Maria Udaundo Caoili
Maria Udaundo Caoili, of Lihue, passed away on March 9, 2025, at the age of 87. She was born in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, on Aug. 29, 1937, and was a housekeeper at Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, waitress at Hamura Saimin and seamstress.
She was preceded in death by her husband Eusebio Caoili, parents Calixto and Priscilla Udaundo, brother Esteban Udaundo and brother-in-law Lino Beñas.
She is survived by her son Alex (Connie) Caoili, daughter Emelda Dias, brothers Alejandro (Carmelita) Udaundo, Roberto (Lolita) Udaundo, sisters Cristina Beñas, Rosalina (Pablo Virgilio) Valdez, sister-in-law Florentina Udaundo, grandchildren Melinda (Chris) Ishida, Tara-Lynn (Brandon) Kaui-Egami, Keahi Dias, Mariah (Miles) Inada, Taira Caoili, great-grandchildren Kenji, Kanoa and Kiana Ishida, Tiare and Micah Kaui, Xaelyn and Adrian Remigio, Hayden and Mahina Inada, Lexie Caoili, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at St. Michael and All Angels Church. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. with services to follow at 10:30 a.m. Burial will take place at Lihue Cemetery after services have been completed.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Paul Steven Graziano
Paul Steven Graziano, born Dec. 26, 1943, in Queens, New York, passed away on Feb. 27, 2025, in Augusta, Maine, where he resided since 2022. He was the first child born to Paul and Mary (Baiardo) Graziano.
Paul adored his family, and is survived by many who will drink Dewar’s in his memory for years to come: his son Rocko (Robyn), his son Stephen (Manisha), and their mother Peggy; his daughters Harmony and Manna, and their mother Sharon; his sister Mary (Kert), and his brother Robert (Nancy). He is also survived by his four grandchildren Annunziata, Harley, Christopher, and Kiren.
Paul led a full and interesting life. In his early years, he was a gifted student and skilled pool player and bowler; he bowled a 300 game in his late teens, and could shoot pool one-handed. (Either hand!) He spent many years working as a computer analyst, using punch cards on machines that took up entire rooms. He had a brilliant mind for systems and spatial relationships, and was the go-to person whenever there was a bug in the system that required fixing–in work, as well as in life.
Golf was Paul’s lifelong passion. He grew up playing with his father, uncle and brothers in New York; golf has remained the Graziano family game for generations. Paul preferred to play on municipal courses with friends and family, and cherished his trip with his son Rocko to Augusta National during the 2011 Masters Tournament. He rarely missed the coverage of the PGA Tour, providing color commentary throughout the rounds and putting the “hoolies” on players he didn’t like. He would happily wake at 3 a.m. to watch a tournament live, instead of catching the recording later in the day.
In his later years, Paul lived on Kaua’i, Hawai’i, where he relished the temperate climate, easy pace of life, and beautiful golf courses. Known as “Graz” to his golf buddies there, Paul played skins games for cash, regularly coming home from his favorite course at Wailua with wads of singles in his pockets. He favored the oceanfront 17th hole at that course, where he sunk one of his many lifetime holes-in-one.
Paul’s other passion in life was hoarding shares of the family “oochies”, a traditional Italian cookie first baked by his grandmother, Lucy, who passed the tradition on to Paul’s mother, Mary, then to Paul’s sister Mary, who now makes oochies with Paul’s daughters Harmony and Manna and granddaughters Annunziata and Kiren.
Paul was specific in his tastes—his diet consisted largely of gummy bears and Pepsi—and galactic in his curiosities. He was fascinated by the cosmos and theoretical physics, by the lens on the divine provided by an atomic understanding of the physical world. He solved issues with his golf game not at the range, but on the couch. He was known to dispense Paulie Wisdom to his children and friends, earning him the nickname Rabbi for his levelheaded perspective on life’s chaotic flux. He counseled generosity and patience; he loved to remind everyone that, as his favorite song goes, “All my life’s a circle”.
He is predeceased by his father Paul, mother Mary, brother Stephen and best friend, Anthony.
A celebration of life for Paul will be held on Kaua’i, Hawai’i, at Lydgate Campsite Pavillion, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 1 p.m. BOOYAH!
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Keller
July 11, 1947 — December 27, 2024
Gerald “Jerry” Keller, age 77, passed away peacefully on Dec. 27, 2024, in his Kapahi home.
Jerry was known throughout the island for his quick wit and ready jokes. No matter the subject, he always had a joke to share.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Southern California, Jerry spent many years in Mammoth Lakes, California, before moving to Kaua‘i in 2005.
Throughout his years on the island, Jerry owned and operated Casa Bianca in downtown Kapa‘a with his son Jason, worked in construction with his brother Randy, a cook and volunteer at St. Catherine’s School, and was a familiar face at the Safeway Kapa‘a bakery.
