at Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club, Honokohau Harbor, Kailua-Kona. Services: 11 a.m. Scattering of ashes to follow. Casual attire. Loose flowers welcome.
Phillip Akana Chun Oct. 5, 2010 Phillip Akana Chun, 61, of Waipahu, formerly of Lahaina, a maintenance worker and an Army veteran, died in Ewa Beach. He was born in Lahaina. He is survived by son Akana, brother David and sister Geraldine Cyphers. Celebration of life and services: 10 a.m. Friday at Maui Veterans Cemetery, 1295 Makawao Ave., Maui. Additional services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Pu’u Ka Honua o Honokohau at Honokohau Bay, Maui. Scattering of ashes to follow. Lunch to be served. Casual attire.
Victor Coelho Nov. 5, 2010 Victor Coelho, 92, of Kahului, a retired office equipment salesman, died at home. He was born in Paia, Maui. He is survived by wife Rosaline, brother Robert and sister Margaret Cravalho. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Ballard Family Mortuary. Services: 11 a.m. Burial: 12:30 p.m. at Maui Memorial Park, Wailuku.
Travis Vincent Kalani Diego Oct. 29, 2010 Travis Vincent Kalani Diego, 26, of Kahului, an Old Lahaina Luau server, died in Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by father Peter, mother Kathleen C., sister Britney, and grandparents Emily Castillo and Fely Diego. Visitation: 5:30 p.m. Friday at Christ the King Church. Mass: 7 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire.
Barbara Reiko Desaki Oct. 29, 2010 Barbara Reiko Desaki, 73, of North Las Vegas, Nev., died. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Ralph; brother Wilfred Takahashi; and sisters Helen Watarai, Yoshiko Yasui, Amy Kajiwara and June Ikezawa. Services: 3 p.m. Nov. 27 at Olivet Baptist Church, 1775 S. Beretania St., Honolulu. Casual attire. No flowers.
Richard S. Fernandez Oct. 28, 2010 Richard S. Fernandez, 84, of San Jose, Calif., formerly of Maili, an Army veteran and a retired Air Force civil service employee, died in San Jose. He was born in Aiea. He is survived by sons Arthur and Patrick Alcisto, and Marcus and Mike Fernandez; daughters Cindy Kerrigan, Roslyn Alcisto and Mitch Grieb; sister Dolores Drone; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services held in San Jose. Inurnment: February services pending at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.
George Joseph Shigeo Funai Nov. 4, 2010 George Joseph Shigeo Funai, 78, of Wailuku, a retired auto and heavy equipment mechanic and an Army veteran who served during the Korean War, died in Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was born in Puunene, Maui. He is survived by sons Bryan and Keif, daughter Kathy, brothers Clayton Funai and Patrick Patten, sister Kelea Burns, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday at Borthwick Norman’s Mortuary. Services: 11 a.m. Cremation to follow.
Lorin Tarr Gill Oct. 1, 2010 Lorin Tarr Gill, 82, of Kaneohe, a retired environmental educator, naturalist and social worker, died in Pohai Nani Retirement Home, Kaneohe. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by hanai son Harry Lee Kwai. Services: 5 p.m. Saturday at Palama Settlement, 810 N. Vineyard Blvd., Honolulu. Aloha attire. Donations suggested to Sierra Club Foundation, P.O. Box 2577, Honolulu, HI 96803.
Delfina Unite Guerrero Nov. 8, 2010 Delfina Unite Guerrero, 81, of Lahaina, a retired cut seeder at Pioneer Mill Co. in Lahaina, died in Maui Memorial Medical Center. She was born in Ballesteros, Cagayan, Philippines. She is survived by sons Nehemiah and Natanael, daughters Lorna Beth Tobias and Delma Hoylman, and eight grandchildren. Visitation: 6 p.m. Thursday at Borthwick Norman’s Mortuary. Services: 7:30 p.m. Additional visitation: 8 a.m. Friday at Seventh-day Adventist Church, Kahului. Services: 9 a.m. Burial: 10:30 a.m. at Maui Memorial Park, Garden of Meditation.
