Obituaries for Sunday, March 24, 2019
Juliet Leilani Kanoa Aiu
Juliet Leilani Kanoa Aiu
June 1, 1927 Feb. 12, 2019
Juliet Leilani Kanoa Aiu was born in Kekaha. She passed away on Feb. 12, 2019, on Oahu at the age of 91.
She lived her entire life on Kauai.
She retired as Kauai project manager for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and also as a commissioner for the state Department of Transportation. She was president of ‘Ahahui Ka‘ahumanu Society for 18 years. She was also president of the Prince Kuhio Festivals and holoku balls.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold, parents Joseph and Julia Vidinha Kanoa, and siblings Maurice, Buddy, Ellen Young, Larry Ching and Mabel Huddy.
She is survived by children Bob (Jocelyn), Joe, Wendy, Tom and LuAnn “Tootie” (Jennifer Ching), grandchildren Jodi (Phil) Johnson, Justin (Danielle) Aiu, Tracy (Nate) Pellazar, Aaron (Marci) Aiu, Carly Aiu, Micah Aiu, Jesse Avila, Malia (Kona) Kuailani and Michaela Tapia, 16 great-grandchildren, sister Lorraine Like and hanai children Jerry Nakasone, Charn Hall and Lorna Nishimitsu.
Services will be held on Saturday, March 30, at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa, with viewing from 8 to 11 a.m., and Mass at 11 a.m.
A private burial will be held at a later date at St. Catherine’s Cemetery.
Lenson William Coyamin Perez
Lenson William Coyamin Perez, 31, of Poipu, passed away on March 1, 2019. He was born on April 8, 1987, in Lihue.
He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Julio Cruz Perez and Sophia Gonsalves (Joseph) Akita.
He is survived by mother Rebecca “Becky” (Ricky Imada) Coyamin, father Leonard, stepmother Edwina Perez, sister Leona (Les Tumpap) Perez, maternal grandparents Ross Coyamin and Frances (Donald) Rapozo, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.
Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, April 13, from 8:30 a.m., with Mass celebrated 10 a.m., at St. Raphael Church in Koloa.
The family graciously requests no flowers. Borthwick Kauai Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
The Rev. Elaine Helen Keikilani Petersen Keale
The Rev. Elaine Helen Keikilani Petersen Keale, 77, of Anahola, passed away in Wilcox Medical Center on March 7, 2019.
She was born on Oahu on Feb. 6, 1942, and worked at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, Wilcox Memorial Hospital and retired as a certified nurse assistant from Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital. She was a very generous and devout member of Ka Ekalesia o Ke Akua Mana, Church of the Living God.
She was preceded in death by husband the Rev. Moses Kaleoao Keale Jr. and son William Jacob Keale.
She is survived by son William “Ama” (Brianne Santos) Kamala-Keale, sisters Frances Kamoku and Palma Kamala, granddaughter Elaine Keikilani Kamala-Keale, hanai children Anaconi Kamala, Rowena Fukushima, Wenda Moon, Rodney Oyamot, Mansfield Oyamot, Malcolm Oyamot and Jonathan “Jay Jay” Oyamot, brothers-in-law Arthur (Dorothy) Keale and Arthur Kahale, sister-in-law Diane Keale, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, March 26, at Kauai War Memorial Convention Center, with visitation from 9 a.m. and services beginning at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will be held at Kauai Memorial Gardens at 1:30 p.m.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Joyce Diane Packard
Joyce Diane Packard passed away peacefully on Feb. 15, 2019, at her home in Koloa at the age of 86, from cancer.
She is survived by an older sister, Jean (Ken) Mabuchi, of Naples, Florida, and two younger siblings, Lyman (Ann) Packard of Santa Barbara, California, and Gay (Bob) Leisure of Rancho Cucamonga, California. Her children are Lynn (Ross) Barker of Kekaha, Jack (Patricia) Murray of Poipu, Frank (Heidi) Murray of Craig, Alaska, Lorena Murray of Chimacum, Washington, and Jim Murray of Tokyo, Japan, and her grandchildren are Marijke (Matt) Cadenelli, Coral Barker, Patience (Carlos) Jensen, Sophia Wilhelm, John (Carly) Murray, Amos (Megan) Murray, Rocky Murray and Ian Stevens. She was a proud great-grandmother of Pedro and Vanessa Gonzales, Keoni and Iris Jensen, Calvin and Corban Wilhelm, Aspen, Decker and Keziah Murray, and Leo Stevens. She will be missed by her many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was born July 10, 1932 in Anaheim, California, to Lyman and Mary Johnson Packard. She began her working life when she was in her teens, and worked for a time as a waitress at Knotts Berry Farm in Anaheim. She studied art at the University of California Santa Barbara, and obtained a teaching certificate from UC San Diego.
Her love of art was a gift she cherished throughout her life, and passed on to her children and grandchildren. She was married to the late Dr. John Murray for 16 years until they divorced in 1972. In addition to caring for their family of five children, she taught elementary school for many years in California and Colorado.
