Obituaries for Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Doris M. Sugahara
Doris M. Sugahara
Doris M. Sugahara, 90, of Kaua‘i, passed away on Nov. 26, 2022. She was born on March 12, 1932, on Kaua‘i. She was a medical records clerk at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital.
She was preceded in death by husband Miyogo Sugahara, son Leslie Sugahara, parents Sosei Furugen and Kameko Furugen, brothers Minoru Furugen, Tadashi Furugen, Kiyoshi Furugen and Wallace Furugen, sister Alice Furugen, great- grandson Kaya Sugahara and great-granddaughter Kodie Sugahara.
She is survived by sons Miles (Catherine Pfendler) Sugahara of Kaua‘i, Joel (Faith) Sugahara of Arizona and Brent Sugahara of Kaua‘i, sisters Masako Oda of O‘ahu and Elaine (Gary) Hiranaka of Kaua‘i, 10 grandchildren, 26 great- grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services are Jan. 21, at Kapa‘a United Church of Christ. Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. The family suggests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted. The family requests no koden (monetary donations).
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Jose Gatiuan
Jose Gatiuan, 87, passed away at his home in Wailua Homesteads on Jan. 5, 2023. He was born in Waipahu, O‘ahu, on Feb. 19, 1935, and was raised in Maunaloa, Moloka‘i. He graduated as a boarder at Lahainaluna High School in Lahaina, Maui.
After graduating high school, he became a machinist and worked for Dole Pineapple Company on Moloka‘i. He eventually moved to Kaua‘i and worked as a machinist at Lihu‘e Plantation Company. He retired from the Army National Guard after 25 years and 10 months at the rank of staff sergeant, and then went on to work at Alamo Rent a Car as a car checkout agent for 19 years.
He was preceded in passing by son Jay Gatiuan, parents Antonio and Hatsumi Gatiuan, siblings Mary (Jaime) Garlit, Floyd “Julio” (Shirley) Gatiuan and Violet (Al) Corpuz, and brother-in-law Sonny Manzano.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Josephina Gatiuan, children Deborah (Robert) Carter, Sharon (Thomas) McDonough and Gary (Ivy) Gatiuan, siblings Priscilla (Uldarico) Eleccion, Virginia (Jerry) Gomez, Dorothy (Joseph) Ganigan and Gloria (Melvin) Tandal, granddaughter Kimberly Hope McDonough, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life is Saturday, Feb. 4, at St. Catherine Church in Kapa‘a. Visitation will begin at 8 a.m., funeral Mass at 10 a.m., and burial to follow at 11:30 a.m. at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home. The family suggests casual attire.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Stanley ‘Sugi’ Mitsuyoshi Suenaga
Stanley “Sugi” Mitsuyoshi Suenaga, 84, passed away in Lihu‘e on Dec. 12, 2022. He was born in Lihu‘e on Oct. 18, 1938. He graduated from Kaua‘i High School, furthered his education as an electrician at Kaua‘i Technical School and worked as an electrician supervisor for R. Electric.
He served in the Army for three years as part of Company B, 9th Battle Group, 3rd Brigade, at Fort Ord, California. When he returned home to his beloved island of Kaua‘i, he was able to indulge in two of his favorite passtimes, cars and fishing.
He had a fascination and talent for rebuilding and racing cars. Fishing, however, was his true enjoyment. He was a fisherman at heart, enjoying early morning adventures on his first boat, a 24-foot beauty, the Ho‘oikaika. He later purchased a banana patch boat, he rebuilt and customized, naming it the “Stacie-lyn” for his two daughters. The Stacie-lyn provided many years of enjoyment and memories for him, as he is now fishing on heaven’s seas.
He was preceded in passing by parents Yutaka and Yoshino Suenaga and sister Ellen (Noburo) Kiyan.
He is survived by his wonderful wife of 51 years, Leilani (Kanoho) Suenaga, children Stacie Mosley and Stacelyn (Norman Jr.) Bukoski, grandchildren Shaden and Noah Mosley, Alysia and Siana Suenaga, Matthew, Hi‘ilani and Kahanu Bukoski, brother Donald Suenaga, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life is Friday, Jan. 20, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center, 3215 Kapule Highway, Lihu‘e, 96766. Visitation for the family will be from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Visitation with the family is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., with the service from 10:30 to 11 a.m. The family request that flowers be omitted.
Nancy Anne Roberts
Nancy Anne Roberts of Kailua, O‘ahu and Lawa‘i, passed away on Jan. 5, 2023.
