Obituaries for Sunday, January 29, 2023

Matsuko ‘Mats’ Uyeda

Matsuko “Mats” Uyeda, 95, went home to be with her Lord and savior Jesus Christ and her husband of 67 years Itsuo on Nov. 21, 2022. She was born on Kaua‘i on May 8, 1927, and worked with the County of Kaua‘i as the manager of the Kaua‘i Senior Center.

She was preceded in passing by husband Itsuo Uyeda and brothers Francis, Wally and Herbert Ida.

She is survived by sons Mark Uyeda and Eric (Lisa) Uyeda and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life is Saturday, Feb. 4, at Kaua‘i Veterans Center in Lihu‘e, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and services at 11 a.m.

Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jose Gatiuan

Jose Gatiuan, 87, passed away at his home in Wailua Homesteads on Jan. 5, 2023. He was born in Waipahu, O‘ahu, on Feb. 19, 1935, and was raised in Maunaloa, Moloka‘i. He graduated as a boarder at Lahainaluna High School in Lahaina, Maui. After graduating high school, he became a machinist and worked for Dole Pineapple Company on Moloka‘i. He eventually moved to Kaua‘i and worked as a machinist at Lihu‘e Plantation Company. He retired from the Army National Guard after 25 years and 10 months at the rank of staff sergeant, and then went on to work at Alamo Car Rental as a car checkout agent for 19 years.

He was preceded in passing by son Jay Gatiuan, parents Antonio and Hatsumi Gatiuan, siblings Mary (Jaime) Garlit, Floyd “Julio” (Shirley) Gatiuan and Violet (Al) Corpuz, and brother-in-law Sonny Manzano.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Josephina Gatiuan, children Deborah (Robert) Carter, Sharon (Thomas) McDonough and Gary (Ivy) Gatiuan, siblings Priscilla (Uldarico) Eleccion, Virginia (Jerry) Gomez, Dorothy (Joseph) Ganigan and Gloria (Melvin) Tandal, granddaughter Kimberly Hope McDonough, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life is Saturday, Feb. 4, at St. Catherine Church in Kapa‘a. Visitation will begin at 8 a.m., funeral Mass at 10 a.m., and burial to follow at 11:30 a.m. at Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home. The family suggests casual attire.

Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Vincent Sa

Vincent Sa, 89, of California, passed away on Dec. 31, 2022, in Santa Clara, California. He was born on March 16, 1933, in Hanama‘ulu. He retired after 36 years as a drywall superintendent. He served in the U.S. National Guard for six years.

He was preceded in death by parents John Sa and Emelia Garcia Sa.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen (Honey) Aipa Sa, sisters Patsy Sa Lopes and Alice Sa Arruda, son Vincent John Sa, daughters Vanessa Sa-Roldan, Darnell (Kenny) Campbell and Desirie (Scott) Hoshi, 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins

A memorial service is Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Santa Clara, California. Viewing begins at 9:30 a.m., service at 10 a.m., and burial to follow at noon.

Rodney Gurtiza

Rodney Gurtiza passed away on Jan. 7, 2023, in Waimea at the age of 79.

He was born on May 12, 1944, in Hanapepe. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army and a telecommunication technician.

He was preceded in death by parents Potenciano Apigo Gurtiza and Eleanor Chitoe Abe, brothers Paul Gurtiza and Merlin Gurtiza and sister Jeanne Razalan.

He is survived by sons Gerald Gurtiza of Germany and Christopher Gurtiza of Kaua‘i, daughters Carolyn L. Gurtiza of San Francisco, Marianne Finis of Florida and Jessica Gurtiza of Nashville, Tennessee, grandchildren Taryn Edmondsun, Tawny Phelps, Tayler Phelps, Hailey Gurtiza, Kianda Gurtiza, Zachary Gurtiza and Zoe Gurtiza, great-grandchild Judah Edmondsun, brothers Stanley Gurtiza of O‘ahu and Sidney Gurtiza of O‘ahu, sister Helen Takanishi of O‘ahu, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life is Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery, beginning at 11 a.m.

Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Brian M. Treptow

Brian M. Treptow, 47, of Wailuku, Maui, was a one-of-a-kind man: kind, loyal, adventurous, curious and fun-loving. He touched so many with his boundless energy and his zest for life. Sadly, Brian passed away on Dec. 15, 2022, while flying a MedEvac mission from Maui to Hawai‘i Island.