He is survived by his son Jason Keller, the mother of his granddaughters Jennifer Campbell, his granddaughters Lily and Daisy Keller, his hanai children Carla and Dan, his brothers Randall “Randy” Keller, Ron Kasperson, Jerry Kasperson, his sister Kathie Keller, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, and many other beloved family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Jennifer.
An excellent cook, Jerry was famous for his homemade spaghetti. He spent many happy hours at Kealia Beach and enjoyed good company and good tequila.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the large pavilion at Lydgate Beach on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m. Friends and family are invited to gather and share stories of Jerry’s life. His laughter and love will be cherished and remembered by all who knew him.
Our ‘ohana would like to thank Kaua‘i Hospice for the comfort and care they provided to Jerry in his last year.
Kenneth Nelson Rainforth
Kenneth Nelson Rainforth, a longtime resident of Kapaa, died peacefully at the age of 77 on Feb. 28, 2025, from lung cancer.
Ken was born in Hastings, Nebraska, on July 28, 1947, to career Marine pilot Richard H. Rainforth and his wife Eva Nelson Rainforth. Because Ken’s father was in the military, Ken moved often and spent his childhood living in North Carolina, Virginia, California, Washington State, and finally Hawaii.
The family settled in Kailua on Oahu while Ken was in high school. He attended Punahou High School and then attended the University of Hawaii where he received a degree in Architectural Design.
Hawaii suited Ken well, and upon graduation he surfed and lived in his van at the beach. Eventually he moved to Kauai, first working as a skycap at the Kauai airport, and then opening a surfboard shop where he made beautiful fiberglass boards.
Ken met his wife Paz while working at a reality office in Lihue. Paz was a Property Manager, and Ken was a bookkeeper’s assistant. They married April 14, 1979, and moved to their house in Kapaa in 1980 where they would reside until this year.
Ken started his job at Kauai County Housing Agency in 1979, where he put his architecture degree and interest in housing to work for the next 30 years. Throughout his career he worked closely with the Agency team across six mayoral administrations to build affordable housing on the island. He had deep knowledge of the history and complexity of housing on Kauai, and worked tirelessly to ensure housing was secure from generation to generation. He helped create 5000 housing units during his tenure. His work benefited many.
In his free time Ken volunteered as a reserve police officer, was a competitive shooter, amazing cook, an avid gardener, and ancestry researcher.
He leaves behind his wife Paz, daughter Laura Ray (husband Ron), grandsons Trevor Fobel and Justin Fobel, sister Mary Lee Walsh (husband Bill), brother R. Russell Rainforth (wife Breanne) and niece Natalie Walsh.
Milton Corpuz
Milton Corpuz, of Hanapepe, passed away on July 8, 2024, in Hanapepe at the age of 72. He was born on Sept. 17, 1952, in Lihue. He was a retired golf course maintenance worker at Kauai Lagoons.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dionicio and Lorencia Corpuz, sister Christine Pardua, brothers Clarence Corpuz, Melvin Corpuz and Ronald Corpuz Sr.
He is survived by his son Chadwick ‘Aukai Corpuz of Eleele, daughters Prudence Kanani ‘o Ku’uhome Chingman-Corpuz of Puhi, Primrose Kanoelani Corpuz of Hanapepe, grandchild Esjhalee Caryn Kau‘ikinimaka‘ona‘ona‘onalani Chingman-Corpuz, sisters Paula Rosa of Lihue, Patricia Rivera of Mililani, Oahu, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A service will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Garden Island Mortuary in Lawai. Visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by a celebration of life at 11 a.m. The family requests casual attire and welcomes flowers.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Silas ‘Charlie’ Kaumakahia Aqui
Silas “Charlie” Kaumakahia Aqui passed away on Jan. 17, 2025, at his home in Kapa‘a, Hawaii, surrounded by his ‘ohana. He was born on Aug. 11, 1962, to Silas Aqui and Marion Haruko Toguchi. Charlie, a carpenter by trade, loved the ocean, and spent a lot of time fishing and diving. He also enjoyed hanging with the Lihi crew.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law Wayne Watanabe and Nelson Makanani.
He is survived by his siblings Joseph (Rita) Aqui of College Place, Washington, Gerald (Wanda) Aqui of Kalaheo, Hawaii, Kathleen Watanabe of Wailua, Hawaii, Glenn (Linda) Aqui of Puhi, Hawaii, Jan Makanani of Hilo, Hawaii, Reggie (Phil) Aqui of San Francisco, California, and Marc (Dow) Aqui of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by his stepmother Marti Aqui of Aberdeen, Maryland, numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and his beloved cat Niele.
Charlie’s ‘ohana invites family and friends to celebrate his life on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cobb-Adams’ River House in Anahola (4271-E Kamane Road).
