Obituaries for Saturday, February 24, 2024

Josephine Cortezan Duvauchelle

Josephine “Jo” Cortezan Duvauchelle, passed away peacefully at her home on Jan. 23, 2024, at the age of 96. Born on April 6, 1927 in Koloa, Hawai‘i, to Catalino Colorje Cortezan and Josefina Abaya Cortezan, Jo’s journey was one filled with love, family, and a spirit that touched all who knew her.

Jo received her baccalaureate in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati in 1951. She returned to Kaua‘i in 1952 and was a Public Health Nurse serving the Puhi and Hanama‘ulu districts for several years. In 1969, she became a Nursing Instructor at Kaua‘i Community College. Her expertise, compassion, and dedication played a vital role in the development and start up of the college’s esteemed nursing program, leaving a lasting impact on her students, community and patients. Jo received her Master of Science, Nursing, from the University of Hawai‘i in 1982. She retired as the Director of Nursing at Kaua‘i Community College in 1989. In 2014 she was honored as one of the “University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges’ 50 Finest.” Jo belonged to and served in several community and professional organizations, foundations and boards.

Predeceased by her beloved husband, Raymond Pihaleo Duvauchelle.

Jo leaves cherished memories for her children Raymond Duvauchelle (Cathy), Douglas Duvauchelle (Jeanette), JoRae Baptiste (Rodney), Sheryl Ramos (Cedric), ten grandchildren Tiffany Marrote (Kimo), Mark Ruiz (Trisha), Kaulana Baptiste (Bethany), Ian Baptiste, Krystina Baptiste (Alex), Joshua Duvauchelle (Seth), Kelsey Duvauchelle (Kamen), Spencer Duvauchelle (Maddy), Kamuela Duvauchelle, Logan Baptiste, six great-grandchildren Carmela, Ezra, Jaxson, Jasper, Cannon and Kooper.

She is also survived by her sister Mary Alice “Mamie” Powelson, cousins Millie Wellington, Jeannie Odo, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Jo and Raymond proudly honored their familyʻs values and wisdom through their long standing membership with Koloa Union Church.

Join us in celebrating her life on March 2, 2024, at Koloa Union Church. The family will greet guests starting at 9:30 a.m. followed by a service at 10:30 a.m.

Contrado Acierto

Contrado Acierto passed away on Jan. 31, 2024, at home in Kapa‘a at the age of 84. He was born on March 25, 1939, in Koloa. He served in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard and was a supervisor at Tower Construction on O‘ahu.

He was preceded in death by parents Jose and Faustina Acierto, wife Helena Dabin Acierto, brothers Benjamin Acierto, Alfredo Acierto, sister Lazara Laboguen, son Allen “Moose” Lopez, grandson Anthony Waipa, granddaughter Juliana Lopez, and great-granddaughter Deysha Machado.

He is survived by daughters Esther (Raynard) Machado, Bernadette “Bernie” (Shilo) Pa, son Edmund “Eddie” (Kim) Acierto, Martin “Ali” Birtodaso, Garrick Lopez, Ronald (Jeanette) Lopez, Frederick “Joe” (Lihue) Lopez, Kathlyn Christian, Melissa Dabin, sisters Gloria (Larry-deceased) Rivera, Mary (Richard-deceased) Link, 32 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life is Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 2838 Kealia Road in Kealia beginning at 8 a.m. Inurnment will follow at St. Catherine Church Cemetery.

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

Asencion ‘Alice’ Paler Jacinto

Asencion “Alice” Paler Jacinto passed away peacefully at home in Hanama‘ulu, Hawai‘i, on Feb. 6, 2024, at the age of 95. She was born in Anahola, Hawai‘i, on Oct. 9, 1928. Alice worked as a baker and retired from Lihu‘e’s Tip Top Cafe & Bakery. She enjoyed spending time with her family and loved taking care of her flower garden.

She was preceded in death by her husband Adriano R. Jacinto, parents Saliya Pacania Paler and Raymundo Paler, sisters Leona (Donayri) Omo, Lorencia Corpuz, Rosal Paler, brothers Serbando “Bandoi” Paler, Rudy “Dickie” Paler, Florentino “Poren” Paler and Vernon M. Paler.

Alice is survived by daughters LaVerne (V.Franklin) Villaflor, Lorna Lynn (Collins) Medeiros, sons Leonard (Charleen) Jacinto, Leslie (Samantha) Jacinto, ten grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The family would like to give a very special mahalo to Kaua‘i Hospice for the compassionate care and loving support that they provided.

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

Clement ‘Clem’ Joseph Soares

Clement “Clem” Joseph Soares, passed away on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, following a brief illness, at Poudre Valley Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, in Fort Collins, Colorado. He was born on March 8, 1958 in Waimea, Kaua‘i to Joseph and Margaret Soares. Clement was a Kaua‘i High School graduate, Class of 1976. He worked as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic for McBryde Sugar Company until the company closed, then at Allied Machinery and finally for Kaua‘i Coffee.