He was born in Minneapolis in 1975 to Richard and Lorna Treptow, with a true adventurous spirit. Brian was a snowboarder, mountain biker, kayaker, sailor, surfer, and scuba diver. These activities led Brian to travel the world extensively.

Brian became a helicopter pilot and instructor in 2009 flying in Hawai‘i and then Florida, Alaska and the Gulf. Later, he became an airplane pilot flying as a captain or first officer for the regional airlines, cargo companies and EMS.

While at North Perry Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Brian met Heidi Siefkas. They were life partners bonded by love for one another and the thirst for adventure. Brian and Heidi spent their free time kayaking, hiking, biking, snorkeling, sailing, road-tripping, hammocking and dreaming about their next destination.

Brian was grounded in his Christian faith and demonstrably lived out his faith toward others with love, service, generosity, thoughtfulness, kindness and grace.

Brian is survived by the love of his life, Heidi Siefkas, and her father, Jim Siefkas of Hawai‘i, parents Richard and Lorna Treptow of Indiana and Minnesota, Richard’s wife, Linda Sue Treptow, his sisters, Lesley (Steve) Hackett pf Minnesota and Linda (Kent) Biery of Pennsylvania, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

As Brian deeply loved two places: his childhood summer cabin in Minnesota and the magical island of Kaua‘i, there will be two celebrations of life. There will be one in Minnesota at Blanche Lake in the summer. The second will be held on Kaua‘i later this year. The family will provide more details closer to the memorial dates. For email notification of the Minnesota or Hawai‘i memorial services, contact RTreptow@aol.com.

Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Rice

Veronica “Ronnie” Rice, of O‘mao, passed away at home on Jan. 2, 2023, at the age of 63. She was born on Sept. 9, 1959, in Oklahoma. She was a caretaker.

She was preceded in death by parents Donald and Bonnie Rice.

She is survived by daughter Natasha Navarro, son-in-law Robert Giubardo, son Juan Navarro, grandchildren Xavier Ramos, Bella Giubardo, Kainoa Giubardo and Italo Giubardo, and brother Ralph Rice.

A celebration of life is to be determined in Connecticut.

Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Lucy Miller

Born on Dec. 16, 1938, in Hollywood, California, to Isabel and David Sanford, Lucy Miller’s high school honors included Hollywood High School’s first recipient of the American Field Service exchange student scholarship to France, as well as leadership positions with the Girls Athletic Association.

Selected for a fellowship by the National Leadership Training Program in Deafness at California State University, Northridge, she earned her master’s degree with honors in special educational administration and went on to earn her doctorate in educational psychology through Brigham Young University’s externship program, becoming the first deaf woman to earn a doctorate degree. She was also won a peacetime Military Order of the Purple Heart for Outstanding Research in Services to the Handicapped.

Along the way, Lucy married, and had and raised two children, Vincent and Rachel.

She was the first deaf person to be hired as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the deaf in California. After serving as a counselor and assistant professor at CSUN, she established a program of support services for deaf students at Pasadena Community College, and created and administered an academic degree program for special education paraprofessionals.

A pioneer advocate for captioning on television, she co-produced two television programs featuring an all-deaf cast and crew which aired on KCET, Southern California’s local Public Broadcasting Service affiliate, earning her an Emmy Award nomination, as well as a position on KCET’s first Community Advisory Board. She transitioned to private practice as a psychotherapist, and marriage and family therapist, in Canoga Park, California, for 13 years before moving to Kaua‘i in 1991 with her beloved husband Richard “Dick” Burkhalter.

During her semi-retirement years on Kaua‘i, she continued her private practice part-time, taught ASL at Kaua‘i Community College and taught ethics to Kaua‘i’s Marriage and Family Therapy students as an adjunct professor for Argosy University. Mostly she continued her lifelong passion of advocating for equal access for persons with alternative communication needs.

Having grown up long before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other equal rights legislation, she experienced firsthand the effects of marginalization and of closed doors in many aspects of her life. She served under four governors while on the state of Hawai‘i’s Disability and Communication Access Board and on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Equal Access. She was Kaua‘i’s Outstanding Outstanding Older American Woman for 2013.

