Dennis Lee Kaipo Blake
Dennis Lee Kaipo Blake of Koloa passed away at his home at the age of 77 on July 19, 2021. He was a retired truck driver with Hawaiian Bitumuls.
Dennis was preceded in death by parents Charles and Thelma Blake and wife Judith “Hana” Blake.
Dennis is survived by sons Duane “Kaipo” (Tricia) Blake and Danny “Kawika” (Malia) Blake, brother Alva Blake, grandchildren Bree Kanoelaniokekai Blake, Blythe “Hoku” Blake, Makalapua Blake and Dallas Kilakila Blake, great-granddaughter Jeremiah Blake, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A Celebration of Life is Saturday, Sept. 4, at The Church of Koloa “Old Koloa Church,” with visitation from 9:30 to 10 a.m. with service to follow.
Due to COVID-19, social distancing and masks are required.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Paul Isami Yamaguchi
Paul Isami Yamaguchi of Lihu‘e passed away on May 28, 2021, at the age of 96, at Garden Isle Rehabilitation & Healthcare. He was born on May 1, 1925 on O‘ahu. He was a meat cutter/supervisor for Foodland Super Market, and also served in the U.S. Army and was a WWII veteran.
He is survived by wife Helen Yamaguchi, daughters Paula (Stanley) Alquiza and Ann Kennedy, son Paul (Cynthia) Yamaguchi Jr., four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Private services were held.
In-lieu of koden (monetary donations), donations can be made to Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission or Kaua‘i Veteran’s Council.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Helen Mildred Coffman
Helen Mildred Coffman of Lawa‘i passed away on Aug. 15, 2021, at the age of 90 at Wilcox Medical Center, after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born on June 10, 1931 in Lahaina, Maui, and moved to Kaua‘i in 1959 with her husband. She was a hard worker and devout Jehovah’s Witness, raising four children and working daily on the family farm.
She was preceded in death by parents Thomas Ritchie Gentry and Ada Mildred Scott, husband Richard Coffman, and sister Pat Horton.
She is survived by brothers Ritchie (Mary) Gentry of San Diego and Jock (Jolene) Gentry of Honoka‘a, Hawai‘i Island, children Linda (Keith) Silva of Kalaheo, Laura (Ralph) Owens of O‘ahu, Lana Coffman of Lawa‘i and Spencer Coffman of Lawa‘i, grandchildren Keri Silva and Zachary Silva, both of Kalaheo, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services will be held privately by the family.
Baby Ka Lei Mokihana O Ka‘iulani Kaneakua
Baby Ka Lei Mokihana O Ka‘iulani Kaneakua passed away on Aug. 6, 2021.
Baby Ka Lei Mokihana was preceded in death by grandfather William Kaneakua, grandparents John and Genevieve Carvalho, great-great-grandparents Michael Bonilla Sr., Willaim Wong Sr., James and Louise Kaneakua, Salvador and Emily Carvalho, Frank and Jane Simao, Isaac Simeon Kaiu and Eva Mo‘okini, Daniel and Rose Garcia and Manuel and Alexandrina Carvalho.
Baby Ka Lei Mokihana is survived by parents Ka‘inoa Kaneakua and Destiny Garcia, grandparents Kaulana and Penny Kaneakua and Daniel and Shandrina Garcia, great-grandparents Anita Kaneakua, Michael and Diana Carvalho, Wanda Wong, Stanford Garcia, Dorothy Bonilla and Marjorie Wong.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Linda F. Fujita
Linda F. Fujita, born March 10, 1941 in Lihu’e, passed away of natural causes at the age 80 in Waipahu, O‘ahu on March 25, 2021.
She graduated from Kaua‘i High School in 1959 and Colorado State University in 1963. After returning to Hawai‘i she became a teacher for the state, and taught at Waimanalo Intermediate and Kalaheo High School on O‘ahu. She retired from teaching in 1996 and spent her time baking, traveling, and watching Korean dramas.
She was preceded in death by father Elmer Fujita, mother Hanako Iwamoto Fujita, and sisters Lurene (Yoshio) Ota and Barbara (Dan) Funamura.
She is survived by brother Calvin Fujita.
Services will be held on O‘ahu at a future date.
Laverne Mikiyo Kodama-Yokoi
Laverne Mikiyo Kodama-Yokoi of Wailua Houselots passed away on Aug. 4, 2021, at the age of 77. She was born on Feb. 13, 1944, and was a retired office worker.
She was preceded in death by parents Shoichi and Kimiko Kodama, husband Ronald Yokoi, brother Ben Kodama and sister Karen Yamamoto.
She is survived by stepdaughters Amber (John) Bird and Miko (Adam) Yokoi, step-grandchildren Siena and Simone Bird, brothers-in-law James Yamamoto, Royden (Betty) Yokoi and Gordon Yokoi, and sisters-in-law Ann Kodama and Vera Yokoi.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 at Garden Island Mortuary on Saturday, Sept. 4.
The family requests that, in lieu of koden (monetary gifts), flowers be placed when convenient at her final place of rest at Lihu‘e Cemetery. Details will be provided at her visitation on Sept. 4.
Due to COVID-19, social distancing and masks are required.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Edwin Ahana
Edwin Ahana was born in Lihu‘e, fourth son of K.M. and Flora Ahana, on Feb. 7, 1933. He joined the Air Force soon after graduating from Kaua‘i High School in 1951. He retired with the rank of master sergeant from the Air Force after 26 years in 1977 and worked as a civilian employee for another 27 years at the Air Force Civilian Personnel Office, after which he worked at other occupations until he passed quietly on July 5, 2021.
He was preceded in death by older brothers Kenneth, Victor and Alvin.
He is survived by his family in Okinawa, son, Richie (Masako), grandson Zen, granddaughters Ayumi and Kozue and step-daughter, Megumi. In Hawai’i, he is survived by older sister Ellen and brother Mervin.
He will be buried with full military honors at Punchbowl at a private service for family only.
Hosoi Garden Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Lillian Nishimoto
Lillian Nishimoto passed away on Aug. 14, 2021, at the age of 93, in Waimea. She was born on April 3, 1928 on Kaua‘i. She was a housewife.
She was preceded in death by father Seichi Kimura, mother Harumi Yoshihara and daughter Rae Ho‘okano.
She is survived by husband El Nishimoto, sons Robert (Karen) Nishimoto of Lihu‘e, Jack (Tammy) Nishimoto of Lihu‘e, 12 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Alfredo Gagis Butac
Alfredo Gagis Butac passed away at the age of 88. He was born on Jan. 5, 1933, in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He worked at Lihu‘e Plantation then as a groundskeeper before retiring.
He was preceded in death by parents Graciano and Rosalina Butac, son Judith Butac, daughter Juvelyn Butac, brother-in-law Edmidio Butac and sister-in- law Lucricia Butac.
He is survived by wife Carmen M. Butac, daughters Adelaida (Dominador) Viajedor, Jesusa (Alberto) Pacobat, Avelina (Danilo) Camungao, Glenda Butac and Belinda Butac, sons Fernando (Eliza) Butac and Alex (Emelita) Butac, brother Benjamin Butac, 14 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services are Friday, Sept. 10, at Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary in Koloa. Time with the family begins at 9 a.m., followed by a service at 10:30 a.m. and burial at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Kapaia.
