Eustaquio U. Paraniaque Jr.
November 20, 1965 — March 6, 2025
Eustaquio “Marik” Paraniaque Jr., of Killeen, Texas, passed away tragically on March 6, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of service, courage and love. A proud veteran of the US Army, Marik dedicated 20 years of his life to protecting and serving our country and continued to support our military after he retired as a federal contractor supporting the military’s mission.
Born on Nov. 20, 1965, in Kauai, Hawaii, Marik grew up with a deep sense of duty and service, values that led him to enlist in the Army at age 20. During his service he served deployments in Kuwait, Korea, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq with multiple awards and commendations earned.
Beyond his military career, Marik was a devoted father and is survived by his sons Kallen and Ian whom he will forever be deeply proud of. He and his ex-wife Angela remained close and shared their dedication to their sons. His sisters Bernadette Ferreira, Janice Balauro, Allison Paraniaque, Valerie Anduha and Jaydene Ishii and many cousins, nieces and nephews and close friends around the country who miss him dearly.
He is preceded in death by his parents Eustaquio Sr and Emma Paraniaque.
A service to honor and celebrate Marik’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on March 20, 2025, at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the family in support of his final expenses.
Though Marik was taken too soon, his love, sacrifices and unwavering spirit will always be remembered, and he will live on in the hearts of those privileged to have known him. He was much loved and will always be missed.
Psalm 13:6 I will sing the Lord’s praises, for He has been good to me.
Frank ‘Francis’ Hiroshi Nakao
Frank “Francis” Hiroshi Nakao passed away on Jan. 15, 2025, at the age of 80. He was born in Honokaa on July 21, 1944. He worked for IBM Corporation, Union Oil Company, and Richfield Capital Corporation, and he was a mortgage consultant with Spectrum Mortgage prior to retiring.
Frank is pre-deceased by his mother Fumie Beppu, grandparents Shigezo and Tamayo Nakao and biological father Hisao Teraoka.
He is survived by his father Harry Beppu, sister Reni (Steven) Pereira, brothers John (Irene) Teraoka, Wesley (Della) Teraoka, Michael (Elaine) Teraoka, Wade (Susan Shiroma) Teraoka, sister JoAnn (Randy Yamamoto) Tanaka, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
A memorial service was held at Oahu Mortuary on March 15, 2025.
Rodney Baptiste
Rodney Baptiste passed away on Feb. 10, 2025, at Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Born in Lihue on Aug. 28, 1955, he grew up in Kalaheo graduating from Kauai High in ’73. He would eventually move to Koloa to raise his family. Construction driver by trade, he was broadly known for his generous nature and willingness to help others.
He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Marian Baptiste, sister Darlene Ruiz and brother Anthony Baptiste.
He is survived by his wife JoRae Baptiste, children Rodney Kaulana (Bethany) Baptiste, Ian Baptiste, Krystina (Alex) Baptiste, Logan Baptiste, grandsons Canon Kupa’a, Cooper Kahawai and brother Ricky Baptiste.
Remembrance will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Koloa Union Church. Visitation starts at 9 a.m. with services at 10:30 a.m.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Shannon Akiko Morishige
Shannon Akiko Morishige, of Kauai, passed away on Jan. 27, 2025, at home at the age of 49. She was born on Oct. 11, 1975, in Lihue, Kauai.
She was preceded in death by Bobby and Hatsue Tasaka and Edward and Dora Morishige.
Shannon is survived by her parents Susan and Dwight Morishige, sister Kylie (Adam) Hussey, nephews Micah Hussey, Noah Hussey, numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.
A service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Garden Island Mortuary in Lawai. Visitation begins at 9 a.m., followed by service at 10 a.m. The family requests casual attire and flowers be omitted.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
James Tsutomu Sakai
James Tsutomu Sakai, 82, of Kalaheo, was born on Feb. 1, 1943, and passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he resided with his son Darin, daughter-in-law Natasha, and granddaughter Reve since July. He enjoyed watching sports, eating good food, visiting Kauai friends at the California Hotel, and keeping the cats entertained.
James joined the U.S. Army immediately after high school. His career in the hospitality industry began humbly as a busboy at Kauai Surf, where he worked his way up to become a Food and Beverage Manager. In the early ’70s, he moved to Maui to manage food and beverage at the Maui Surf Hotel. When that establishment closed, he took on the same role at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel. In the early ’90s, he returned to his home island of Kauai, where he later worked in security at the Hyatt Regency until his retirement.
He was preceded in death by his wife Sarah Elizabeth Sakai, brothers Douglas Masayuki Sakai and William Teruo Sakai.
James is survived by his sons Darin (Natasha) of Las Vegas, Timothy Urquhart of Oahu, daughter Suzanne Sakai-Ajimine (Jonathan) of Kalaheo, grandson Isaac Dumlao of Bellingham, Washington, granddaughters Reve Ferraro, Jessica Ferraro, nephew William Sakai Jr. (Samantha) and niece Amy Rita (Greg).
Services will be held at the Kauai Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, March 22 at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of your choice in James’s memory.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Norman Y. Hashisaka
Norman Yukio Hashisaka, beloved husband, dad, papi, grandpa, great grandpa, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend to many, passed away on Jan. 8, 2025, at 99 years old. Born in Waianae, O‘ahu, and raised on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu, Norman attended Kaua‘i High School and graduated from McKinley High School. He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Military Intelligence Service, which was later honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for its exceptional service.
Upon returning to Hawaii, Norman met the love of his life, Mabel Kawakami, at the University of Hawaii. They began their life together on the Big Island, where she taught school and he worked for his brother-in-law’s company, Suisan, Inc. They later returned to Kaua‘i, where he served in various capacities within the Kawakami family businesses, eventually becoming president of Big Save, Inc. and Eleele Shopping Center, as well as chairman of N.F. Kawakami Store, Ltd. He also helped found Kaua‘i Kookie and ran the Kaua‘i Laundromats business. He was a lifetime Lions Club member. Norman was a longtime member of his church (Hanapepe United Church of Christ) and was supportive of many other faith communities.
Norman was known for his calm and kind demeanor, and his contributions were many as he served on numerous boards and commissions. He actively assisted with our sister-city relationships. Throughout the decades, he worked tirelessly to promote Kaua‘i and to make both Kaua‘i and Hawaii better places for all.
Norman is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 71 years, Mabel, his children Reid (Marilyn) Hashisaka, Ruth (Clyde Fukuyama) Hashisaka, Ann Hashisaka, his grandchildren David (Brittany) Hashisaka-Peters, Hisa Hashisaka, Justin Akiyoshi, Liam Fukuyama, his great-grandchild Rogue Hashisaka-Peters, his sister-in-law Yukie Murakami, numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews, and grandnieces, along with a large and loving extended ‘ohana.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center (3215 Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Highway) in Lihue. Visitation will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a service at 11:30 a.m. and lunch afterwards. Burial will take place on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe at 1 p.m., followed by a gathering at Kaua‘i Kookie in Kalaheo.
