Gail Hunter
Gail Hunter, 74, of Wainiha, passed away in Port Orchard, Washington on Dec. 27, 2021. She was born in Long Prairie, Minnesota on Aug. 12, 1947, at 7:35 a.m. to Marcella Ruby and Harvey Leon Novak. She spent most of her childhood and graduated high school in Duluth, Minnesota. She traveled and lived many places before going to Hawai‘i the first time in 1975. She lived in Ewa Beach on O‘ahu for three years, and vowed to come back.
In 1988 she got her chance and moved to La‘ie on the North Shore of O‘ahu. After two years on O‘ahu, she moved permanently to Kaua‘i. She lived in Po‘ipu when Hurricane ‘Iniki hit the island. She was working for Kiahuna Plantation at that time.
Slowly she made her way up to the North Shore, living in Moloa‘a for a time. In 1996 she signed a lease on a run-down little shack at the bottom of a long hill off Wainiha Powerhouse Road. Her daughter cried when they opened the door to rooms painted in black and full of moldy clothes and garbage.
She went to work and within a short period of time made that little shack into a cottage brightly painted inside and out. That was her home. She loved her valley and the river, and she made a lot of friends along the way. It became her permanent home, one she lived in longer than any before.
Over the last 14 years she had nine surgeries to keep walking on a hip that failed her. She had her best friend and companion Lucy to cheer her on and keep her going. After each surgery she would come home and load Lucy into her silver Rav 4 and head on down the Kuhio Highway to the dog park, or the bike path in Kapa‘a. They also loved to go to Kalihiwai to swim in the ocean.
Lucy was her constant companion, and they were only separated when she had her surgeries on O‘ahu. Last August she lost her best friend. Lucy had grown old and could no longer get along, and with another surgery looming she made the decision to send Lucy on. Putting Lucy down was the hardest thing she ever did, and it really hurt her.
About a week later she had her final hip surgery, one that would remove all the prosthesis and metal from her leg and hip. She would not be able to walk, being bound to a wheelchair. During her recovery from that surgery, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and discovered it was already stage 4.
She made the second-hardest decision of her life, to move to Washington State to live with her daughter while receiving treatment for her cancer. She was not able to tolerate the chemotherapy and became very ill.
After two hospital stays she went home to her daughter’s house, and that is where she passed away on Dec. 27, 2021, at 7:27 a.m., in her daughter’s arms.
She was preceded in death by her father, mother and only brother, and survived by her only daughter Tawnya Caldwell. She loved the color purple, the smell of her beloved tea roses, brown and polar bears, and music by Def Leppard and Pitbull.
A memorial in Gail and Lucy’s honor will be held in the Wainiha Valley on Saturday, Feb. 26. For more information, contact Tawnya Caldwell at 360-265-4447.
Norman D. Duterte
Norman D. Duterte, 67, of Lihu‘e, passed away on Dec. 7, 2021. He was born in Lihu‘e on Sept. 16, 1954 and worked as a cook.
He was preceded in death by parents Pedro and Loretta Duterte and brothers Serafine Duterte and Pedro “Pork Chop” Duterte.
He is survived by siblings Robert Duterte of Hanama‘ulu, Lorry (Jenelle) Duterte of Wailua, Jerilynn (Nick) Agor of California and Alan (Vanessa) Duterte of Kapa‘a, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and one aunt.
A celebration of life is Saturday, Feb. 26, at Immaculate Conception Church. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. with Mass to follow at 10 a.m.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Irene Puanani Yoshida
Irene Puanani Yoshida of Kapa‘a passed away on Jan. 28, 2022, at the age of 62. She was born in Lihu‘e on Oct. 11, 1959.
She was a talented musician and hula dancer. She loved Hawaiian music and everything Hawaiian. She was well known for her beautiful voice and smile. She will be missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by parents William and Beatrice Victorino, sisters Jennifer Victorino and Sharon Chang and brother Ali‘i Chang.
She is survived by husband Myles Yoshida, sons Kiawe Higa and Kaha‘i “Ehu” Higa, stepdaughter Shawna (Bronson) Giron, grandchildren Kian Lagmay Higa, Myah Giron and Gabriel Giron, sisters Yvonne Borges, Evelyn (Fred) Levinthol, Carol (Solomon) Lovell and Eileen Victorino, brother Willy Victorino, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be private.
Mahalo to EMS and the Emergency Room staff in ICU at Wilcox Medical Center and mahalo nui loa to all who supported the ‘ohana during this difficult time.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Robert Defuntorum Juliano
Robert Defuntorum Juliano, 47, of Puhi, passed away at home on Jan. 16, 2022. He was born in Bacag Villasis, Pangasinan, Philippines, on Aug. 12, 1974.
He was preceded in death by parents Rodolfo and Hilaria Juliano, maternal grandparents Eduardo and Esmerenciana Defuntorum and paternal grandparents Dionicio and Susana Derige Juliano.
He is survived by sons Nicholas Jesper G. Palmquist and Ashton J. Gambeng-Juliano, both of Oregon, siblings John D. Juliano, Julie Ann D. Juliano (Fredie) Ramos, Juanito D. (Maribel) Juliano, Mary Ann D. (Rolando) Ballesteros, Janette D. Juliano and Ferdinand D. (Madelyn) Juliano, aunts Leonida Defuntorum Leones and Leyte Juliano, and numerous aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life is Saturday, March 5, at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home, with viewing beginning from 9 a.m. and services celebrated at 11 a.m. Cremation will follow. Social distancing and masks are required.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Doris Yoshiko Momohara
Doris Yoshiko Momohara passed away on Jan. 20, 2022, at the age of 98, at home in Kalaheo. She was born on Feb. 1, 1923 in Honolulu. She was the vice president and accountant for Momohara Farms.
She was preceded in death by husband Stanley Momohara, parents Koku and Uto Shiroma, brothers David and George Shiroma and sisters Mildred Taira and Florence Miyahira.
She is survived by sons Daniel (Linda) Momohara of Kalaheo and Melvin Momohara of Kalaheo, daughter Suzette (Harvey Maeda) Momohara of Kalaheo, grandchildren Michelle (Pat) Funai, Matthew Momohara, Nathan (Kristin) Momohara, Kimberley (John) Medeiros, Kellyne Capuano, Kurt (Kimberly) Momohara and Kiley Momohara, great-grandchildren Camden Funai, Lily Momohara, John Medeiros, Jason Medeiros, Kaelin Capuano and Kichelle Momohara, great-great-grandchild Sofina Ann Mari Medeiros, hanai granddaughter Tram (Travis) Dang-Oh, brother Edwin (Ida) Shiroma of Honolulu, sister Alice Chung of Kane‘ohe, caregivers Darlene Soares and Violet Gabai, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private service will be held. The family requests no koden (monetary gift) or flowers.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
