Obituaries for Sept. 11, 2016

• Eric Loy Dang

• Florentina Cadelina Acob

• Lydia Ulep Suyom

• Diana Rylands

• Fred ‘Freddy’ Miller Aki Jr.

• Josefina I. Garcia

• Louis Edmund Abrams

Eric Loy Dang

Eric Loy Dang of Lihue passed away peacefully at the age of 68 at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 20, 2016. Born on Oahu on July 5, 1948, he was a retired retail manager for F.W Woolworth stores.

He was preceded in death by his father Raymond T. Dang.

Eric is survived by his wife, Eldene Dang; mother, Chin Hee Dang; brothers Raymond S.L. (Audrey) Dang, Philip (Bevra) Dang, Steve (Deborah) Dang; sister Liane (Ken) Sloan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends may meet with the family on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at the Lihue United Church in Pua Loke. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with service at 10 a.m. Casual attire is suggested. The family requests no flowers.

Florentina Cadelina Acob

Florentina Cadelina Acob 95, of Omao, Kauai, passed away on Aug. 17, 2016, at Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Born on May 21, 192,1 in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, she was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Monico and Juana Cadelina; husband Felipe Acob Sr.; two sons, Marcelino and Francisco Acob; and two daughters, Florenda Domingo and Mariefe Acosta. She is survived by her sister, Rufina Eder; four sons, Roberto Acob, Dominador (Marilyn) Acob, Felipe (Elsie) Acob, Jr., Ramon Acob; six daughters, Cleotilde Vea, Anita (Benjamin) Corpuz, Fe Esposo Arecia (Peter) Lapuebla, Norma Acob and Cindy (Kenji) Marugame; 35 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren

Friends may visit with the family on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at Borthwick Kauai Mortuary Chapel in Koloa from 6 to 9 p.m. and again on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at St. Raphael’s Church in Koloa from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. where Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Lihue cemetery.

Lydia Ulep Suyom

Lydia Ulep Suyom of Lihue passed away at home on Aug. 22, 2016, at the age of 65. She was born on Jan. 23, 1951, in Ilocos Norte, San Nicolas, Philippines and retired as a kitchen helper from Ho’s Kitchen.

Sher was preceeded in death by her husband, Alpiniano Bautista Suyom.

Lydia is survived by her children, Susana Suyom of Philippines, Leah (Jefferson) Suyom of Philippines, Charie (Rey) Aguias of Lihue, Arden Suyom of Lihue, Marilou Suyom of Philippines, and Rey Suyom of Philippines; seven grandchildren; sister, Dali Damo of Philippines; brothers, Jaime (Rosario) Ulep and Jimmy (Josie) Ulep both of Oahu, Normelito (Nor) Ulep of Philippines; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at Immaculate Conception Church with viewing from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Lihue Cemetery.

Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the Suyom family with arrangements.

Diana Rylands

Diana Rylands of Kilauea passed away at home on Aug. 14, 2016, at the age of 70. She was born in England on April 23, 1946, and was the proprietor of Hanalei Wishing Well Shave Ice.

Diana is survived by her husband, Allen Akira Harada; brothers, Christopher (Melinda) Rylands and John (Terisa) Rylands; In-laws, Wilbert “Afuk” and Lily Tai Hook, Alfred “Yoshi” and Elizabeth “Nani” Harada, Ray “Bull” Harada; Numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, at 5-2950 Kuhio Hwy at the Tai Hook’s Estate (Kalihiwai).

Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements

Fred ‘Freddy’ Miller Aki Jr.

Fred “Freddy” Miller Aki Jr. of Anahola, Kauai, Hawaii, passed away on Aug. 30, 2016, at the age of 55. Born on Aug. 17, 1961, in Waimea, Kauai, he was a professional musician for Smith’s Motor Boat Services and Smith’s Tropical Paradise Luau.

He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Miller Aki Sr., paternal grandparents, Miller and MaryAnn Aki and maternal grandparents, Bennette and Annie Holt.

Fred is survived by his wife, Traci, and children, Fred “Freddy Boy” (Suli) Aki, Clarence (Chelsey) Aki, Kaana Aki, Kealii Aki, and Samantha Eaton as well as three grandchildren, Chaslee, Peleke and Chayden.

He is also survived by his mother, Wanda Aki and siblings Melissia (Joe) Sugai, John (Taytum) Aki, Naylene Aki, Lono (Cliti) Aki, Jason Carvalho and numerous aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and multitudes of friends.

Fred grew up in Anahola and attended Kapaa High School as a Warrior. Born with a gift for music, he learned all he could at a very young age sitting with his sister, Melissia, who would help him record his singing on cassette tapes. In exchange for her help he would teach her basic chords on the guitar while he did the picking and singing. Eventually she and her sister moved on to dancing hula to his beautiful melodies.

Fred also learned to play the piano at Larry’s Music Store and refined his sound while attending St. Catherine School with Mary Alfiler guiding his vocal stylings.