Two pursuits that she took up during her post-retirement years included participation in Kaua‘i’s Toastmasters Club, where she earned the title of Advanced Communicator Silver, and partnering with and training hearing service dogs, a labradoodle named Muffin and a goldendoodle named Coco. She combined these two interests when training various Kaua‘i County groups in Americans with Disabilities Act service dog laws.

She peacefully passed away on Dec. 6, 2022, in her home, at the age of 83. A private celebration of her life was held.

Crispina Munar Caday

Crispina Munar Caday passed away on Dec. 13, 2022, in Hanama‘ulu at the age of 92. She was born on Dec. 30, 1929, in the Philippines. She was a sales clerk.

She was preceded in death by husband Antonio Caday Sr. and sons Merlin Caday and Virgil Caday.

She is survived by son Antonio (Arlene) Caday Jr. of Kalaheo, grandchildren Brandee (Dave) Abreu and Giselle (Brennen) Bucao, great-grandchildren Brayden (Bri Hadama) Abreu, Taira Abreu, Keenan Texeira, Kysen Bucao and Brensen Bucao, sister Felicia Batara of Hanama‘ulu, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Michiyo O. Hori

Michiyo O. Hori, of Waimea, passed away on Jan. 24, 2023 at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital at the age of 93. She was a nurse at the ‘Ele‘ele Clinic for many years.

She was preceded in death by parents Shinichi and Ito Yujiri Okihara, brothers Kiyo Okihara, Shigeru Okihara and Satoru Okihara, sister Kachan Okihara and great-grandchild Taevy Kawena Moises.

She is survived by sons Ainsley (Ginny) Hori and Allen Hori, daughter Heidi Hori, grandchildren Brandi (Brandon) Moises and Ashley (Frankeh) Hori, great-grandchildren Braeanna Moises, Jeydon Moises, Avaeah Moises and Maiyah Moises.

Private services will be held.

Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Roger Bill Cable

Feb. 11, 1938

Sept. 28, 2022

Roger Cable learned to fly before he learned to drive. At 7 years old, Roger and his older siblings moved boulders and flattened runways, helping their father Dewey Cable and mother Maude Cable fulfill their dream of building what would become Cable Airport in Upland, California, the largest privately owned, public use airport in the world — still family owned and run.

On his 16th birthday, Roger soloed in seven different aircraft and continued his love of flying throughout his life. Brothers Paul and Walter and sister Mildred all were pilots, and all had airport responsibilities over the years. During his military service in the Navy he was stationed at the Naval Air Station on O‘ahu, where he first fell in love with Hawai‘i. After his time in the Navy he returned to Cable Airport and managed the flight school and created Cable Commuter Airline, a busy charter service, before returning to Hawai‘i.

Roger had two children, Robert Alan (Suzanne) Cable and Lorena Marie Cable (Kevin) McGovern. His son Bob is president and CEO of Cable Airport, and continues the family tradition, making significant impact as the airport surpasses its 75th anniversary. Lori and Kevin and his dear granddaughter Rose share Roger’s love for travel, and reside in Sonoma, California. After 35 years as a single man, Roger met Roberta Wallace, and they married in 2004, which gave Roger four stepchildren, Paige (Russ) Talvi, Richard Wallace, Michael (Amanda) Wallace and Kim Whittle, plus 10 grandchildren and four great grandschildren, all of whom he loved as his own.

In Hawai‘i, Roger had many business ventures including a tourist photo business and an air freight business to the South Pacific. He was appointed consulate for Kiribati, and was drawn to more businesses and adventures further in the Pacific, in Tahiti and Australia. Ultimately, he returned to Hawai‘i, where his neighbor and long time friend, Brian Barbata, appointed him general manager of Senter Petroleum, where he served for 25 of his 34 years in beautiful Kaua‘i.

Roger was very active in his community, as Rotary Club of Kaua‘i president, founding member of Leadership Kaua‘i, chairman of Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, and commodore of the Kaua‘i Yacht Club. He loved golf and sailing and spent countless hours studying to improve his performance in both. He even appeared in a David Penhallow one-act play with his wife, Roberta. He was always ready to help a friend or neighbor when they had problems. Roger had a wonderful gift of wit and clarity that he used as master of ceremonies at various events during his long career as a community leader.

Leadership in the association of Chevron fuel distributors in Hawai‘i took Roger and Roberta on many trips throughout the U.S. Roberta and Roger were also loyal attendees and volunteers at the Cable Air Show through the years. Flying private aircraft was still part of his life and work well into his 70s.

