• John Francis Akana • Paul Russell McCleary • Esmenia Barba • Rev. Tsuneo Miyashiro • Catherine Sanford • Marilou Aspacio John Francis Akana John Francis “Johnny Boy” Akana of Kalihiwai, died on Jan. 13, 2004, at the age of
• John Francis Akana
• Paul Russell McCleary
• Esmenia Barba
• Rev. Tsuneo Miyashiro
• Catherine Sanford
• Marilou Aspacio
John Francis Akana
John Francis “Johnny Boy” Akana of Kalihiwai, died on Jan. 13, 2004, at the age of 57.
Born into a family of konohiki fishermen, Johnny was trained by his father Boy and grandfather John in traditional Kanaka Maoli methods of natural and cultural resource management. He learned to malama and harvest puhi, honu, and many varieties of limu. Johnny later turned to aquaculture, facilitating the development of the Malaysian prawn and channel catfish industry in Hawai’i.
Johnny was an accomplished surfer who inspired and taught so many. He was a fixture at Kalihiwai, where he and his brother-in-law David Sproat were the first to surf Kalihiwai Point in the early 1960s. Surfing at Kalihiwai was also the last thing that Johnny did in this life.
Johnny pioneered the development of the Kaua’ Strawberry Sunrise papaya and was a leader in the agriculture industry throughout his 35-year farming career. He traveled extensively to promote papayas and served for many years on the Papaya Administrative Committee and other agricultural boards and organizations.
A fearless community organizer and advocate, Johnny worked tirelessly to ensure that the quality of life in the Halele’a district was preserved for the local community. He was a founding member and the president of the Kilauea Ag Association and invested over 30 years in the development of an agricultural park in Kilauea, which, hopefully, will be his legacy to the community.
Johnny began his entertainment career with the Kamehameha Schools’ Concert Glee Club, performing at the World’s Fair in New York. In recent years, his focus turned to hula and together with his partner Mauli Cook, he was a member of Papa Laua’e o Makana, the Kaua’i branch of Pua Ali’i ‘Ilima under the direction of Kumu Hula Victoria Takamine.
Johnny is survived by his partner Mauli Cook, sister Linda Akana Sproat, brother-in-law David Sproat; nieces Stacy (David and Mahie), Kapua (Kala) and Nanea (Nelson).
A memorial service celebrating the life and work of Johnny will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 24, at Christ Memorial Church in Kilauea.
Paul Russell McCleary
Paul Russell McCleary of Kapa’a, died Jan. 14, 2004, in Hawai’i at the age of 67.
Born May 18, 1936, in Glendale, Calif., he was the proprietor of Ironwood Plumbing Co.
He is survived by his wife Deanna McCleary; son David (Lorena) McCleary; daughter Rebecca McCleary (Timo) Herranen; sister Faye McCleary Rossow; grandchildren Ashley Herranen Ricketts, Dana Herranen, Jesse-Lee McCleary, Cody McCleary, great grandchildren, Seyla Ricketts, and Ava Ricketts.
Memorial service will be held Saturday Jan 24, at 1 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kapa’a.
The family asks that flowers be omitted.
Esmenia Barba
Esmenia Yadao Barba of Kekaha and Chino, Calif. died on Jan. 15, 2004 at her residence in Chino and now rests in peace. Born in Kilauea on July 15, 1928, she was 75 years old.
She is survived by her loving husband, Anselmo G. Barba of Kekaha; two sons, Paul (Sharlene) Barba of Kekaha, Stanford (April) Barba of Lihu’e and one daughter, Selma (Calvin) Myles of Chino, Calif.; six siblings, Sally Pasion of Hanama’ulu, Paula (Santiago) Cadaoas of Oma’o, Gloria (Andres) Acoba of Kalaheo, Veronica (Robert) Cook of Wailua Homesteads, Karen Guillermo of Irvine, Calif., and Cisario “Sonny” Yadao of Hillsboro, Ore.; four grandchildren; Joshua and Christen Myles, Kierra Barba and Desiree Barba.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at St. Theresa’s Church in Kekaha. Service to begin at 11 a.m. Burial to follow at the Kekaha Public Cemetery. Casual attire is suggested.