Kaylene Hanauumikanoena Ho Nov. 1, 2010 Kaylene Hanauumikanoena Ho, 77, of Kailua, a retired Aloha Airlines reservations supervisor, died in Las Vegas. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son Gerald; daughter Kay-Ella Dee; brothers Edward Jr. and Dave-Ray Toma; sisters Sarah Kanaiaupuni, Eleanor Riney and Brandy Lee Balmilero; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Visitation: 5:30 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary, mauka chapel. Services: 6:30 p.m. Casual or aloha attire. No flowers.
Henry Kazuo Higuchi Nov. 1, 2010 Henry Kazuo Higuchi, 76, of Hilo, proprietor of the former Henri’s On Kapiolani restaurant in Hilo, died in Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home, Hilo. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by brothers Harold and Albert; and sisters Tsutaye Nonaka, Kaoru Mikami, Setsuko Isa, Chizuru Sugawara and Carole Yano. Private services. No flowers. No monetary offerings.
Ralph Tsuruo Hiranaga Oct. 31, 2010 Ralph Tsuruo Hiranaga, 85, of Kahului, a retiree of the U.S. Postal Service in Kahului, died in Hale Makua Wailuku. He was born in Wailuku. He is survived by wife Kimie, son Russell, daughter June Yoshida, brother Tom, sister Lillian Sakuma and three grandchildren. Private services.
Lionel E. Jaller Oct. 28, 2010 Lionel E. Jaller, 81, of Honolulu, a retired chemical engineer and an Army veteran who served during the Korean War, died at home. He was born in New York. Private services.
Earl K. Jeremiah Nov. 9, 2010 Earl K. “Buster” Jeremiah, 78, of Keaukaha, Hawaii, an ukulele player and instructor, and founder and director of Na Mele O Na Opio and Na Lima Lele O Na Kupuna, died in Kuakini Medical Center. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by wife Ginger; sons Bryan, Rick, Stephen, Tracy, Bradley and Darren; daughters Alicia Jeremiah-Coombes and Kanoe and Darchelle Jeremiah; brother Douglas; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Visitation: 5 p.m. Thursday at Kuhio Chapel, Desha Avenue, Keaukaha. Celebration of life: 7 p.m. No flowers.
Phillip Jiminez Oct. 21, 2010 Phillip Jiminez, 73, of Waialua, a retired Wahiawa General Hospital maintenance worker, died in Wahiawa. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Gloria; sons Phillip Jr., Eddie, Kelvin and Kelwin; daughters Kuulei Womack, Rochelle Jiminez, Kimberlyn Bega and Gerly Lumayas; sister Mary Austin; 19 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Services: 10:15 a.m. Burial: 11 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Aloha attire. Flowers welcome.
William Keaweopala Nov. 1, 2010 William “Hussey” Keaweopala, 80, of Hilo, a retired Hilo Coast Processing Co. heavy equipment operator, died in Kau Hospital, Pahala, Hawaii. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by brother Robert “Papio,” sister Maude Amaral, stepbrother Jerry Miyamoto and stepsister Carol Laa. Private services.
Harriet Louise Kenney Nov. 8, 2010 Harriet Louise Kenney, 88, of Kahului, former owner of Island Ice Co. and employee at Maui Divers Jewelry Co. and Conrad Jewelers, died in Hale Makua Wailuku. She was born in San Jose, Calif. She is survived by son Martin, daughter Nancy Gammie, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Private services.
Christine Mildred Kort Nov. 11, 2010 Christine Mildred Kort, 95, of Kaneohe, a homemaker, died in Ann Pearl’s Nursing Home. She was born in Hawaii. She is survived by sons Alvin A.F. and Stanley L., sister Margaret Jordan, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Haw- aiian Memorial Park. No flowers.
Francis Chew Kun Luke Oct. 21, 2010 ?» Francis Chew Kun Luke, 86, of Honolulu, a retired federal government mechanical engineer and an Army veteran who served in World War II, died in Arcadia Retirement Residence. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Dorothy Y., son Michael T., daughter Lisa S. and brother Stanley C.W. Private services.
