Obituaries for August 9, 2015
• Gregory Billett • Patrick Hallmark • Caroline J. Santos • Hilda Cannon • Herbert Fujimoto • Consolacion Aguinaldo Romero • Chiyo Ueunten • James Kazuo Amimoto • Wayne Itsuto Tanaka • Gary Allen Soto
Gregory Billett
Gregory Charles Billett passed away on May 30, 2015, in his home in Ashland, Oregon. He was 62 years old, born on April 14, 1953, in Oakland, California, and grew up in San Francisco. He lived in Kilauea and Hanalei, Kauai, for over 12 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bud Billett and Betty Billett.
He is survived by his sister Heidi (Michael) Snowden, his niece Zuriel Devine and her two sons Liam and Cormac, as well as his former wife, Magenta Billett.
Gregory was skilled at cooking and worked in some of San Francisco’s finest restaurants; he later worked as a high-rise painter in San Francisco. He also loved to sail and he and Magenta sailed to Kauai on the “Varua” in summer of 1990. Gregory continued painting with the Hawaii State Painters Union Local 1791.
He loved Kauai with all his heart. A celebration of Gregory’s life and scattering of his ashes was held at Kalihiwai Bay on the 4th of July. His spirit will truly be missed by those who loved him.
Patrick Hallmark
Patrick Jay Hallmark of Princeville passed away in Garden Isle Health Care on July 11, 2015, at the age of 72. He was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 14, 1942. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and was the proprietor of Hallmark Interiors in Barstow, California.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Reuben “Jack” and Dorothy Hallmark.
Patrick is survived by his wife, Lona Hallmark of Princeville; brother, Richard Hallmark of Barstow, California; two sons, Jason and Bruce, and one daughter, Sherry, all from Grand Junction, Colorado, and nine grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, from 2 p.m. at Church of the Pacific in Princeville.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the Hallmark family with arrangements.
Caroline J. Santos
Caroline J. Santos of Lihue, Kauai, passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on July 19, 2015, at the age of 77. Born on May 27, 1938, in Ele’ele, Hawaii, she was a retired hotel housekeeper with Sherton Hotel.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Frances Moura; brothers, Howard and Reginald Moura; and sister, MaryAnn Pavao.
She is survived by her son, John K. (Momi) Santos of Kahalui, Maui; five daughters, Debra (Royden) Orsatelli of Ele’ele, Kauai, Sylvia (Robert) Tolentino of Palm Desert, California, Irene (Lyle) Brackenridge of Kapolei, Oahu, Donna (Tony) Dotimas of Puhi, Kauai, and Lisa Oatis of Kapolei, Oahu; 10 grandchildren, Brittany Brackenridge, Kalani Brackenridge, Tina (Tolentino) Marin, Toby Tolentino, Nicole Orsatelli, Ryan Orsatelli, Isaac Dotimas, Kainoa Dotimas, Starlet Santos and Roxanne Santos; 11 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Mildred Pimental of Kalaheo, Dorothy Medeiros of Lihue, Katherine Kua of Lihue and Violet Yagihara of Hanalei; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo. Visitiation begins at 9 a.m. with an 11 a.m. Mass to follow. Inurnment will take place at the Holy Cross Cemetery.
Family suggests casual attire and flowers are welcomed.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Hilda Cannon
To a very special person, we bid a fond farewell. Hilda Domdoma Cannon, 89, died peacefully on July 22, 2015, at the Hale Kapuna Heritage Home in Omao.
Hilda Cannon was born in Makaweli, Kauai, and attended Waimea High School.
She was preceeded in death by her husband, L.T. “Pat” Cannon; father, Fortunato Domdoma; stepfather, Sesinando Rafael; mother, Isabella Domdoma Rafael; brother, Alex Domdoma; sister, Margaret Salvador.
Hilda Cannon is survived by son, Milton (Deborah) Valera of California; daughters, Angela (Bruce) Morehead of Kauai, Linda (Robert Jr.) Burnz of Idaho; grandchildren, Mark (Christi) Valera of California, Michael (Robin) Valera of California, Matthew (Jen) Valera of California, Melanie Valera of California, Bailey Nakaahiki of Washington, Craig Nakaahiki of Oahu, Chad (Nicole) Morehead of Georgia, Robert-John (Melissa) Burnz of Idaho, Mary-Elizabeth (Richard) Natividad of Oahu; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; brothers, George Domdoma of Oahu, Clarence “Pake” (Betty) Domdoma of Kauai; sisters, Lucy McPalmer of Nevada, Agnes Domdoma of Oahu; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Hilda Cannon and her husband owned and operated hotel gift shops, “Top to Toe, Ltd.” After the death of her husband, she worked as director of Catholic Charities on Kauai. After Hurricane Iniki, Hilda Cannon was instrumental in providing hundreds of storage units, building materials, food, and so much more to the people of Kauai through donations. Her accomplishments are too numerous to list.
Hilda was a special friend to many.
A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, Aug. 10 at the St. Raphael Church in Koloa with visitation from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m.
Kauai Memorial Gardens and St. Raphael Church assisted the family with arrangements.
Herbert Fujimoto
Herbert Taketo Fujimoto of Lihue passed away at Kauai Care Center on Aug. 2, 2015, at the age of 90. He was born on Feb. 7, 1925 and retired as a mail carrier with USPS.
Herbert was preceded in death by his wife, Carol Kodani Fujimoto; son, Alan Fujimoto; sister, Bernice Takenaka and son-in-law; Ronald Kawamura.