Clement was preceded in death by his father Joseph A. Soares, mother Margaret K. Gaebler, brother Robert R. Soares and his wife Lisa Archibeque Soares.

Clement is survived by brothers Clifford (Analyn) Soares of Henderson, Nevada, Calvin (Leona) Soares of Kalaheo, Hawai‘i, Jared (Wanda) Soares of Fort Collins, Colorado and a sister Carmel (Scott) Martin of Wesley Chapel, Florida. He has many uncles, aunties, nieces, nephews and cousins of which he was so fond of.

Finally, to the caring medical and nursing staff at UC Health’s Poudre Valley Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit who cared for him, and got to know him for the brief periods of time.

His nurses and hospital chaplains would sit with him for hours at a time, to comfort him and learn about growing up in Hawai‘i. Playing music with his brothers was a topic in all conversations. Last but not least, to Roger and Peggy Hageman, Clem’s dear friends, provided moral support to him upon his return to Fort Collins, Colorado. Their commitment to Clement, Jared and Wanda was there until his passing on Dec. 15.

Memorial Services will be held at a later date.

Nancy Fuertes Ueno

Nancy Fuertes Ueno, 84, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend was welcomed into the arms of our Lord on Sept. 14, 2023. She passed peacefully at home as she wished, surrounded by her family and friends. Nancy was an award-winning lei maker, credited and published in several books on lei making. She was happiest when she was doing things for others, cooking, painting and making leis. She was a licensed practical nurse, and retired from the office of elderly affairs, with the county of Kaua‘i. But the job she was best known for was babysitting. She was an active member of the West Kaua‘i United Methodist Church and a 30 year hospice volunteer.

She is survived by her children Sandra (Kent) Brown (Nevada), Ryan (Kathy) Baniaga (Kaua‘i), Sharla Baniaga (Kaua‘i), Raenella Fuller (Texas), grandchildren Marcy and Morris Brown, Brysen Baniaga, siblings Anita Malama, Basilio Fuertes Jr., Carmen Vierra, Victoria Fuertes, Rose Mary (Allen) Saraos, David (Carol) Fuertes, Connie Baniaga (Hanai Sister), Tony Howland (Heather)(Hanai Son) and Bryce Howland (Sweetie) (Hanai Grandson).

The family would like to express their deep gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Monty Downs and the Kaua‘i Hospice staff for the exceptional care of our mother and grandmother.

Service will be held at the Kaumakani location of the West Kaua‘i United Methodist Church on March 2, 2024. Viewing is at 10 a.m. with service to follow at 11 a.m.

William ‘Billy’ Kalaukahiki Lemn

October 2, 1938 — September 22, 2023

William “Billy” Kalaukahiki Lemn passed away on September 22nd after a commonplace procedure changing the batteries on his defibrillator at Straub Medical Center. He was just ten days shy of his 85th birthday.

He was born at Kealia Dispensary, Kauai, as the oldest of the three sons of Annie Kalopi Valpoon Lemn of Anahola Village and her husband, William Kulia Lemn, formerly of Moanalua, Oahu. Billy’s grade schooling began at Anahola School and continued at St. Catherine’s. At Kapa’a High School, Billy was the only freshman to earn a varsity track letter, which led to recruitment for track and football by his agricultural dream school, Lahainaluna. Already targeting a career as a farmer, he eagerly learned the Lahainaluna song after being flown to tour the agricultural boarding school. When his mother chose Kamehameha for him instead, Billy set his Lahainaluna dreams aside and dutifully matriculated to Honolulu as a boarder. Billy helped his team establish a 4 x 100m relay record at Kamehameha. He also earned a spot at the Olympic tryouts for wrestling, which he regrettably missed because his cattle got out and fences needed fixing. In 1957, he graduated with his classmate and love, Luella Hasegawa of Molokai. Agriculture and a football scholarship led him to Hartnell A & M College in Salinas, California. Luella headed off to Wisconsin State Teacher’s College in faraway Platteville. A secret San Francisco elopement predictably followed in 1958, and the two returned to Billy’s Anahola to raise four children and persevere through 65 years of joys and struggles.

On Kaua‘i, Billy followed in his father’s footsteps to provide for his growing family. He served his community as a KPD officer for over 16 years and as a National Guard service member. His police service earned him recognition and a Distinguished Service Award for outstanding performance of duty in 1972. A seasoned narcotics and vice investigator, Billy’s undercover assignments put him in dangerous situations throughout Hawaii and Los Angeles. He prided himself on his work with disguises that even fooled his frightened children when he appeared at home as a 1970s hippy. He left KPD as a Sergeant Detective to return to his first love, farming, where he set records in banana, cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, and eggplant yields and was active with the Kauai Farm Bureau for many years. Later, his farming turned to cultivating tropical flowers, specializing in orchid production. He relished looking out over his fields of multi-colored blossoms and regretted harvest days. Luella handled sales, floral arrangements, and lei-making.

