Passed away peacefully on March 26, 2020 at the age of 96. Grandma Gono was very caring, generous and thoughtful. She always tried to send you home with something if you visited her. She was always cheerful and happy. Our thanks to Mayrose Mendoza who was such a wonderful caregiver and the Queen's Geriatric staff.
For 40+ years she was a LPN at St. Francis Hospital. She was friendly and had such a wonderful bedside manner that she was loved by her patients and co-workers. Ellen made up funny words like "yako, yako" and "yao" and cheerfully scattered her humor.
She is now reunited with her husband James, daughter Karen, brother and sisters. Ellen is survived by sons Gerald (Linda) and Glenn (Denise), four grand- childen, four great-grandchildren, and brother James (Winifred) Yamada.
Forever in our hearts. Private services pending.
Walter Kenji Tonai
On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, Walter Kenji Tonai, loving husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, grand-uncle, teacher, and friend, passed away at age 88 of natural causes. Born Nov. 11, 1931 in Honolulu to Kenzo Tonai and Shizuyo Ohara, Walter grew up on Republican Street in Kalihi and with his grand- parents in Nuuanu. He graduated from Farrington High School in 1949 and joined the army where he was a medic in the Korean War. Upon returning to Hawaii, he majored in education at the University of Hawaii. It was at UH that Walter met and married Chieko Sewake.
After graduating from UH, Walter began his teaching career at Kohala High & Elementary. He returned to Oahu where he taught at Waipahu Elementary School and then at Kawailoa School until the school's closure in the 1960s. He followed the administrator route and was school principal at Solomon Elementary and Kaala Elementary Schools. Upon retiring from the DOE, Walter went to work for the City and County of Honolulu as an assistant parks director.
Walter will be remembered as a generous, fun-loving man with an easy laugh. As a member of the Waialua Lions Club for over 50 years, community service was in his blood. Throughout the years, Walter was past trustee for the Waialua Community Association, past member of the North Shore Neighborhood Board and Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Democratic Party precinct chairman, and Haleiwa Shingon Mission board member. He was known for making chicken hekka, which he did every year for senior citizens in Waialua/Haleiwa, building bus stops, painting over graffiti, holding signs for his favorite political candidates, and honoring area veterans who gave their lives in past wars.
Walter was predeceased by his parents and sister, Betty "B" Park. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Chieko, children Terri (Chadd) Hunting of San Clemente, CA, Glenn (Lori), and Rowena (James) Estores, and grandchildren Travis, Amanda, and Pono Estores and Erika Hunting and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Private services to be held. The family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.
Julie Ann Misayo Suehiro
October 23, 1963 - January 9, 2020
Julie Ann Misayo Suehiro, passed away on January 9, 2020. Our beloved and special 'Julie-kins', was preceded in death by her loving and devoted parents, Richard Y. and Maude E. Suehiro. Survived by brother James M. (Gerin) Suehiro of Seattle WA, sisters Jan M. (Benjamin) Tamura and Jill M. (Mitch) Blaisdell of Honolulu, nieces Jamie L. (Cheryl R. Bell) Suehiro of Portland OR and Melissa K. (Ryan) Blaisdell Batt of Honolulu, nephews James Brandon Suehiro of Seattle, WA and Jacob R. Blaisdell of Honolulu, and grand-nephew Christopher K. Blaisdell Oyama. The family is extremely grateful for the unwavering care by Julie's second family at the ARC in Hawaii's homecare 'Kaimuki A' and Day program, and the staff of St. Francis Hospice and Leahi Hospital.
Private services were held. In lieu of flowers or koden, donations in Julie's memory may be made to The ARC in Hawaii, 3989 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816.
Herbert Kiyoto Yanamura
95, passed away peacefully at St. Francis Hospice Nuuanu on January 19, 2020. He was born on April 20, 1924 in Honaunau, to coffee farmers Sakamatsu and Tatsuyo (Tachibana) Yanamura.
