Obituaries for Sunday, September 18, 2022
Bernice Claire Hiranaka
Bernice Claire Hiranaka
Bernice Claire Hiranaka, of Lihu‘e, passed away peacefully on Aug. 31, 2022, at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital at the age of 90. She was born on April 11, 1932, in Lihu‘e. She retired from Kaua‘i Surf as a cocktail server.
She was preceded in death by her husband Mamoru Hiranaka, daughter Marla Hiranaka, parents Daniel and Rosalina Rapozo, and sisters Elizabeth Oyamot and Clara Nuivo.
She is survived by sons Leslie (Lynn) Hiranaka and Russell (Cathy) Hiranaka, grandchildren Bradley (Allison) Hiranaka, Sean (Kalia) Hiranaka, Brice Hiranaka and Michelle Isagawa, six great-grandchildren, brother Donald Rapozo, sisters Florence Oyamoto, Gwen Zaima, Priscilla (Bob) Rego, Bernadette Hodges and Beverly Rapozo, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life is Saturday, Sept. 24, at Immaculate Conception Church, with visitation from 9 a.m. and Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Lihu‘e Cemetery.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the Hiranaka family with arrangements.
Charles E. ‘Chick’ Lanphier
Charles E. “Chick” Lanphier, 90, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 12, 2022. He happily lived the final 22 years of his life on his beloved island of Kaua‘i.
He was the oldest and only son of Charles Henry Lanphier III and Louise Spratt Lanphier of Springfield, Illinois. He spent his childhood in Springfield with his younger sister Lillis ‘Tutsie’ Lyon, and attended preparatory school at the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He maintained lifelong friendships with many of his Exeter classmates, and enjoyed sharing stories of his school years with friends and family. He attended Yale University and graduated in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. He greatly valued the friendships he made at Yale, and regularly attended his class reunions until 2019. In 1963, he received a bachelor’s degree in law from Jones Law School.
He married Barbara Jean Hall of Springfield in 1954. They moved to Montgomery, Alabama, and started a family that grew to five children. After their divorce, he later married Mary Nell Ledyard, and after her passing was married to Judith Gardner. They subsequently divorced.
He spent his career in the banking and finance profession. He worked for various financial and investment-banking firms in Montgomery, Atlanta, and Little Rock and Rogers, Arkansas. He founded Lanphier Capital Management, a private wealth-management fund that he operated until his retirement in 2020.
He was an avid sailor throughout his life, and participated in sailing regattas throughout the south. He was an early member of the Dixie Sailing Club on Lake Martin, Alabama, and later was a member of the Grande Maumelle Sailing Club in Little Rock. He raced in the Flying Scot class, and was a formidable competitor for many years.
Baseball was another of his passions. A lifelong and avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, one of the great experiences of his later years was to travel to Florida to attend the Cardinal’s spring-training games. He was actively involved with several charitable organizations, particularly the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay. He also served as a board member of Anaina Hou, a community center in Kilauea that he helped to build. He was proud of the center’s mission to provide a beautiful space for all the Hawaiian residents to enjoy.
His other hobbies and interests included snow skiing, travel, tennis, card and board games, and photography. During his younger years, he earned his single-engine pilot’s license.
He is survived by his sister Lillis (David) Lyon, the five children of his first marriage: Louise S. Lanphier, Charles H. (Melanie) Lanphier IV, Lillis Allison (Steve) Hendrickson, Alfred Y. Lanphier II and William H.H. Lanphier, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Elisha Lanphier, Lillis (Ethan Radtke) Hendrickson and daughter Wrenn, Sarah Hendrickson, Mary (Anthony) DeFranco, William Hendrickson, Alfred Lanphier III, Joseph Lanphier, Margaret Lanphier and Elizabeth Lanphier. He is also survived by the two stepchildren of his marriage with Mary Nell: Katherine Ledyard and James Ledyard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Barbara and second wife Mary Nell.
According to his wishes, his ashes were scattered in the deep waters just beyond Hanalei Bay, and a celebration of life was held on Kaua‘i at Anaina Hou on July 26.
Memorial donations may be made to the Rotary Foundation (www.rotary.org).
Paul Kaipo Pomaikai Jr.
Paul Kaipo Pomaikai Jr. passed away on Sept. 23, 2021, at the age of 48. He was born on Nov. 15, 1972.
He is survived by children Edward R Navas, Paul “Pauly Boy” Navas, Kalib Navas and Kodi Navas, who all reside with their mother Thelma Navas of Nanakuli, O‘ahu, mother Lori (Lincoln) Akuna, father Paul (Donna) Pomaikai Sr., siblings Yasumori (Elsie) Pomaikai, Shyla (Richard) Colipano, Justin (Kanae) Morikawa, Jason (Michele) Padilla, Derrick (Jensen) Costido, Desiree Pomaikai and Cole Pomaikai.
A gathering of life is Friday, Sept. 23, at Hanama‘ulu Beach Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Grace Namiko Yoon
Grace Namiko Yoon passed away on Aug. 29, 2022. She was born on Jan. 13, 1938, at the Kealia Hospital. She was a self-employed preschool teacher, and later retired as an elementary-school teacher.
She was preceded in death by husband Edwin Yoon, brother Dennis Wakumoto, son Jarrett Yoon and Beaujolais.
She is survived by her sister Jan Youth, daughter Shelagh Arruda, son Bryan (Liz Jenkins) Yoon, and cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and students.
