Obituaries for Thursday, January 9, 2025
Milton Masao Oshiro
Milton Masao Oshiro
Milton Masao Oshiro, of Eleele, passed away on Aug. 13, 2024, at home at the age of 68. He was born on Feb. 17, 1956, in Waimea. He was a Hawaii Army National Guard veteran and a Family Assistant Center Specialist.
He was preceded in death by his parents Shigeo and Alice Oshiro, brother Clayton Oshiro and sister-in-law Judy Oshiro.
He is survived by his wife Marla Oshiro, son Michael (Laura) Oshiro of West Virginia, brother Russell Oshiro of Oahu, numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at the Kauai Veterans Center in Lihue. Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at 10 a.m.
The family suggests casual attire and requests that flowers be omitted.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Margaret Ann Thompson
Margaret Ann Thompson, of Kilauea, passed away at the age of 67. She was born on July 27, 1957, in Alexandria, Virginia. She was retired.
She was preceded in death by her parents Charlotte and Dick W. Thompson, brothers Richard Scott Thompson and James Douglas Thompson.
She is survived by her sister Suzanne Thompson Pond of Kilauea, nieces Alexandra Lei Pond (Daniel), Kieran Rose Pond Texeira (Nathan), great-nephews Kyler and Ryder Texeira.
A service will be held at a later date.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Eugenio Celestino Bisarra
Eugenio Celestino Bisarra, of Kekaha, passed away on Jan. 1, 2025, at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital at the age of 85. He was born on Dec. 18, 1939, in Alcala Pangasinan, Philippines. He retired as a groundskeeper at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.
He was preceded in death by his parents Elvira and Julian Bisarra, sister Bebe Bisarra,
grandson Ranson Tamil Bisarra, great-grandson Sean Santiago-Bisarra Jr. and first wife Pacita Ellamil Bisarra.
He is survived by his wife Emma Bisarra, sons Arnold Bisarra (Rhoda Lacaden) of Kekaha,
Sean Christopher Bisarra (Shentel Santiago) of Kilauea, daughter Gina Bisarra (Art Remigio) of Kekaha, six grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, brothers Samuel Bisarra (Mely) of Lihue, Joel Bisarra (Lily) of California, Conrado Bisarra (Adelina) of the Philippines, Felix Sly Bisarra of Kekaha,
Ruben Bisarra (Susie) of California, sisters Hermania Bisarra De Claro of California, Luzviminda Spence (Phil) of Ohio, Edna Barnes (David) of Idaho, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at the St. Theresa Church in Kekaha.
Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by Mass at 10:30 a.m. The family requests aloha attire and welcomes flowers.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Donald Mitsuji Pigao
Donald Mitsuji Pigao, 83 of Kekaha, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Nov. 17, 2024, in Waimea. He was born on Dec. 6, 1940, in Waimea. He retired as a Longshoreman with Young Brothers, Ltd.
He was preceded in death by his wife Joanne Corazon Parages Pigao, father Jose Madriaga Pigao Sr., mother Alice Matsue Pigao, brothers Jose Madriaga Pigao Jr., Ludivico “Jackie” Pigao and brother-in-law MacArthur Dela Cruz.
He is survived by his sons Neil (Consolacion) Pigao of Eleele, Keith “Tsuji” Pigao of Lawai, daughters Donella (Dante) Cambra of Kapolei, Oahu, Lori (Vincent) Nitta of Port Allen, eight grandchildren, three hanai grandchildren, sisters Rosita (Jerry) Sakamoto of Kamuela, Big Island, Linda Dela Cruz of Kekaha, Gail (Wayne Ayudan) of Kekaha, Jenny (Rommel) Manansala of Oahu, brother Ronnie (Johanna) Pigao of California, stepmother Luming Yapo of California, sister-in-law Rosaline “Rosie” Pigao of Eleele, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.
A service will be held on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at the Garden Island Mortuary In Lawai. Visitation with the family from 10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a celebration of life. The family suggests casual attire and welcomes flowers.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dawna F. Krafft
Dawna F. Krafft, of Koloa, passed away on Jan. 2, 2025, at Wilcox Memorial Hospital at the age of 71. She was born on June 16, 1953, and worked in customer service at Home Depot.