Barbara Jean Haunani Kawaa McDonald Oct. 24, 2010 Barbara Jean Haunani Kawaa “Babs” McDonald, also known as Charlene Nahinu, 60, of Pearl City, a state Department of Education bus driver, died. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by companion Kendall “Bear” Goya; and sisters Abigail Sale, Delcie Doctorello and Beverly A. Ako. Visitation: 5 p.m. Wednesday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Services: 6 p.m. Additional visitation: 10 a.m. Saturday at the mortuary. Services: 11 a.m.
James Waichiro Miller Nov. 9, 2010 James Waichiro Miller, 79, of Honolulu, a Chaminade University education professor, died at home. He was born in Hawaii. He is survived by wife Jane; sons David, Mark, Paul, Jon and Peter; daughter Ruth Anne Magliozzi; brother John F.; sisters Grace Culio, Elaine Simmons, Pearl Santos, Lala Ostermeyer, Florence Andrzejewski, Jane Leite and Amy Chung; and six grandchildren. Celebration of life: noon Friday at Mystical Rose Oratory, Chaminade University. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to Chaminade University and Shriners Hospital.
Harrietta Leihualani Naki Oct. 30, 2010 Harrietta Leihualani “Hank” Naki, 65, of Kaneohe, a former cashier at Holiday Mart, Daiei and Don Quijote on Kaheka Street, died in Kaneohe. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by companion Douglas Kekoa; daughters Rhonda, Amber, Kimberly and Melanie; father William Jr.; brother Randy Drew; sisters Wilma Naki, Coralene Souza and Bernadette Carrick; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Visitation: 6 p.m. Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Services: 7 p.m. Additional visitation: 9:30 a.m. Friday at the mortuary. Services: 11 a.m. Burial: noon at Valley of the Temples. Aloha attire.
Larissa Deanna Shimoda Nakasone Sept. 30, 2010 Larissa Deanna Shimoda Nakasone, 40, of Kalaoa, Hawaii, an administrative assistant, died in Kona Community Hospital. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Andrew; son Jacob; daughters Deanna Shimoda-Nakasone and Adrian and Josslynn Nakasone; father Edlin Shimoda; mother Beverly Huddy; brother Martin Antonio; and sisters Rhonette Poepoe and Ramona Lariosa. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio. Services: 11 a.m. Casual attire.
Nancine Kauiokipu Malina Okano Oct. 31, 2010 Nancine Kauiokipu Malina Okano, 59, of Wailua Homesteads, Kauai, died at home. She was born in Lihue. She is survived by husband Bryan; son Irai; daughters Margie, Misty and Ariane Okano, and Nancy Okano-Scheer; hanai daughter Penni Rubio; sisters Grace Kamai and Maggie Banquel; and 18 grandchildren. Private services.
Gordon John Oliveira Oct. 16, 2010 Gordon John “Kane” Oliveira, 58, of Honolulu, a singer and teacher, died in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Reva; son Michael Dilda; daughter Nichol Dilda; parents John and Beverly; brothers Blaine, Daryl and John; sister Coleen Colunga; and two grandchildren. Visitation: 10 a.m. Friday at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Services: 11 a.m. go to website old lahaina luau
Rowena Rabanes Paito Oct. 27, 2010 Rowena Rabanes “Inday” Paito, 26, of Waipahu, a Young Laundry employee, died in Aiea. She was born in Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines. She is survived by companion Melvin Rosales; son Marc A. Rosales; parents Silvestre and Filma Baldo; and brothers Filman R., Junuel and Julius. Visitation: 6 p.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Services: 7 p.m. Additional visitation: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Resurrection of the Lord Church, 94-1260 Lumikula St., Waipio. Mass: 11 a.m. Burial: 12:30 p.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.
