• George S. Okada • Jay Juichi Otsuka • Esther Kala‘i Makuaole George S. Okada George S. Okada of Waimea died at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on May 28, 2006, at the age of 79. Born in Waimea, on Sept. 6,
• George S. Okada
• Jay Juichi Otsuka
• Esther Kala‘i Makuaole
George S. Okada
George S. Okada of Waimea died at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on May 28, 2006, at the age of 79. Born in Waimea, on Sept. 6, 1926, he was an optometrist in private practice for 35 years.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys K. Okada; two daughters, Lauri M. (Eric) Yama of Lihu‘e and Joni E. (Kerry) Ishihara of Mililani, O‘ahu; four grandchildren, Lauren and Kimberly Yama; Kelli and Torri Ishihara; two brothers, Iwao (Jennie) Okada of Pearl City, O‘ahu, and Tsuneo (Thelma) Okada of Wailuku, Maui; sister, Sadie Gallitelli of Bensenville, Ill.
Friends may visit with the family at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 at the Waimea United Church of Christ; service officiated by Rev. Olaf Hoeckmann-Percival will begin at 4 p.m. Casual attire is suggested and that flowers be omitted.
Arrangements are being handled by Garden Island Mortuary.
Jay Juichi Otsuka
Jay Juichi Otsuka of Kapa‘a died at home on May 30, 2006, at the age of 92.
Born in Ko‘olau, Kaua‘i, on March 8, 1914, he was co-owner of Otsuka’s.
He is survived by son, Dr. Allen (Dr. Fyllis) Otsuka of St. Louis, Missouri; daughter, Joanne (Dr. Patrick) Ahana of Kapa‘a; four grandchildren, Alek Ahana of Honolulu, O‘ahu, Bryce Ahana of Kansas, Brianne and Shelley Otsuka, both of St. Louis, Missouri; two brothers, Harry (Kay) Otsuka of Lihu‘e and Jitsuo (Katsuko) Otsuka of Gardena, Calif.; two sisters, Masayo Tone of Kapa‘a and Eiko (Brown) Watanabe of Honolulu, O‘ahu; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may visit with the family from 2-3 p.m. on Sunday, June 4 at the Kapaa Jodo Mission; service officiated by Rev. Akiya will begin at 3 p.m. Casual attire is suggested and flowers omitted.
Arrangements are being handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.
Esther Kala‘i Makuaole
Esther Kala‘i Makuaole died on May 26, 2006, at her home in Waimea at the age of 91.
She was born on Dec. 31, 1914, in Kona, where she learned to weave lauhala at a very young age. The hats would be traded to local stores for merchandise. She has lived in Waimea since her marriage to Sam Makuaole in 1941.
She was chosen as a “Living Treasure” by the state of Hawai‘i, OHA Kupuna Recognition Team and Kaua‘i Museum trustees. She was also recognized in 1989 by the Smithsonian Instituion Office of Folklife Programs. She retired in 2005 as a lauhala weaver after 15 years with the Kaua‘i Museum. She also worked wth the Kupuna program for Kekaha and Kaumakani Schools.
She is survived by three children: Hannah K. Kamoe, Joseph (Harriett) Char, and Edmund (Evelyn) Char; two hanai children: Michael V. Chandler Jr. and Lloyd D. Chandler; seven brothers; Peter Park, Charles Kahoalii, John Kahoalii, Luther Kahoalii, Joseph Kahananui, Charence Kahananui, and Henry Kahananui; four sisters: Lily Cullen, Virgie Kahananui Shim, Anna Ellis, and Hattie Feltman; 14 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and four great great-grandchildren.
Services will be held on Wednesday, June 7 at Kekaha Church of Latter-day Saints from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. where services will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial to follow at Waimea Foreign Church cemetery.
Aloha attire and lauhala hats are suggested.
Arrangements are being handled by Borthwick Kauai Mortuary.