Billy was also a Hawaiian food and imu master who made a legendary kinilau dish from aku and limu lipoa that was unmatched. With Luella, he successfully continued his parents’ business, Lemn’s Luau & Hawaiian Food, for over 35 years after his parents’ passing, catering many weddings, baby luaus, graduations, retirement parties, and other celebrations all over Kauai. In doing so, his family’s culinary tradition lived on as the oldest permitted Department of Health food establishment on Kaua’i.

Proud of being a good provider, he took on other jobs, such as a federal wildlife agent when Hurricane ‘Iniki destroyed his crops and as an airport armed guard until just a few years ago. At the airport, he enjoyed the camaraderie of his co-workers and the hustle and bustle of those coming and going. His airport employment required marksman recertifications annually, and he relished the friendly competitions that cropped up around these annual recertifications due to his expert skills.

Ranching was also in his blood, with his Spanish ancestor, Miguel Castro, being the first paniolo on Kauai. Like Miguel, Billy enjoyed cowboying and was an active rodeo competitor astride his beloved Appaloosas and Morgans, which he raised along with cattle for many years.

Billy was a man of action and adventure in other ways as well. He was a boat captain and built four boats, including his prized “Haunani K,” from scratch in his garage. Nothing made him happier than being out on the ocean with his sons and grandsons, long lines in the water, reels screaming, with his strong arms pulling in fresh fish for the table. He was an ultralight pilot on an aircraft he also built in his garage. He was an aikido expert, a scuba instructor, a deep-sea diver pulling black coral from the dark ocean depths, a motocross competitor, and a humorous cartoonist. He loved traveling with Luella, saw many sights across the United States and Europe, and enjoyed cruises to Alaska, Canada, Nova Scotia, and the Mediterranean.

Billy’s twilight years did not slow him down. With Chucky Boy Chock, Executive Director of the Kauai Museum, Billy embarked on an ambitious project to focus attention on the history of our own noteworthy Kauai ali‘i, King Kaumuali‘i, and his favorite wife, Queen Deborah

Kapule. With the support of Chucky Boy and the Kauai Museum, the community, and Luella and Billy’s extended family and friends, the enterprise spearheaded the installation of statues in honor of these ali‘i at the museum’s entrance. Billy felt overwhelming aloha and gratitude for those who helped make the installation possible, and his family extends their mahalo to all of you. In place of condolences, the family asks that donations be made to Kauai Museum to help perpetuate the history of our islands.

An additional blessing of the project came in the form of a deep friendship that blossomed between Chucky Boy and Billy. Together, the two collaborated and completed a song Billy had written honoring Anahola, its people, and Ke Akua above, which Billy entitled “Anahola Song.” To Billy’s delight, Chucky Boy debuted this song in March 2023 at the Garden Island Arts Council’s “E Kanikapila Kakou 2023” event at Kaua’i Beach Resort. Even more heartwarming to Billy, Chucky Boy honored Billy as his “hanai father” in this performance.

Billy had a fine, resounding baritone, enjoyed by the parishioners on many Sundays at his family church, Ko‘olauhui‘ia Protestant Church, in Anahola. There, he served in many roles throughout the years, including as building maintenance manager, moderator, and deacon.

With his commitment to his church and his lifelong involvement in catering celebrations through the decades, it may seem strange to many that his final wish was to be remembered by his immediate family at their family gatherings on Sundays rather than being honored at a formal service. At heart, Billy was a solitary man who was always uncomfortable being the center of attention. As a family, we ask for everyone’s understanding of this unusual request and hope we have still honored him with this memorial of his life. His ashes and spirit will remain with his love, Luella, in his beloved Anahola until the two are reunited someday.

Billy is survived by his wife, Luella, youngest brother, Harry, and sister-in-law, Leona (widow of brother, Bobby). He is also survived by eldest son Kendall and daughter-in-law Ronnie Lynn (Yasui) along with their oldest daughter Shonnielyn, her partner Noah Akutagawa, and their children, Kena and Kahiau; second daughter Kamalei, her partner Keona Peahu, and their children Kaniela and Kamaha‘o; third child Dylan and his partner Kaila Naholoholo along with their daughter, Kalea; and Dylan’s twin brother Devin. Billy is also survived by second son Kevin and by daughter Haunani, her husband, “favorite son-in-law”, Scott (Nunokawa), their son Nahulu, and their boy-girl twins, Hulukoa and Kahulu. Finally, he is survived by his youngest son Nathan and his daughter Zaiana, her partner Luke Hacker, and Zaiana’s son Kaizaic. Others he considered part of his ‘ohana included Richard and Lydia Osakoda and Chucky Boy and Pamela Chock. All told, he is survived by 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and many other family and friends. Sadly, those who preceded him included his younger brother Bobby and his beloved infant twin daughters Dena and Dina and grandchildren Kunane Lemn and Kayla Huddy-Lemn. In closing, I’m sure Billy would be pleased to share a Bible verse he repeated often at the end of his life, 1 Corinthians 13:13, in which Paul writes, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Aloha ‘oe to our beloved Billy until we meet again.