Arrangements are being handled by Borthwick Kauai Mortuary.
Rev. Tsuneo Miyashiro
Rev. Tsuneo Miyashiro died in Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 11, 2004, at the age of 78. He was born and raised in Kapa’a Homesteads, attended Kapa’a School and graduated from Kaua’i High School in 1943.
He was a retired ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, obtaining his theology degree from Boston University. He served churches in Massachusetts, Illinois and Ohio. He also taught religion at the Ohio State Penitentiary. He was a social activist for the Peace & Justice Movement and for the less fortunate members of society.
On his 48th birthday, he experienced kidney failure and soon thereafter began dialysis treatment. When he was 58 years old he received a kidney transplant from his sister Itsuko, enabling him to live a productive and active life for another 20-plus years.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ellamae, sons David of Columbus, Ohio and Paul of Pompano Beach, Fla., and daughter, Beth (Mike) Vivio and two grandsons of Waco, Texas. He is also survived by his brothers (Joyce) Miyashiro and Lloyd Miyashiro of Kapa’a; sister Itsuko (Masaru) and brother Tasuku (Dot) of Honolulu and Iusumu (Thelma) of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Memorial services were held on Jan. 17, at the North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio.
Catherine Sanford
Catherine Louise Sanford, died Dec. 27, 2003, in Tacoma, Wash., at the age of 54.
Born to Rosemary MacGeorge and John B. McCarthy in Coos Bay, Ore., she has lived in Eugene, Ore.; Princeville and the North Shore of Kaua’i; Couer d’Alene, Idaho; and most recently in Gig Harbor, Wash.
She touched many lives during her years at Margo’s Hair Design in North Bend, dancing at the Sawdust Theater in Coquille, Ore., working for the Kauai Times, Captain Zodiac and the Hawaiian Art Museum by Aloha International on Kaua’i. In Gig Harbor, she was the co-owner and artist of Topside Tees.
She is survived by the father of her daughters, Leon Sanford of Tucson, Ariz.; daughters, Katrina (Mark) Fogelson of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Sonja (Tom) Birchard of Waialua, Hawai’i; four grandchildren; partner, James Marshall of Gig Harbor; siblings, Sylvia Hosie of Toledo, Ore.; half brother, Lewis Schroeder, and half sister, Mary Schroeder, both of North Bend, Ore.
Memorials will be celebrated with friends and family members privately. In memory of Catherine’s life and in honor of the 24 years that Cathy lived free of breast cancer, her family requests that donations be made in her name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (http://www.komen.org).
Marilou Aspacio
Marilou Leones Aspacio, of San Diego, Calif., died at Kaiser Permanente Hospital on Jan. 8, 2004 at the age of 50.
She was born in Banaoang, Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Philippines on Feb. 20, 1953. She worked for Avis Rent A Car as a rental sales agent.
Preceded in death by her mother, Rosa Astrologio Leones and brother Ronnie Leones, she is survived by her husband, Rustom and son Dennis of San Diego, Calif., father, Samson Leones and stepmother Leonida Leones of Puhi, Sister Merelyn (James) Barnes of Las Vegas, Nev., Teresa Leones of Maryland; Madgalena Leones of San Bernardino, Calif.; Vicky (Tony) Reyes of San Lorenzo, Calif.; brother Saturnino Leones Jr., Darwin (Janice) Leones of Puhi; mother-in-law, Esperanza Aspacio; sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws; numerous uncles, aunties, cousins, nephews, nieces and grand nieces and nephews.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, Jan. 30 at Borthwick Kauai Mortuary from 6 to 9 p.m. Rosary to start at 7 p.m. followed by father Napoleon Andres services. And again on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Saint Raphael Church in Koloa where mass will be celebrated by father Nap at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Saint Raphael church cemetery in Koloa. Casual attire is suggested.
Arrangements are being handled by Borthwick Kauai Mortuary.
