Obituaries for Sept. 21, 2016

Edward ‘Ted’ Ralph Keller

Edward “Ted” Ralph Keller of Lihue passed away at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Sept. 1, 2016, at the age 78. He was born in San Francisco, California on Dec. 28, 1937. He retired from Gunn Construction and was a longtime member of the Masons in San Francisco and Kauai, Master of his Masonic Lodge in San Francisco, Member of the Shrine, Scottish Rite and was aWorthy Patron of Eastern Star in Santa Cruz.

Ted is survived by his wife, Shari Keller; sons, Jay Michael Keller, Corey (Jill) Keller; 5 grandchildren, Andrew, Lauren, Casey, Jessie, Lauryn; 2 great-grandchildren, Willow and Axel; sister, Harriet Lee Keller; numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, at Kalapaki Villas Club House beginning at 11 a.m.

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

Lewis Homer West

Lewis Homer West, age 89, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, passed away at 11:35 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at his home. He was born Jan. 10, 1927, in Lancaster, California, the son of Howard Theodore and Ruth Pauline (Crabtree) Garvey.

Lewis was a 1944 graduate of Coughlin High School in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.

He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, serving during World War II and was an Engineering Technician for state of Pennsylvania.

On Aug. 31, 1946, he married Bernadine Beatrice Kaminski, in Bear Creek, Pennsylvania. She preceded him in death on Nov. 8, 2008.

He is survived by one son, Lewis West and his wife, Ruth Ann, of Mt. Vernon and three grandchildren, Kassandra, Pauline and Lexi West.

His parents, wife and sister, preceded him in death.

A funeral mass will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lamar, Missouri. Burial will be at a later date at Hanover Cemetery in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Local arrangements are under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Susanne Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home.

On line condolences may be shared at FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.

Sueko Takiguchi

Sueko Takiguchi of Lihue passed away at Garden Isle Health Care on Sept. 7, 2016, at the age of 90. She was born in Puhi, Kauai on Jan. 3, 1926, and was a dedicated homemaker and was known for her delicious pupu’s at Hideaway Bar.

Preceded in death by her husband, Harris Tsutomu Takiguchi.

Sueko is survived by two sons, Henry (Dale) Takiguchi, John (Donna) Takiguchi; daughter, Kathy (Ross Shimonishi) Takiguchi; 3 grandsons, David and Aaron Takiguchi, Ryan (Clente) Takiguchi; 3 great-grandchildren, Camden, Aiden and Noah; step-grandchildren, Jonathan Barretto, Jaryn (Derek) Gandia; step great-grandchildren, Joshua and Jaden Gandia,Micah Barretto, Jordan and Hope Simao; sister-in-laws, Lillian Takiguchi, Asae Fujimura, Sachiko Fujimura; numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at Lihue Christian Church with visitation from 10 a.m. andservices celebrated at 11 a.m.

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

Dana Ahakuwelo Kaohelauli’i Sr.

Dana Ahakuwelo Kaohelauli’i Sr. passed away on Sept. 11, 2016, in Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of 64. Born in Puuwai, Niihau on Nov. 7, 1951, he was an Irrigation Supervisor.

He is preceded in death by Akana (Jennie) Kaohelauli’i; sister, Jennie Niau; Rama Kaohelauli’i; and Jonah Kaohelauli’i.

Dana is survived by his wife, Anna K. Kaohelauli’i; sons, Dana (Tyra Kamau) Kaohelauli’i Jr. of Pakala, Ronnie H. Kaohelauli’i of Honolulu. and Dana-Drew K. Kaohelauli’i; daughters, Kathy U. (Malia) Kaohelauli’i of Honolulu and Cheryl (John) Kahokuloa of Kekaha; nine grandchildren; brothers, Koti (Lani) Kaohelauli’i of Honolulu, Kile (Diane) Kaohelauli’i ofHonolulu, Eli (Laurie) Kaohelauli’i of Waimea, Kaua’i, Naumu (Luana) Kaohelauli’i of Ni’ihau, and Lyman Akana Kaohelauli’i of Kekaha; and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Garden Island Mortuary Chapel in Lawai. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. with services to follow. Burial will be followed at the Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery.

Aloha attire is suggested and flowers are welcomed.

Arrangements were handled by Garden Island Mortuary, Ltd.

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 & MaryAnn Aki and maternalgrandparents, Bennette & 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 cords 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 & 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 in2000. The final NaMolokama 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 Carbonel.

Fred married Traci Ornellas in 1997 on Molokai and was blessed with 2 more boys, Kaana in 1998 and Kealii in 2002. Fred moved his family to Wailua and then finally Kapahi.

He was blessed with their 1st grandchild Chaslee in 2008, and 2 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 & Rose Kaui show at the Beach Boy Hotel, and with Kumu Hula such as Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza , Puna Kalama Dawson, Leilani Rivera, Leina’alaJardin, 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 Kaua‘i for nearly ten 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 NaMolokama and with the Kaleo Club at Kaua‘i 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.

Tsuyuko ‘Joyce’ Monette

Tsuyuko “Joyce” Monette of Koloa, died peacefully Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at her home at the age of 87.

Born Jan. 2, 1929, in Saga-Ken on the island of Kyushu, Japan. She was a stay-at-home wife and babysitter. Joyce leaves her son Patrick (Suzanne), Koloa and her grandson Patrick, California. She was preceded in death by her husband John and daughter Susan.

A graveside memorial service will be held Friday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. at the Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe. The family suggests casual attire.

Michael Tsugawa

Tsugawa, Michael (Mike) E of Bethesda MD died on Sept. 3, 2016, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore MD at the age of29.

He worked as an IT consultant and previously worked for Apple.

Mike is survived by his parents Richard K and Nancy C Tsugawa of Lawai and his sister Victoria C Tsugawa of Oxnard CA. He also had aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends who mourn him.

Scattering of ashes will be done later in a private family ceremony.