Myrtle Ku’uleialoha Kealoha Pung Oct. 27, 2010 Myrtle Ku’uleialoha Kealoha Pung, 80, of Honokaa, Hawaii, a retired Head Start preschool teacher for the Hamakua District, died at home. She was born in Honokaa. She is survived by husband Joseph; sons Fierry, Kelby, Darcy, Richard, Sammie and Rory D.; daughter Carmela Boteilho; sister Laverne Ah Ching; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Honokaa. Services: 11 a.m. Aloha attire.
Fernando Ribao Jr. Nov. 9, 2010 Fernando Ribao Jr., 83, of Pukalani, Maui, a retired shift supervisor at Maui Electric Co., Kahului Power Plant, and a plumbing contractor, died at home. He was born in Hana, Maui. He is survived by wife Rose; sons Kenneth “Bugsy” and Michael Sr.; daughters Charmaine Molina, Joanne Quintos and Linda Tavares; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Visitation: 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass: 11:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Makawao Cemetery.
Maile Elizabeth Schroeder-Hill Nov. 7, 2010 Maile Elizabeth Schroeder-Hill, 3, of Mililani died in Kapiolani Medical Center. She was born in Fort Carson, Colo. She is survived by father Eric Schroeder; mother Brandy Hill; stepfather Walter Hill; brother Cameren Schroeder; sisters Amber and Autumn Hill; grandparents Laurie and Kirk Thompson, and Gene and David Schroeder; and great-grandparents Edna and Elton Egami, Abner Gomes, Louise Hoogs, Janelle Schroeder and JoAnn Marble. Visitation: 2 p.m. Saturday at Thurston Memorial Chapel, Punahou School. Services: 3 p.m. Aloha attire.
Janet Kayoko Shiosaki Nov. 3, 2010 Janet Kayoko Shiosaki, 66, of Pearl City, a retired state employee, died at home. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Neal, Bert and Peter; mother Fujie Koda; brother Kenneth Koda; and five grandchildren. Private services.
Lit Szeto Oct. 29, 2010 Lit Szeto, 85, of Honolulu, a retired cook at King’s Garden Restaurant in Kaimuki, died in Kaneohe. He was born in Canton, China. He is survived by wife Wai Man, sons Peter and Joseph, brother Chau and sister Shang Chan. Visitation: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Program: 11 a.m. Services: 11:30 a.m. Burial: 12:30 p.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.
Harold Joseph Trinies Nov. 10, 2010 Harold Joseph Trinies, 78, of Kaneohe, an Army veteran, died in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Mary; sons Steven, Robert and Michael; hanai daughters Kristina and Pamela; and two grandchildren. Private services.
Hatsuko Watanabe Nov. 4, 2010 Hatsuko Watanabe, 94, of Hilo, owner of the former Shimizu Hotel, died in Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. She was born in Hilo. She is survived by sons Richard and George; daughters Yasue Okino, Amy Myer and Lynn Hirano; brothers Edward, Thomas and Wallace Shindo; sisters Shizue Nakamura and Harumi Kawamoto; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Visitation: 4 p.m. Wednesday at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Services: 5 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No monetary offerings.
Anonymous
Complimenti! I always here people mispronounce ‘grazie’… forgetting to pronounce the ‘e’.
As far as the bruschetta… hahaha… might be a lost cause eh?
Reminds me of the time when Carlo and I were at a restaurant in Arlington (TX) and he ordered the pasta. The waitress asked if he wanted to add Chicken.. you should have seen the disgusted look on his face.. it was priceless! He looked at her and said.. (in his thick Italian accent) “I’m Italian.. we DON’T eat chicken with our pasta.” She looked at me and I nodded in agreement. Then when she came back she asked if he was really from Italy and wanted to know what it was like there.
Ha, that is funny. P tried (and liked, he said) chicken with his pasta when he was in the US, but he has a hard time convincing the others around here that it is edible!
Sonia´s last [type] ..Uncle Pepe comes to visit!!
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I had the same experience at a wedding with Bruschetta. The server came around with a tray of mini bruschetta and I said out loud “oooh bruschetta!” and he corrected me and said “it’s pronounced “brushetta.” Then I said, “actually it’s is bruschetta – in Italian the ch makes a k sound.” He didn’t believe me and proceeded to aruge at which point I just left and went to look for the guy with the pigs in a blanket – LOL! I also really do not like it when people say grazi instead of grazie. I correct people all the time. Oh and my name. I am not Payola or Paolo. I am female hence the a at the end of my last name. Ok, rant over. LOL!
