Norman Hunter Lewis
Norman Hunter Lewis was born on Nov. 10, 1934, at French Hospital in Los Angeles. He was the first child of Richmond and Blanche Lewis. He grew up in Los Angeles, Norwalk and Alhambra California with his 4 loving younger sisters – Ellie, Jenni, Carol and Kris.
He entered the University of Southern California on an NROTC scholarship and studied Industrial Engineering. To help make ends meet, he worked as a dishwasher at a sorority. After graduating in 1956, he was commissioned as a USC Navy Ensign.
It was at USC that he met the raven-haired beauty that became his wife, Nanci Jeanne Getschine, when they both worked at the student bookstore. They dated long-distance when Norm attended Flight Training in Pensacola and then married on Nov. 30, 1957, in Pasadena, while Norm was on a brief leave from Advanced Flight Training in Kansas.
Norm and Nanci raised 4 children – Janis, Kay, Jon and Joy – while moving around during Norm’s tours of duty with the Navy. Duty stations included Whidbey Island, Washington; Norfolk, Virginia; Newfoundland, Canada and Iceland; Jacksonville, Florida where he was a Hurricane Hunter. He also deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam out of Atsugi, Japan, served 2 tours at Barking Sands, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i; and was the Navy Representative to the FAA, Pacific Region based in Honolulu.
During his 25 years of service, Norm was awarded 8 Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Medal and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal.
Norm retired from the Navy in 1981 in Waimea, Kaua‘i in a cozy condo on the beach where he served as Manager of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce and opened his own small business advisory office. After relocating to San Diego, he worked 12 years for San Diego County.
His favorite things to do were to travel with Nanci, volunteer with the La Jolla Presbyterian Church’s missions and Stevens Ministry, play tennis, attend USC Football and Padre baseball games, but mostly he loved to spend time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and more recently, 4 great-grandchildren!
A Celebration of Norm’s Life will be held in the Chapel at La Jolla Presbyterian Church on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, at 1 p.m.
Donations in lieu of flowers to LJPC Missions or White Sands of La Jolla/Benevolence Fund.
Michael Roland Akuna
Michael Roland Akuna, 45, of Hanapepe, passed away on Aug. 12, 2021 at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital. He was born on O‘ahu on Aug 23, 1975, and did masonry work and landscaping on Kaua‘i.
He was preceded in death by his significant other, Yolanda Teves.
He is survived by mother Ermine Akuna, sisters Coty (James) Hensley, Bernadene Lancaster, Cheyenna Akuna and Shania Akuna, brothers Bernard Lancaster Jr., Kyle (Latasha) Lancaster, Levi (Jaylin) Lancaster, James McMahan and Shylo Akuna, and numerous nieces, nephews, uncles, aunties and cousins.
A celebration of life is at The Salvation Army Hanapepe Corps on Saturday, Sept. 11, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. Due to COVID-19, face masks and social distancing are required.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Robert Noboru Fujii
Robert Noboru Fujii, born May 4, 1942 in Lihu‘e, passed away on Aug. 12, 2021, at the age of 79, at Wilcox Medical Center. He was an Army veteran and retired mason.
He was preceded in death by parents Haruki and Masao Fujii.
He is survived by son Eric N. Fujii of Honolulu, daughters Jerrelyn U. Mahiai of Honolulu and Jessica K.M. (Kevin) Carvalho of Lawa‘i, grandchildren Tyler K.M. Carvalho, Taylor K. Carvalho and Tyra Lyn Carvalho, sisters Ellen (Robert – deceased) Sugita of Wailua, Elinor (Willy – deceased) Yasui of Honolulu, Elsie (James) Shimabuku of Honolulu and Susan (Duain) Hill of Honolulu, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A walk-thru visitation is at Garden Island Mortuary on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by a celebration of life.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Lindbergh M. ‘Lindy’ Akita
Lindbergh M. ‘“Lindy” Akita, CEO, and former president and manager of Akita Enterprises, Ltd. for 60 years, peacefully passed away at Wilcox Medical Center on Aug. 28, 2021.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Wendy, daughter Yolanda Blevins, son Lin, grandchildren Natalie (Rex) Webb and Kekoa (Margarita) Blevins, great-grandchildren Ethan, Brooktyn, Tyler, Blake, Athena and Alexander, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, sisters Eleanor Mihal and Alice Zenger and brother Norman Akita.
The family is deeply indebted to his care givers: Imee, Grace, Elsie, Alex, Beverly, Gloria, Maria, and the many others who gave him tender loving over the past year.
Private services will be held at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Kenneth Kauionalani Shintani
Kenneth Kauionalani Shintani passed away Aug. 24, 2021, at the age of 69 in Lihu‘e. He was born on April 2, 1952 in Pu‘uwai, Ni‘ihau. He was a rancher and handyman.
He was preceded in death by Kuramatsu Shintani Sr., Violet Shintani, Violet Kahokuloa, Kuramatsu Shintani Jr., and Henry Shintani.
He is survived by wife Judie Shintani, sons Jeremiah (Rachel) Shintani of Ka‘awanui, Kaui (Momi) Shintani Jr. of Ka‘awanui, Barney (Ua) Shintani of Pu‘uwai, Ni‘ihau, Michael (Hoku) Shintani of Pu‘uwai, Ni‘ihau and John (Pui) Kahokuloa of Waimea, daughter Racine (Manu) Shintani of ‘Ele‘ele, 16 grandchildren, brother James Shintani Sr. of Kekaha, sister Grace Shintani of Pu‘uwai, Ni‘ihau, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A walk-thru visitation is at Garden Island Mortuary on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 to 11 a.m., with a celebration of life to follow. Due to COVID-19, social distancing and face masks are required.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Violet K. Kahokuloa
Violet K. Kahokuloa passed away on Aug. 25, 2021, at the age of 71 in Lihu‘e. She was born on Oct. 27, 1949, in Pu‘uwai, Ni‘ihau. She was a Ni‘ihau shell leimaker.
She was preceded in death by husband Ku‘uopu‘ulani Kahokuloa, father Kuramatsu Shintani Sr., mother Kanohoana Kanahele, brothers Suma Shintani, Kau‘i Shintani and Keali‘i Shintani, and ephew Li‘i Boy Shintani.
She is survived by sons Pulani Kahokuloa, John Kahokuloa, Makaio Kahokuloa, Wailani Kahokuloa and Kealoha Kahokuloa, daughters Pupu Masuda, Haunani Pascua, La‘i Kahokuloa and Momi Shintani of Ka‘awanui, 39 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, brother Kalei Shintani Sr. of Kekaha, sister Kahiko Shintani of Pu‘uwai, Ni‘ihau, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A walk-thru visitation is at Garden Island Mortuary on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. with a celebration of life to follow. Due to COVID-19, social distancing and face masks are required.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