Fred worked for Waialeale Boat Tours while in High School and eventually moved over to Smith’s Motor Boat Tours as a captain and musician. At that time he was the youngest boat captain to hold a Coast Guard license at the ripe age of 18.

Around 1976, Fred worked for Paradise Pacifica (eventually Smith’s Tropical Paradise) on the same stage, singing and drumming, that he would end his career. At this same time he also joined Cissy’s Hula Halau with Nelson and Cissy Ka’ai and entered Kaua‘i Tahiti Fete Competitions, even choreographing at times. As a born leader, friends flocked to groups he was involved in competitively and competitions became a part of his daily entertainment life. He eventually worked with his family and friends to create the name for his group, Na Molokama. He chose Na Molokama because of his favorite childhood memories spent in Hanalei. He would spend the next 40 years building a musical legacy with this name that started because friends wanted to do something together as an ohana.

In 1983 he married Roxanne Arruda and had two boys, Freddy III in 1983, and Clarence in 1985. He raised his boys in Waimea which he loved.

His first album as Na Molokama was in 1996 with John Loo, Gabby Ornellas, Kekai Chock and Kahanu Smith which was promoted at an Arts Festival in Seattle. Na Molokama also started their own show at the Princeville Hotel and at Tahiti Nui in 2000. The final Na Molokama group, often seen playing gigs around the island, volunteering for his sister at community events, playing Saturdays at the Islander on the Beach/Kintaros later that evening included Kahanu Smith, Alberto Genovia and Pali Caberto.

Fred married Traci Ornellas in 1997 on Molokai and was blessed with two more boys, Kaana in 1998 and Kealii in 2002. Fred moved his family to Wailua and then finally Kapahi.

He was blessed with their first grandchild Chaslee in 2008, and two more, Peleke and Chayden in 2012. They were his world and could do no wrong. Fred always sang to them in hopes of passing on his love of music which was as great as his love for his grandchildren and family.

Besides his immediate family he also would hanai many more children as was evidenced by all of them sleeping all over the beds and floors of his home and that was the epitome of Fred, never thinking of himself, always thinking of others. As long as Fred had the Lord, everything was good.

Fred was also well travelled and racked up miles going to Japan, Canada, Reno, Seattle and many other places playing music, and sharing his big Hawaiian heart.

He also performed with groups such as I Kona, Waialeale Trio, Punalu’u Blend, Kaleo Club, Rufus and Rose Kaui show at the Beach Boy Hotel, and with Kumu Hula such as Kapu Kinimaka- Alquiza, Puna Kalama Dawson, Leilani Rivera, Leina’ala Jardin, Maka Herrod, and many Japan Halau. He was also Mokihana Festival’s biggest fan where he played music for any and all groups requesting his sound when competing. He had a special fondness for singing at the festival in the “Ohana” category with his Aki and Smith’s family. Na Molokama also won awards at the Kauai Composers Contest where his talent shined bright.

His biggest and most fulfilling gig was giving his voice to the Lord as part of New Hope Kauai for nearly 10 years. He was truly a devoted individual and used his music to inspire members by entwining his voice with his faith. He was most proud of being able to perform a marriage for his niece and her new husband and had dreams of becoming as amazing a pastor as Pastor Matt Higa.

Most recently Fred became a Mana Mele Instructor with Kawaikini PCS in Lihue, and continued to play music to his last day with Smith’s Tropical Parade Luau Show as their music director, Islander on the Beach with Na Molokama and with the Kaleo Club at Kauai Beach Resort.

Fred’s celebration of life will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall with visitation at 8:30 a.m. and service at 10 a.m. Casual or aloha attire.

Arrangements by Borthwick Kauai Mortuary, Koloa, Kauai.

Josefina I. Garcia

Josefina I. Garcia, 92, of Lihue, Kauai, passed away on Sept. 6, 2016 ,at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Born on Aug. 9, 1924, in the Philippines, she was retired from the sugar industry.

She is survived by her three daughters, Gloria (Abe) Ham, Merilyn (Mark) Witte and Mila (Rawlins) Char; four sons, Cresencio (Eliza) Garcia, Jessie (Evelyn) Garcia, Joven (Ghene) Garcia and Manuel (Marilyn) Garcia; three brothers, Emilo (Marina) Igne, Elpidio (Nell) Igne and Juanito (Gloria) Igne; one sister: Fely (Gerry) Faulkner; 21 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren

Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at Kauai Veterans Pavilion in Hanapepe from 11 to 11:45 a.m. where services will be celebrated at noon. Inurnment to follow.

Louis Edmund Abrams

Louis Edmund Abrams of Lawai, Hawaii, passed away at the age of 64 on Sept. 8, 2016, in Lawai. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii on Aug. 14, 1952, he was a Realtor.

Louie is survived by his wife, Charlee Abrams; son, Louis Charles (Jennifer) Abrams of Lawai; daughter, Cori (Hubert) Biete of Wahiawa; and one grand-daughter, Michelle Beite.

Services to be announced.

Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.