Private services will be held at Punchbowl. Per her request, no koden (monetary gifts) or flowers.
Eric Dale Hiroshi Wakumoto Jr.
Eric Dale Hiroshi Wakumoto Jr., 35, of Kapa‘a, passed away on Aug. 28, 2022, at Wilcox Medical Center. He was born on April 12, 1987, in Lihu‘e. He was a proud business owner of Slippery-N-Wet Pressure Washing Service, where he took pride in his work. He started his business to pass down to his children. He was a loving, hardworking, caring, devoted husband, father, son-in-law, brother-in-law, son and brother. He loved taking care of his family and never letting them go without. He enjoyed taking his family fishing, watching movies, playing RC cars and just spending time with his family. He was the jack of all trades. He could fix anything that was broken, from TVs to RC cars, cell phones and cars. He was and will always be an amazing husband and father, and he will always be our hero!
He was preceded in death by uncle Loren J. Rendon, in-laws grandparents Tony and Pearl Silva Sr. and Richard and Donna Gonsalves Sr.
He is survived by wife Tiffany Wakumoto, sons Keanu (Athea) Silva Wakumoto, Ceyan Silva Wakumoto, Keenai Silva Wakumoto and Kingsley Silva Wakumoto, daughter Kiana Silva Wakumoto, in-laws Antone and Donna Silva Jr., Antone (Chaunte) Silva III, Joseph (Brandy) Silva Sr., Shane (Jenie) Silva Sr., Donna (David) Saroas, parents Eric Wakumoto Sr. and Christine Rendon, grandparents Papa Herminio and Laureana Rendon, sisters Jenna (Kapena) Tehero, Jaimie (James) Wakumoto, brother Jonathan (Sha’nisha) Wakumoto, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A service is Saturday, Oct. 1, at Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary, with viewing at 10 a.m. followed by service at 11 a.m.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Judith David Irons
Judith David Irons passed peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones on June 1, 2022. She was born on March 4, 1948, in California. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, teacher and friend.
She is survived by husband Joseph Conrad Clifford.
A celebration of life is Friday, Sept. 30, at Lydgate Park main pavilion, beginning at 5 p.m.
Richard John Gonsalves Sr.
Richard John Gonsalves Sr, 77, of Nevada, passed away on Aug. 4, 2022, at Renown Hospital in Nevada. He was born on Nov. 26, 1944, in Lihu‘e.
He was a crane operator for the Lihu‘e Plantation Co. After retirement he and Donna relocated to Stagecoach, Nevada, to start their new journey. He wanted to stay employed and retained a position as a truck driver from state to state.
He was proud of his heritage. He purchased his own rig, naming it the “Hawaiian Delight” (with the pineapple). His final employment was with Kings Construction, LLC, with Ed King, whom became more than an employer, but family to him. He was a loving and devoted husband, fiancé, father, brother and friend to all.
He was preceded in death by wife Donna M. Gonsalves, fiancée Nancy Fernandez, parents Joseph and Adeline Pereira, sisters Roseline and David Victorino Sr., Brenda and Ernest Moniz Sr., brothers Joseph Gonsalves Sr., Wayne and Deborah Perreira, granddaughter Amber Koko, in-laws Margaret Olshefski and John Nunes, William Souza, Marilyn Perreira, Priscilla and Harvey Garcia, Louise and Kenneth Santos and Joseph Daos.
He is survived by children Patrica (Norma) Gomes of California, Deanna (Chubby) Arakaki of Lihu‘e, Donna (Tony) Silva of Kapa‘a, Dela (Jeffery) Robbins of Maui, Richard (Denise) Gonsalves Jr. of Nevada, Desiree (Patrick) Koko of Anahola, sister Adeline “Angie” Souza of Nevada, brother Godfrey Pereira of Hanama‘ulu, in-laws Iranda Gonsalves of Kapa‘a and Jennifer Daos of Lihu‘e, 25 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life is Saturday, Nov. 26, at Immaculate Conception Church with visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. followed by Mass.
Joshua Y.M. Hew
Known as a man of second chances, Joshua Y.M. Hew, 78, of Kapa‘a passed away at Pali Momi Medical Center on O‘ahu on Sept. 5, 2022. He was born on March 12, 1944, in Honolulu, o Peter and Martha Hew, who moved the family to Kaua‘i in 1946. He attended high school at Hawaiian Mission Academy on O‘ahu and at Lynnwood Adventist Academy in California, and graduated from Woodbury College in California. He had a variety of jobs in his lifetime, such as an accountant for a hospital in California, general manager for Best Fruits on Kaua‘i, administrative assistant to the late Mayor Tony Kunimura, account executive for Horizon Lines, and, lastly, he was finally able to be his own boss.
He is survived by his wife Stella, daughter Jeanne (James) Rodriguez, son Alan (Jude) Hew, granddaughters Jayne (Justin) Rivera and Jenna (Joshua) Rodriquez, great-grandchildren Jayli, Jaxon and Jaden, siblings Rachel Same, Naomi Yoshida and Jerome Hew, two nieces, four nephews and numerous cousins. He was also survived by his sidekick Biscuit and his collection of pet goats.
Services will be held at the Kapa‘a Seventh Day Adventist Church on Sunday, Sept. 25. Visitation with the family will be from 9 to 10 a.m. followed by service at 10 a.m. The family suggests aloha attire.
Nu‘uanu Mortuary assisted the family with the arrangements.