She was born in Portland, Oregon to Winfred and Ruth Knight on Oct. 18, 1926. She went to school at Grant High School in Portland. She graduated from University of Oregon with a major in English as a member of the Class of 1948, and a member of the Phi Beta Phi sorority.
She married Thomas A. Roberts Jr. on Aug. 27, 1948, in Portland, Oregon. In 1960 Tom and Nancy moved to Kailua, O‘ahu, with their three sons. She resided in Kailua for 53 years before moving to Kaua‘i in 2014 and residing in Lawa‘i. Most of her working career was spent at Oceanic Institute (Mokapu‘u, O‘ahu) as executive secretary from 1971 to 1996. She was a volunteer at Kailua Library, Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kane‘ohe, and was an avid runner for many years. While on Kaua‘i she volunteered at the National Tropical Botanical Garden South Shore gardens oshibana group.
At her Kailua home, she hosted gymnasts from Maui Gymnastics (granddaughter Malia) as well as Kaua‘i volleyball players from Po‘okela Volleyball Club and Kaua‘i High girls volleyball (granddaughter Heather). She was one of the founders of Po‘okela Volleyball Club on Kaua‘i.
She was preceded in death by husband Thomas A. Roberts Jr. daughter-in-law Molly (Thomas) Roberts and grandson Matthew (Tiffany) Roberts.
She is survived by sons Thomas A. Roberts III, David K. Roberts and Richard L. (Peggy) Roberts, grandchildren Malia (Todd) Nordman, Lisa (Rey) Andrade, Tami (Jerry) Yamamoto, Heather (Nathan) Dewhirst and Colton Roberts, 11 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and Terrie Roberts.
Memorials may be given to Friends of Kailua Library, Ho‘omaluhia and National Tropical Botanical Garden.
The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to all the caregivers that so lovingly cared for her the last 5 years of her life.
Services will be held at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, where she will be laid to rest with her husband Thomas A. Roberts Jr.
Julia ‘J’ Kapahu Nakaya
Julia “J” Kapahu Nakaya, of Waimea, peacefully passed Jan. 1, 2021, at the age of 81. She was the owner/operator of J’s Dining and Catering in Waimea.
She was preceded in death by husband Kiyoshi Nakaya, parents Kim and Keahi Kapahu, brothers Ashford Kapahu, Tim Kim, Masa Kapahu, Albert Kapahu, Shima Kapahu and Edward Kapahu, and sisters Rebecca Niheu, Anna Keamoai and Mary Aviguetero.
She is survived by companion Wayne Odo of Waimea, children Nelson Nakaya of Poulsbo, Washington, Phyllis “Deko” (Mark Edgar) Okada of Kekaha, Kurt Nakaya and Sheldon (Kira Seabury) Nakaya of Waimea, grandchildren Shelby (Ryan) Omalza of Reno, Nevada, Ashlie (DJ) Moriguchi of Waimea, Jordan (Chrystal) Nakaya of Dupont, Washington, Shannon (Mich) Nakaya of Tricities, Washington, Jamie Kurt Vidinha of Lawa‘i, Kalei (Ayla) Nakaya of Las Vegas, Kayla (Kalani) Nakaya of Kapa‘a, Ku‘ualoha Kaleleiki, Shelee “Lei” Nakaya, Shelcee “Pili” Nakaya and Shelvee “Kaohu” Nakaya of Waimea, great-grandchildren Kealoha Omalza, Emelia Nakaya, Kezlynn Scanlan and Kiyoshi Omalza, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life is Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Garden Island Mortuary in Lawa‘i. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. with services to follow.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Eleanor Hada
Eleanor Hada, 92, of Wailua, passed away on Jan. 6, 2023.
She was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. She became a nurse and traveled to Kaua‘i, where she met the love of her life, Juneji Hada, and raised her family. She retired from Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, where she was a union representative and worked in the pharmacy department. She loved reading, cooking, church, and spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by husband Juneji Hada and son Shawn Hada.
She is survived by daughter Zibeth Hada and son Jay (Jacqueline) Hada, grandchildren Muriah Moises, Morgan Moises-Lopez, Sydney Nunes, Jay J. Hada, Chelsea Hada, Madison Hada, Kai Hada, Keanu Hada and Chastity Hada, and numerous great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held in private by the family.
The family wishes to extend its sincere thanks to Dr. Yee and the staff and Garden Isle Healthcare, and Father Nick of St. Catherine Church.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