While still a senior at Konawaena H.S. he joined the 442nd RCT (K Co.), trained at Camp Shelby, and due to his fluency in Japanese, transferred to the MIS Language School at Camp Savage, MN. During WWII Herbert served in the Leyte and Okinawa Campaigns. His war experience in Okinawa was portrayed in the 2015 film, The Surrender Call. In 1946 he attended UH Manoa on the GI Bill, then worked for the US Soil Conservation Svc., US Navy, and retired from the HI State Dept. of Land and Natural Resources.
Herbert was predeceased by his wife, Chiyo (Sasaki), in 2006. He is survived by son, Jay (Kalene); daughter, Amy (Russell) Young; brothers, Kenneth and Franklin; sister, Bertha Yanagida; grandchildren, Michael (Kaiemi) Young, Jennifer (Jon) Ono, Jayson (Gracia) and Jaclyn Yanamura; great-grandchildren, Kyrie Young and Aila Yanamura.
Private services pending. No monetary offerings. Donations may be made to MIS Veterans Club of Hawaii or UH Foundation in Herbert's memory.
Roberta “Bobbie” Kimie (Ogata) Shibuya
85, passed away in Waipahu, Hawaii on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. She was born in Waimea, Kauai. She is survived by husband, George Shibuya; children, Aldon, Rhonda Directo (Dana), and Rona. Also by grandchildren, Chelsea Shibuya, Ryan and Kara Lei Muraoka. Private services were held.
George Hiroshi Abe
George Hiroshi Abe, 86, died on April 27. Preceded in death by son, Alan. Survived by wife, Shirley; daughter, Lisa Ann Schliebe (Paul); grandchildren, Garrett, Randall, Melia, Leia; sister, Betty Iwata. Pending inurnment at the National Cemetery of the Pacific.
Harry Keiji Noguchi
81, of Pearl City, an Air Force veteran, retired president of Noguchi Builders, Inc. and a lifetime member of the Hawaii Regional Carpenters Union passed away on April 22, 2020 at Pali Momi Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by his wife, Carol-Ann; sons, Daryl (Laura) and Dane (Estrella); daughter, Dawn Noguchi-Lui; step-daughter, Cindy-Leigh Oki; brothers, David and Kenneth (Doris); sisters, Katherine Tanoue and Helen (Norman) Shimoda; and grandchildren, Kierstyn Ines-Noguchi, Jake Lui, Ryden Noguchi, Racyn Noguchi and Jayda Noguchi; and one great- grandchild. Celebration of Life services are pending.
Rodney Shigeo Hasegawa
73, of Waipahu, died in Honolulu on Thursday, April 23, 2020. He was born in Honolulu and a 1964 graduate of Kaimuki High. He is survived by his wife, Suzie Hasegawa; daughters, Kim Chang (Garret), Carol Hasegawa McOuat (Justin) and four grandchildren. Services to be held at a later date.
Elmer Eichi Takenishi
Elmer Eichi Takenishi died unexpectedly on April 22, 2020 at the age of 80.
Elmer is survived by his wife, Jeanette (Hayashida), his children Kim Okuma, Jodi Schneiderman, and Wade Takenishi; his grand- children Noel, Chelsy, and Kaylin Okuma; Nicole and Andrew Schneiderman; and Aria and Bree Takenishi. He was a husband, father, grandfather, coach, dentist and mentor, but most of all loved.
Services are pending.
HIROSHI HISHINUMA, “HAROLD”
91, of Honolulu, passed away on March 12, 2020. He was born in Ewa and is survived by his wife, Nobu "Jane" Hishinuma; sons, Craig (Gwen) and Dean (Sandra) Hishinuma; daughter, Coleen (Erik Iinuma) Hishinuma; three grandchildren, and brother, Ramsey. Private service will be held at a later date. Family requests no monetary gifts or flowers.