Kinichi Ishikawa
Kinichi Ishikawa of Waikoko/Hanalei died peacefully at his home on Monday Nov. 8, 2021, at the age of 103.
He was one of five siblings born in Kilauea, and grew up in Pearl City, O‘ahu.
Throughout his life, he was always an avid learner, eager to educate himself, even reading the entire encyclopedia in his younger days. One of his passions was the opera, so he taught himself Italian and German to better understand the stories in their original languages.
As a young man he witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor, and shortly thereafter volunteered for the all-Japanese 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Their famous motto was “Go For Broke,” and they went on to become the most-decorated unit for its size in U.S. military history. He was deployed to Italy, where he was made a forward scout because of his ability to understand and translate German and Italian for his officers.
Like many of his fellow soldiers, he was wounded and sent back to the U.S., where he recovered after 13 months, considering himself lucky to have survived the war.
After the war, he came back to Waikoko/Hanalei, where Sam Wilcox offered him land to farm. He was thus able to pursue his other passion of farming. After many years of hard work, he was instrumental in turning what was once swampland into a thriving taro farm. Even at the age of 100 he could be seen on his tractor, because he said his goal was to have “the most beautiful taro patches in the world.”
When Kinichi came to Kaua‘i in 1946, Hanalei was still a small community of mostly farmers where everyone knew each other. He became well known for helping his neighbors, for sharing his farming knowledge, for his ability “to fix anything,” and for his generosity in sharing the fruits and produce from his farm.
He was also very active in the community, played and coached baseball, enjoyed his Monday-night card games, and was an expert diver who caught huge lobsters, crab and tako at his “secret diving spot.”
He was a man who treated everyone with dignity and respect. He was a quiet, soft-spoken, kind, generous, independent man of great integrity and humility who leaves behind many friends and family who were touched in some way during his long and well-lived life.
When asked about the secret to his long and healthy life, he would say “You don’t be angry at anyone, and you don’t worry.”
Remembering him with a smile, a laugh and a happy memory would be a wonderful legacy.
A private celebration of life will be held at a future date.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Alfredo ‘Doric’ Remata
Alfredo “Doric” Remata passed away on Nov. 25, 2021, in Lihu‘e, at the age of 87. He was born on April 4, 1934 on Kaua‘i.
He was preceded in death by father Crisanto Remata, mother Vicenta Remata, wife Flora Remata, brother Sonny Remata and sister Florence Remata.
He is survived by his sons Nathan “Nates” (Lynn) Remata of Manoa, O‘ahu, Emery Remata of Lawa‘i, Vince Remata of Lihu‘e, Mark (Denise) Remata of Pearl City, O‘ahu, daughter Allyson (Lance) Okamoto of Pearl City, O‘ahu, grandchildren Rayna Remata, Kacie Remata, Nicholas Perreira, Cale Okamoto, Harper Okamoto and Janie Okamoto, brothers David Remata of Makaweli, Stanley Remata of Pearl City, O‘ahu, Richard Remata of Kekaha, Wilfred Remata of Los Angeles, Lawrence Remata of Simi Valley, California and Patrick Remata of Los Angeles, sisters Mildred Olores of Kekaha, Elisie Aquino of Lihu‘e and Vivian Nonaka of Makaweli, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements
Orlan Casugay Tesch
Orlan Casugay Tesch, 67, of Puhi, passed away at home on Oct. 19, 2021. He was born in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, on Jan. 13, 1954. He was a U.S. Army veteran and maintenance supervisor with Kaua‘i Kailani.
He was preceded in death by parents Agaton and Angeles Tesch, and siblings Oliver Tesch, Janet Tesch and George Tesch.
He is survived by wife Vilma Tesch, daughter Farrah Tesch, grandchildren Rhea, Geofar, Mark, Orlan and Rojet, brothers Agaton (Cecilia) Tesch and William Tesch of the Philippines, Norma Tesch, and numerous aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life and Mass were held last month at Immaculate Conception Church,with inurnment held last month at Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
The Rev. Yoshiko Shimabukuro
The Rev. Yoshiko Shimabukuro, 109, of ‘Ele‘ele, passed away on July 20, 2021, at Garden Isle Rehabilitation & Healthcare. She was born on Kaua‘i on Dec. 26, 1911, and was a reverend for the ‘Ele‘ele Hongwanji Mission.
She was preceded in death by parents Chokichi and Kame Shimabukuro, siblings Hiroko Itokazu, Chiyoko Shimabukuro, Naeko Kuwaye, Akiko Miyashiro, and Fujiko, Kiyoko, Choichi, Choji and Tsuneo Shimabukuro.
She is survived by sister Takeko “Betsy” (Akira) Oyakawa, sisters-in-law Shizuko (Choji-deceased) Shimabukuro and Doris Hanae (Choichi-deceased) Shimabukurom, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services are Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Hanapepe Hongwanji, with public visitation from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by private family services at 10:15 a.m.
The family requests no koden (monetary gifts), and proof of vaccination and masks for visitation.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Juanito Queddeng Menor
Juanito Queddeng Menor, 81, of Hanama‘ulu, passed away at Straub Clinic & Hospital on Nov. 16, 2021. He was born in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, on Mar. 27, 1940 and was a jeepeny owner in the Philippines.
He was preceded in death by parents Leandro and Bruna Menor, brother Juan Menor, sister Marina Mendaro and grandson Elijah Caleb Bautista.
He is survived by wife Leonora Menor, daughters Catherine (Rory) Bautista and Maribel (Ronnie) Gomez, grandchildren Juvann Lerry Bautista, Seth Dominic Bautista, Errle Dustin Bautista, Toni Rose Gomez, Danielle Rose Gomez and James Christopher Gomez, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life is Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Immaculate Conception Church, with viewing from 9:30 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Frederic A. Wyle, M.D
Frederic A. Wyle, M.D., passed away peacefully at his home in Ha‘ena on Oct. 7, 2021, at age 81.
He is survived by wife Valerie Mae, daughter Ariana, sons David and Jordan (Toi Lynn), and grandchildren Kaya and Haden Wilson Wyle.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York on Oct. 20, 1939. He attended the University of Pennsylvania as an undergraduate, and earned his degree in medicine in 1964. After completing his speciality training in medicine and infectious diseases, he served in the Army.
Beginning in 1971, he spent his career in academic medicine teaching, seeing patients, administering the academic program and doing research. He served as chief of medicine at the Long Veterans Administration Medical center, as well as professor of clinical medicine at the University of California at Irvine.
He retired in 1997 and moved full time to Kaua‘i, where he devoted himself to playing golf twice weekly at Wailua. Additionally, he was a skilled and creative woodworker. His greatest joy was to be surrounded by his family, and to be a part of his grandchildren’s life.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary assisted the family, as did the wonderful people at Kaua‘i Hospice and caring and supportive island neighbors.
Benjamin ‘Benjie’ Quilinguing
Benjamin “Benjie” Quilinguing passed away on Dec. 7, 2021, in Waimea, at the age of 66. He was a retired painter and landscaper.
He was preceded in death by father Rizalino G. Parbo, mother Marilyn Q. Viquelia and brother Viillamor Parbo.
He is survived by stepmother Virginia S. Parbo of Kaua‘i, brothers William (LaVina) Parbo of Kaumakani and George (Valerie) Parbo of ‘Ele‘ele, sisters Natividad (Marcellino) DeFabian of Hanapepe, Ginny (Dennis deceased) Soto of Eleele, Eunice (Phillip) Racpan of Kekaha and Marie (Ryan) Nakama of O‘ahu, sister-in-law Linda Parbo of Kekaha, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held at a later date.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