She was preceded in death by her parents Carl White and Trinidad Horan, husband Bruce Krafft and brother Vern White.
Dawna is survived by her sons Ricky (Justin) Ramirez, Joe Ramirez, Aric (Jen) Hondel, daughter Chelle Hondel, brother Cliff, sister Karen, six grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
Robert ‘Bob’ Fujimoto
1941-2024
Bob was born and raised in Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i. He grew up with wonderful family and friends he valued and stayed connected to his entire life. He went to Kapa‘a High School, worked the pineapple fields, and went fishing and surfing as often as he could. He learned Karate and went to Japanese school at the Hongwanji. Bob shared his many Kaua‘i adventures with his children and grandchildren throughout the years.
Bob was a hard worker at all he did. He was fond of telling his children and grandchildren, especially in sports, that anything in life you do you should strive to “Kick Ass”, meaning work hard and try your best. Bob followed this principle early in his life. He worked hard to earn a Black Belt in Karate. While in college, he placed first in the Upper Midwest Karate Tournament and went on to place 2nd in the First World Karate Tournament for his division.
He graduated from Mankato State University in Minnesota with a science degree and moved to Maui where he began his teaching career. He lived in the Pu‘unënë teacher housing and it is here that he met his beautiful wife Yvonne. Their first daughter Yvette came soon after, followed by his son Rob and daughter Dawn.
The family moved to Pä‘ia where they became part of the Pä‘ia ‘Ohana. Bob taught science at Pä‘ia School but, as with so many teachers, was so much more for students. He coached multiple sports, helped the students learn the value of gardening and growing your own food, introduced students to photography and how to develop photos, guided students in creating their own surf boards, and taught them how to knot a throw net. Field trips would include going to the tidal pools around Maui and bamboo pole fishing. Bob’s normal after-school routine was surfing Ho‘okipa waves or walking the coastline of Pä‘ia and Kuau throwing net.
As the family moved to Kula, he also moved to teaching at Kalama School, where he was able to continue supporting Maui’s children. So many of his students stayed connected, it was common for him to run into past students while cruisin’ Maui and he could always recall their name and family.
With his science background and a family history tied to Hawai’i’s agriculture, Bob transitioned from teaching to farming Kula onions. Throughout his lifetime he and the family have worked hard to provide Maui with all sorts of fresh produce. Bob generously shared much of what he grew with family and friends. His generosity extended to cooking for family and friends. He was always experimenting and learning about new recipes.
In December 2024, Bob passed away while doing the farming that he loved.
He is survived by his wife Yvonne, brother Jay, three children Yvette, Rob, and Dawn, and six grandchildren, Ethan, Graham, Keanu, Kiani, Kendall, and Royce.
He was loved and will be missed, and will forever be in our hearts.
The family would like to thank all those who loved and appreciated Bob. He understood the value of family and friendship and worked hard to stay connected during his lifetime. It always made him happy to hear from old friends and past students.
Services were held privately with family.
The family has set up a website where family and friends may share their memories/photos of Bob. The website address is: weremember.com/bob-fujimoto/3i6b/memories
Instructions can be found at the bottom of the Memories section.
Richard Roy Costa Ayres
Richard Roy Costa Ayres, 90, passed away on Jan. 1, 2025, in Koloa. He was born on Jan. 9, 1934, in Hawaii. He was in the United States Coast Guard and worked as a waiter at the Tahitian Lanai in Waikiki.
Preceded in death by mother Virgina Andrade, brothers Manual, Albert, John, Lawrence, George, James, Joseph, sisters Helen Kauahi, Ethel Jardine, Barbara Amante and Dorothy Vierra.
He is survived by caregiver Claire Carveiro, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kalaheo. Visitation begins at 10 a.m., Mass at 11 a.m., and burial will follow at Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe.
Borthwick Kauai Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Kenneth Mark Levine
Kenneth Mark Levine died on Oct. 7, 2024. He was at home with his family in Seattle. He was 77 years old and lived actively through 28 years with Parkinson’s Disease. Ken was an award- winning filmmaker, photographer, and concert producer who also served as film commissioner on Kaua‘i and brought numerous films to the island, including the first “Jurassic Park”.
A memorial and celebration of his life will be held at his Kalaheo home in Feb. 2025.