Herbert is survived by sons, Wayne (Hazel) Fujimoto of Eleele and Chad Fujimoto of Honolulu; daughters, Judith Kawamura and Donna (Kent) Mitani both of Mililani; sisters, Tsuyako Iwamoto, Teruko (Walter) Matsumoto, Michiye Funaku, Tamie (Edward) Kashiwamura, Edith (Harold) Takenaka, Myrna Matsueda and Rose Marie (David) Rikimaru; six grandchildren, one great-grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at Lihue Christian Church with visitation from 9:30 a.m. and services celebrated at 10:30 a.m.
Family suggests casual attire and graciously declines flowers.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the Fujimoto family with arrangements.
Consolacion Aguinaldo Romero
Consolacion Aguinaldo Romero of Kekaha passed away in Liliha, Oahu, on July 21, 2015, at the age of 94. Born on Aug. 15, 1920, in Bangui Ilocos Norte, Philippines, she was a retired seamstress for the late Guadalupe Bulatao and an amazing grandma and great-grandma.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marcelo Romero; and parents, Inocencia Acio Aguinaldo and Arthur Sagucio Aguinaldo.
Consolacion is survvied by her son, Rogelio Marzan (Primie) of Honolulu; three grandchildren, Lilian (Francis Jr.) DeCosta of Honolulu, Hazel Wachi of Kalaheo, and Clyde Marzan of Honolulu; six great-grandchildren, Kristen DeCosta of Honolulu, Ashley DeCosta of Honolulu, Kiara DeCosta of Honolulu, Matthew DeCosta of Honolulu, Jianna Wachi of Kalaheo, and Kallen Wachi of Kalaheo; brothers, Thomas Aguinaldo of Somerset, New Jersey, Arthur Aguinaldo Jr. of Spring Valley, California, and Abelardo Garvida of Hanamaulu; sisters, Flora Sagucio of Kekaha, and Leticia Serrano of Washington; and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A rosary will take place at 7 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2015, at 4291 Kai Ikena Drive, Kalaheo.
Friends may visit with the family at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel in Lawai on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. with Mass to begin at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Kauai Memorial Gardens.
The family suggests casual attire and flowers are welcomed.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Chiyo Ueunten
Chiyo Ueunten of Kalaheo passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on June 28, 2015, at age 88. She was born in Koloa to the late Ushi and Kamato Gushiken on Sept. 15, 1926. She is survived by husband Sensuke, sons Paul (Bobbie) of San Jose,California, David (Lei) of Honolulu, Gary (Glenna) of Lawai, Wesley (Julie) of El Cerrito, California, sister Harue Oshiro of Waipahu, and eight grandchildren: Jennifer, Kyle, Brett, Amy, Trent, Christina, Teresa and Lyle.
Chiyo graduated from Koloa School in 1941 and Kauai High School in 1945, and earned a UH Bachelor of Arts in 1950 and UH Certificate in Social Work in 1951. She worked as a social worker and as school counselor at Kalaheo and Kauai High School. Her comforting presence and loving support of family, friends and community will be missed.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at Koloa Union Church in Koloa. Visitation starts at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m. followed by lunch. Inurnment will be at the Koloa Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Kauai Hospice.
James Kazuo Amimoto
James Kazuo Amimoto of Puhi, born on Sept. 17, 1928, in Puhi, Kauai, passed away at Wilcox Hospital on Aug. 2, 2015, at the age of 86.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian Amimoto; son, Alton (Sheri Lyn) Amimoto of Lihue, Kauai; daughter, Denise Nako of Kaneohe, Hawaii; two grandchildren; sister Shigeno Kuboyama of Puhi; sister-in-law Violet Amimoto of Kaneohe, Hawaii; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gensuke and Sue Akimoto Amimoto; brothers Satomi Amimoto, Seichi Amimoto, Nobuo Amimoto, Isamu Amimoto and sister-in-law Shizue Amimoto.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, at the Lihue Hongwanji Temple. Visitation will be at 4 p.m. with services at 5 p.m.
The family requests casual attire.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Wayne Itsuto Tanaka
Wayne Itsuto Tanaka of Lihue, born on April 22, 1935, in Koloa, passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on July 23, 2015, at the age of 80.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kameo and Fuyu Tanaka; son, Duane; brothers, Warren, Hideo, Elden and Mitsuji; and sister, Miyeko.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Leatrice Morimoto Tanaka; daughters, Melanie (Eric) Yeaman of Honolulu, and Stephanie (Clayton) Mira of Honolulu; five grandchildren, Lauren and Jake Yeaman, Kiara and Colton Kobayashi, and Kyla Mira; sisters, Tamiko (Ted) Asahi, Sachiko Takayama and Audrey (Courtenay) Martin; and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel in Lawai. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m with services to follow at 11 a.m.
Family suggests aloha attire and is omitting flowers.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Gary Allen Soto
Gary Allen Soto of Kalaheo passed away at Kauai Veteran’s Memorial Hospital on July 26, 2015, at the age of 56. Born on Sept. 30, 1958, in Lihue, he was an equipment operator with the County of Kauai.
He is survived by his wife, Faith Miyuki Soto; two daughters, Karyle Soto of Kalaheo and Dyanne Soto of Lihue; son Garrison Soto of Oahu; mother, Dolores Soto of Kalaheo; mother-in-law, Toyoko Tabe of Waimea; brother, Bruce (Ronda) Soto of Kona, Big Island; sisters, Trudy (Malcolm) Azeka of Hanapepe, Kelly (Ron) Rockstrom of Fallon, Nevada, Peggy (Tom) Bray of Las Vegas, Nevada; and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Gary is preceded in death by his father, Eugenio “Henry” Soto; and father-in-law, William “Bill” Tabe.
Friends may visit with the family at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel in Lawai on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. Visitation will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a Celebration of Gary’s Life to follow at 6:30 p.m.
Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.