She was also proud of her work leading Jeep tours and whitewater river tours in Colorado. She was dedicated to volunteer work, and enjoyed reading aloud for people who were blind or disabled.
After moving to Kauai in 2000, she became a member of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Her volunteer work at the garden included assisting with the research of the Breadfruit Institute, and the oshibana craft group, where she was known for her pine needle basketry.
Before her death, she made it clear that she did not want a traditional funeral or religious service. Her family and friends gathered to share memories and say farewell with a beach party at Salt Pond Beach Park on March 2, 2019. She loved the ocean, and will be remembered as an avid swimmer and snorkeler who was acquainted with all the fish on the reef.
Larry Joe Loganbill
Larry Joe Loganbill passed away on Nov. 17, 2018, in Moloaa. He was born on Nov. 20, 1943, in Downey, California.
He was preceded in death by parents Marion (Masters) and Albert Loganbill.
He is survived by sister Janet Fisher (Dick) of Denver, brother Tom Loganbill (Susan) of Cambria, California, sons James Loganbill (Leigh) of Kaneohe and David Loganbill of Hawaii Kai, their mother Lynne Marshall of Noosa, Australia, daughter Anna Thronas Loganbill of New York City, her mother Ku‘ulei Thronas of Kalaheo, granddaughters Z’aree and Violet Loganbill, nieces, nephews, cousins, and Winston the Cat.
He received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Long Beach State College and a master’s degree in education and instructional technology from USC. He was a water polo player in college, junior lifeguard instructor and lifeguard for the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches, and a mathematics teacher for grades two to six in Watts, California.
Upon moving to Hawaii he began his 26-year career at Kamehameha Schools, first as a sixth-grade teacher, then as the media manager for the Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate Early Education Division from 1971 to 1988 before becoming the coordinator of video production from 1988 to 1997.
He and his team members produced informational, instructional and video news releases for the Education Group, documentary videos of Tahiti, Samoa, Cook Islands, Raiatea, Australia and Japan, including Hokule‘a segments. He developed media components for an experimental classroom at the first bilingual/bicultural Native American elementary school in Rough Rock, Arizona, and the Navajo reservation.
He co-produced and co-edited “My Aunt May,” winner of a 1990 American Film magazine award at the Hawaii International Film Festival, and edited and co-produced a Los Angeles Lakers NBA world championship highlights videotape.
After retiring from Kamehameha Schools he was a lecturer at the Kauai Community College Native Hawaiian Community Based Learning Center, set up a MacIntosh lab in Waimea for keiki and kupuna, and later worked as a substitute teacher for various public schools on Kauai.
His wit, humor, incessant penchant for current events, politics and all things irreverent will be very much missed by his family and friends. A private scattering of ashes was held.
Kevin Akira Gokan
Kevin Akira Gokan, 50, of Lihue, passed away on March 5, 2019. He was born on Aug. 22, 1968.
He was preceded in death by father Charles Gokan, paternal grandparents Takeshi and Kiyoko Gokan, and maternal grandparents Jisaburo and Yoshiko Kaya.
He is survived by son Blaise Gokan, mother Hiroko Gokan, brother Cory (Lani) Gokan, nephews Riley and Kai Gokan, and hanai daughter Emi Sakamoto.
A celebration of life will be held on the great lawn at Puakea Golf Course on Saturday, March 30, from 5 p.m. Family and friends will gather for an evening of reminiscing and remembering.
Alvin M. ‘Al’ Yamamoto
Alvin M. “Al” Yamamoto of Honolulu passed away on Feb. 3, 2019.
He was born on Kauai on Nov. 26, 1937.
He served in the U.S. Army and was a manager at the Bank of Hawaii.
He was preceded in death by parents Soichi and Kikue Yamamoto, and sister Jean.
He is survived by wife Jean, son Gregg (Michelle), grandchildren Reyland and Aaron Yamamoto, sister Gloria (Ron) Matsuba, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and aunties.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 30, at Hosoi Mortuary in Honolulu, with visitation with his family at 9 a.m. and services to follow at 10 a.m.
Hosoi Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ke‘ala Ellen Ke‘alalipoa Marie Kinimaka Senkus
Beoved Ke‘ala Ellen Ke‘alalipoa Marie Kinimaka Senkus, 66, completed her circle of life and has been called to her eternal home Feb. 5, 2019.
Married 40 years to Richard, soul mates for 45 years, they lived with their “furry family” Buddy, Lroc, Mele and Tiger.
She is survived by Ke‘ala and Richard’s hanai children Kaleo, Kaeo and Nanae Lopez, their loving children, the Kinimaka ohana, sisters Kaimi, Kaniu, Kapu, Nani and Lihue, brothers Titus and Alekai, and the Senkus ohana, sisters Amelia and Greta and brothers Tony and Eric.
“Aunty Ke‘ala” is lovingly remembered as a renown distinguished kumu hula, dancer, entertainer, musician, and successful restaurant owner who touched and blessed many lives.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Smith’s Tropical Gardens.
Kauai Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