Roger succumbed to cancer on Sept. 28, 2022, at home with his wife and family at his side. Roger, the youngest of his generation, was predeceased by his parents, Maude and Dewey, brothers Paul and Walter and sister Millie.

Memorials to Kaua‘i Hospice, Rotary International Foundation and Kaua‘i Sailing Association in his memory are suggested by the family. His celebration of life is on his birthday, February 11. His wish was to have an 85th birthday celebration, and though he can’t be there in body, he will be in spirit: at the Hukilau Lanai restaurant in the Kaua‘i Coast Resort at the Beachboy in Waipouli from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Janet Ayako Haraguchi

Janet Ayako Haraguchi, 98, of Hanalei, passed away at home on Jan. 4, 2023. She was born on Jan. 8, 1924, in Ko‘olau. She was a farmer.

She was preceded in death by parents Jino and Shizuno Hiranaka, brothers Shigeshi Hiranaka and Richard Hiranaka, and sister Elaine Suyama.

She is survived by husband William Haraguchi, sons Willard (Hannah) Haraguchi of Hanalei, Rodney (Karol) Haraguchi of Hanalei and Glenn (Cathy) Haraguchi of Hanalei, daughter Carol (Rudy) Obrero of West Covina, California, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, amd brothers Larry Hiranaka of Honolulu, Gary (Elaine) Hiranaka of Kapa‘a and Tomoo Hiranaka of Lihu‘e.

Private services were held. The family requests no koden (monetary gifts).

Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.

Joseph A. Kona

Joseph A. Kona, of Waimea, died at Queen’s North Community Hospital on Dec. 30, 2022, at the age of 71. Born in Waimea on June 18, 1951, he was employed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and transferred to Koke’e State Park as a supervisor (retired), and then worked for the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee.

He was preceded in death by his father Alfred P. Kona, mother Anna Mae Kona and brother Wallis W. Kona.

He is survived by wife Margaret (Agit) Kona of Waimea, daughters Tiffany (Richard) Ruiz of Waimea and Talia (Ronson) Arakaki of Kekaha, sons John (Jodie) Aguon-Kona of Hanapepe Heights and Joseph (Melissa) Aguon-Kona of Lawa‘i, grandchildren Java Aguon-Kona, Wyatt Ruiz, Layne Kanoa, Johnna Kona, Josiah Aguon-Kona, Kaili Arakaki, Hunter Arakaki, Jolee Aguon-Kona, Peyton Arakaki, Mehana Kona, Makana Kona and Kelson Arakaki, great granddaughter Hali‘a Apo-Kona, sisters Joann (Roy) Borja of Waimea, Rose Marie Poirier of Maurice, Louisiana, and Theresa Manatad of Hanapepe, and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, aunties and uncles.

Family and friends may join the family in a celebration of life on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Lucy Wright Park in Waimea, from noon to 5 p.m.

Sally Takamura Okada

Sally Takamura Okada, 94, of Kekaha, passed away on Nov. 3, 2022, at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea. She was born on May 31, 1928, in Waimea. She retired as a bank teller at First Hawaiian Bank in ‘Ele‘ele.

She was preceded in death by husband Sadamu Okada, parents Sabujuntaro and Yukie Takamura, brothers Shigeyuki, Tamotsu, Mitsuo, Tomeichi and Glenn, and sisters Tsuruko Takamura and Matsuko Ijima.

She is survived by daughters Sadie Remigio of Kekaha and Donna Okada-Asher (Roy Asher) of Kekaha, grandchildren Steven (Caryn Tomita) Fountain of Honolulu, Marissa (Brandon) Ozaki of Mililani, O‘ahu and Evan Asher of San Francisco, great-grandchildren Lyon Fountain, Greysen Fountain and Oliva Ozaki, brother Yukio Takamura of Honolulu, brother-in-law James Okada of South San Gabriel, California, sister Jean Midori Komori of Honolulu, sisters-in-law Jan Takamura of Lawa‘i, Jane Takamura of Lihu‘e, Jane Takamura of Waimea, Debbie Takamura of Atascadero, California, Nobue Watanabe of Waimea, Emi Okada of South San Gabriel, California and Sakiko Okihara of Waimea, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Private services were held.

Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.