That is hilarious! I also heard “geo-vani” on a TV show the other night instead of Giovanni. It was so funny. As an American, though, I have to forgive people for ‘grazi,” I had a hard time getting that one down, myself!
Paola´s last [type] ..Quick Update
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ISCHIA!!!!! Nobody can pronounce it, they totally crucify it!
(It’s Iss-kee-ah, not Eee-sha, Is-sha, Ee-shee-aah or anything else!)
Oh, and also Amalfi, lots of Americans pronounce it with a U instead of an A, Amulfi…not sure why.
Ha … amulfi is funny.
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Must me something with Texans and their “brushetta”
I had the same experience many times here. And I always end up getting corrected when I order anything in its original language: bruschetta becomes brushetta, praline becomes prailine, croissant becomes I-don’t-even-know-what. And since I am a foreigner (German), I usually also get a half-amused, half-pitying look that I still don’t get it after living here for 7 years. 
Talking about brushetta… Marco and I once ordered bruschetta in a hotel in Houston on the way home after a trip in Europe. When the waiter brought a huge plate with dark bread, much salad, and layers of cold cuts, we said that he must have gotten it wrong. We told him we wanted the bruschetta. Guess what! It was the bruschetta
We had a good laugh at ourselves for expecting what we would have gotten in Europe. Silly foreigners!
Hilarious.
Sabrina´s last [type] ..New Orleans- Court of Two Sisters- Cafe Du Monde- and St Charles Streetcar
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Oddiomio/ where do I begin??
GNOCCHI (nyo-kee) pronounced usually GA-NAH-KEE
CAPPUCCINO – pronounced CAP (as in baseball) ACHINO
STEFANO – If you can say Stephanie, you can say Stefano. Just. Do. It.
And, my usual, Miss Grammar moment, “Okay – say PIZZERIA – PIZZA-REE-YA. Good. Now, say, TRATTORIA – Trot-TORE-EEYA. No, try again…Pizzeria, Trattoria, Pizzeria, Tratt…!
He he …
Francesca Maggi´s last [type] ..Tante Belle Cose – October2010 – Romes Excellent Adventures
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The first words that came to mind were ‘bruschetta’ & ‘grazie’ as well. Of course I’m only more cognizant now because I’m intensely studying the language come una donna matta. Don’t get me started on ‘that thar kiANTti’ (Chianti)…
Ha! I am thinking a follow-up post is in order!
Valerie´s last [type] ..Woobie in a Bottle
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Hmmm, I always thought Capri was correctly pronounced differently among the two languages though it is spelled the same. Kind of like Firenze and Florence (though obviously those aren’t spelled the same). I don’t think it’s wrong to say Florence when you’re speaking in English, and I don’t think it’s wrong to use the American (and British?) pronunciation of Capri when speaking English. Same with Milan, Rome, Turin, Genoa, etc.
Actually, a better example is Paris. Would it be wrong in France to speak to someone in English and call it Pair-iss instead of Pah-ree? I think of Capri as doing the same thing.
But on a related note, if I take over the world, cities and places will have one name and will be pronounced the same in all languages. Tougher in places not using the same alphabet, so it will be spelled differently of course, but should still be pronounced the same. So then it would be pronounced CAH-pree everywhere since the Italian pronunciation would win.
My fave butchering of Italian by Americans we overheard in the airport in Roma (or Rome!) — an American was seen reading out of a guidebook to someone who worked there and he said dove (like the bird) luskitta (l’uscita). OMG, we were so amused/mortified that we didn’t even offer to help.
That’s pretty funny. Like you, when I take over the world, city/country, etc names won’t change. You make a point about it “correct” in English, though. I don’t guess we’d correct someone for saying Rome instead of Roma. Still, Capree just sounds *so* wrong!
Carina´s last [type] ..Fort Worth Running
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