Obituary Notices: May 7 – 13, 2017

Big Island Obituaries

Mamoru Fukano
December 27, 1924 – May 7, 2017

Mamoru Fukano, 92, of Hilo, passed away on May 7, 2017. Mamoru was born on Dec. 27, 1924. He was a retired Sailor for Matson. Private Services to be held.

He is survived by his wife; D.Louise Fukano and sons; Tom (Gloria) Orlando and David (Linda) Orlando, six grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, grand and great grand nieces and nephews.

Elujino V. Alvarez Jr.
October 14, 1946 – May 6, 2017

Elujino V. Alvarez Jr., 70, of Hilo, passed away on May 6, 2017. Elujino was born on Oct. 14, 1946, in Honolulu. Services will be held at Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo (570 Kinoole Street. Hilo, HI 96720) on May 17, 2017. Visitation at 5 p.m. and service at 6 p.m.

He is survived by sons Elujino Alvarez III and Abraham (Brittany) Alvarez Sr.; daughter Stacey (Alan) Alvarez; brothers Fernando Alvarez, Robin Alvarez Sr., William Alvarez, Anthony Alvarez, Alan “Puncho” (Barbara) Alvarez, Dean Alvarez, Wilbur (Jessica) Alvarez and Wayne “Cody” (Annie) Alvarez; sisters Mildred Alvarez, Irene (Bully) Flores, Caroline Alvarez, Vivian Alvarez, Patricia Alvarez, Deborah Alvarez, Verna Alvarez, Barcitla Ramirez, Darlene (Chico) Marrero, Joanna Dima and Renee (Rocky) Abadilla. Elujino is also survived by 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He is predeceased by son John Alvarez.

Claudia Yoshie Sample
August 30, 1922 – May 4, 2017

Claudia Yoshie Sample, 94, died May 4, 2017 in Hilo, at a private care home. Born in Ola’a, HI, she was a barber in Honolulu. No Services held. Claudia is survived by her daughter Shirley Ann (Joseph) Moore of KY; brother Tamotsu “Tom” (Faith) Suzuki of Hilo, HI; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Family request No Koden and No Flowers. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com
Ballard Family Mortuary-Hilo
570 Kinoole St.
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Maui Obituaries

Keith Bryan Sakamoto
April 8, 1957 – May 7, 2017

Keith Bryan Sakamoto, 60, of Ha‘ikū, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family under the care of Hospice Maui on May 7, 2017. He was born on April 8, 1957 in Wailuku.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Makawao. Visitation will be held again at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. and committal services will follow at 11 a.m. at the Maui Veteran’s Cemetery in Makawao.

Keith was a Senior Supervisor for Matson Navigation Company. He was also a veteran of the United States Army.

He is survived by his wife, Charlene Sakamoto; sons, Billy (Kelly) Sakamoto, and Jarrett Sakamoto (Elayna Hefele); daughters, Sheron Ramos (Lee Peters), Kristen (Myron) Purdy, and Chantel (Mikey) Abreu; brother, Wayne (Yvonne) Sakamoto; sister, Sheila (Wally) Izumigawa; grandchildren, Cody, Carly Jo, and Dustin DePonte, Ka’ulawena, Sadie, Taylor Lynn, and Kelsie Jo Sakamoto, Mykana and Mykala’i Purdy, Lexi Abreu, and Kekai Hefele. Keith was predeceased by his parents, Walter and Winifred Sakamoto; and his grandson, Mykah Purdy.

Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Texeira
October 16, 1926 – April 25, 2017

Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Texeira, 90, of Kailua, Oahu (formally from Kula, Maui), passed away on April 25, 2017, at Kaiser Foundation. She was born on Oct. 16, 1926, in Wailuku, Maui.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2017, at Holy Ghost Church in Kula; mass will begin at 10:30 a.m.; burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Elizabeth (Betty) was predeceased by her husband, Louis Texeira; daughter, Judith A. Rezents; parents, Manuel and Minnie Bringuel; and siblings, Agnes Costa, Minnie Donlin, Richard Bringuel, Edward Bringuel and John Bringuel. She is survived by her sons, Ronald L. (Marlene) Texeira, David J. (Arlene) Texeira; siblings, William Bringuel of Idaho, Dorothy (Wilfred) Vares of California, George (Teri) Kahookele of Arkansas; nine grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Sumiko Nagamine
July 6, 1929 – April 27, 2017

Sumiko Nagamine, 87, of Lahaina, Maui passed away on April 27, 2017 at Hale Makua Kahului. She was born on July 6, 1929 in Waiehu, Maui.
She retired from Pioneer Inn as a Waitress.

Visitations will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Ballard Family Mortuary Kahului from 9 to 11 a.m. with services to begin at 11 a.m.

Sumiko is predeceased by her husband, Richard Y. Nagamine; survived by her daughters, Amy Hussey, Lynne (Francis) Kamakawiwoole Jr., Jean (John) Freeman; all of Maui; grandchildren, Martin (Laura) Hussey, Richard Hussey, Francis (Millie) Kamakawiwoole III, Mychael (Ariel) Kamakawiwoole, Sheena Hussey, Marvin Hussey Jr., and hanai granddaughter, Adriana Hussey; also survived by seven great grandchildren. She also leaves behind her beloved cat, Kara.

Merry Elizabeth Picard

Merry Elizabeth Picard
February 10, 1953 – April 23, 2017

Merry Elizabeth Picard of Kīhei died unexpectedly at Maui Memorial Hospital on April 23, 2017.

Merry was the daughter of Irene and Raymond Frost. She was born and raised in Haydenville, MA where she married Gerald (Pixie) Picard and where their daughter Nicole was born. In 1983, Merry Pixie and Nicole relocated to the beautiful island of Maui where they embraced the island culture and made many wonderful friends who became part of their small ohana. Kīhei has been Merry’s home for the past 34 years.

Merry was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother who enjoyed doing arts, crafts, cooking and sewing (she loved to carry on family traditions) with her daughter and grandchildren, and has enjoyed sharing the Kīhei sunsets for the past 20 years with Derrick Kimo Kenolio.

She leaves her partner Derek Kimo Kenolio, her daughter Nicole Picard Hashimoto (Mark Evans), her grandchildren Sydney Rene Hashimoto, Hoaka Alohilani Hashimoto, Ridge David Evans, her sisters Robin Van Mechelen (Kenneth) and Kate Frost Harmon (Jesse), all of whom will forever miss her warmth, smile, sense of humor, and cherish their many memories of times spent together.
Services have been held.