Obituaries for Friday, May 28, 2021
Cipriano Ragocos Jr.
Cipriano Ragocos Jr.
Cipriano Ragocos Jr. passed away on May 6, 2021, at the age of 73, at his residence. He was born on May 23, 1947, in Waimea.
He was a U. S. Army Vietnam Veteran and retired as a drip irrigation crew chief for Kekaha Sugar Company. He also worked for Syngenta, Global Ag and Becks. He enjoyed being a shoreline fisherman and vacationed yearly in Las Vegas.
He was preceded in death by father Cipriano Ragocos Sr., Marcelo and Moyo Rapanot, son Marc K.Y. Ragoco, nephew Kevin Jon Ragocos and brother-in-law Jody Alvarez.
He is survived by wife Nora Doronio Ragocos of Kekaha, son Cipriano (Cheryl Stoddard) Ragocos III aka Cippyboy of Kekaha, daughters Yone (Roy Caberto) Ragocos of Kekaha and Kaysha Leina‘ala Ragocos of Kekaha, grandchildren Kaylah Kimokeo-Ragocos, Kaira Malone, Austin Ragocos-Apo, Syone Apo and Mason Camara, great-grandchild Braxton-Keali‘i Kimokeo-Ragocos-Caoagdon, favorite dog Prince, brothers Burt (Angela) Rapanot Sr. of Kekaha and Brian (Elaine) Rapanot of Kekaha, sisters Jilly (Dennis) Gerken of Texas, Rachel Alvarez of Kekaha, Karen (Wesley Sr.) Yadao of Kekaha, Mary “Mila” (Royce) Rapanot of Kekaha and Theresa (Daron “Bones”) Nakata of Hanapepe, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A walk-thru visitation is Saturday, May 29, from 9 to 10 a.m., with celebration of life to follow, at Garden Island Mortuary. Due to COVID-19, masks and social distancing are required.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Tatsuki ‘Ed’ Someda
Tatsuki “Ed” Someda passed away on May 3, 2021, at home at the age of 87.
He was born on May 28, 1933 in Waimea.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and government property administrator for the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, NASA, and various stations in the Marshall Islands.
He was preceded in death by parents Mataki and Mayo Someda.
He is survived by wife Sri Someda, daughters Derlene Leiko Someda, Renee Someda and Natalie (Tracy) Payes, son Jared Someda, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, former wife Lourdes Sylvia Akana, sisters Jan Takamura and family, Elsie Uniaki and family and Sally Yamanoha and family.
He was best known for his knife-tying skills, his love for shoreline fishing and his oxtail soup at Sri’s Cafe.
A private service was held due to COVID-19.
Garden Island Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
Bernardo ‘Pastor Dong’ Nadarisay
Bernardo “Pastor Dong” Nadarisay of Lihu‘e passed away on May 9, 2021, at Straub Hospital, O‘ahu, at the age of 80.
Born in Hawai‘i on May 9, 1941, he was a pastor at Way of Salvation Church, Kapa‘a, and served in U.S. Army.
He was preceded in death by parents Cecilio and Hertrudes Nadarisay, wife Connie Nadarisay, brothers Raymond Villatora and Victor Villatora, sisters Mercedes Inez and Gregoria Caberto, and son-in-law Neil Apuna.
He is survived by sons Paul (Rochelle) Hernandez and Isaac (Nikki) Nadarisay, daughter Dawn Hernandez, stepson Edison Erorita, stepdaughter Christine Silva, brothers Antonio (Candice) Nadarisay, Frank (Coleen) Nadarisay and Benny Villatora, sisters Diane Vierra, Florence Alviar, Julie Lopez and Dolores Alimboyguen, 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Friends may visit the family on Thursday, June 3, at Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary in Koloa, with visitation at 9 a.m. and service at 11:15 a.m. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Kaua‘i Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe.
Due to COVID-19, limited seating is available, and masks and social distancing are required.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Estelle Alohalinda Fukushima
Estelle Alohalinda Fukushima passed away on May 14, 2021, at Straub Hospital, at the age of 83.
She was born on Oct. 28, 1937, at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital.
She was a teacher at Koloa, Kalaheo and Kekaha schools.
She was preceded in death by parents Isidro and Hermilina Bermodez and sisters Florida Bermodez and Leonora Bermodez.
She is survived by husband Ryoichi Fukushima of Kekaha, brothers Jaime Bermodez of O‘ahu and Justino Bermodez (Myong Son) of Las Vegas, and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A walk-thru visitation is Saturday, June 5, from 9 to 11 a.m., with a celebration of life to follow, at Garden Island Mortuary.
The family requests aloha attire and that flowers be omitted. Due to COVID-19, masks and social distancing are required.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Puanani Merri-Joy Arruda
Puanani Merri-Joy Arruda passed away on April 27, 2021 on Kaua‘i.
She was born on Dec. 22, 1956, in New York.
She was an emergency medical technician.
She was preceded in death by parents Clarence and Puanani E. Arruda, and brother Mark Arruda.
She is survived by daughters Napualani Arruda of Kapa‘a and Ku‘ulei Arruda of Kapa‘a, grandchildren Ki‘ilani, Le‘a and Channing, and brother Marvin Arruda.
Due to COVID-19, services will be determined at a later date.
Garden Island Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Walter Silva
Walter Silva passed away on June 6, 2020 at the age of 83. He was born on July 1, 1936 in Makaweli. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army and retired as a plumber.
He was preceded in death by parents John Sr. and Ethel Silva, and brothers Franklin Silva and Leonard Silva.
He is survived by wife Jasmine Lopez-Silva, sons Duane (Cathie) Silva of Fairwood, Washington, John (Tami) Cummings III of Kapa‘a and Maluhia (Nikki) Cummings of Puyallup, Washington, daughters Lynn (Chuck) Talbert of Mapel Valley, Washington, Christel (Antonio) Pope of Makaweli, Lapule (George) Valente of Makaweli and Joanna Silva of Covington, Washington, 25 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, brothers John (Irene) Silva Jr. of Mililani, Antone Roy Silva of Hawai‘i and Richard Silva of Kalaheo, sister-in-law Bernice Silva of Makaweli, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services are Friday, June 4, at Kaua‘i Veteran Center, with a walk-thru visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and service from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Due to COVID-19, masks and social distancing are required.
There will be a private scattering of ashes.
Donald J. Travaso
Donald J. Travaso, “Sheriff of Hanama‘ulu,” passed away peacefully at home on April 30, 2021. He was born in Lihu‘e on Nov. 29, 1938, and was retired from the County of Kaua‘i.
He was preceded in death by Joseph and Charlotte Travasso and faithful companion Manti.
He is survived by daughters Darnell (Myles) Aquino and Sheri (Scott) Yagihara, son Donavan (Alynda) Travasso, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, brother Joseph “Pancho” (Mildred) Travasso, sister Geraldine Duarte and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled for a later date to be announced.
Kaua‘i Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dean Kazuto Wakuta
Dean Kazuto Wakuta, 64, of Kapahi, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2021, at Wilcox Medical Center.
He was preceded in death by parents Mamoru and Kishiye (Okumura) Wakuta.
He was born at Wilcox Memorial Hospital on October 22, 1956. He was the oldest son of Mamoru and Kishiye Wakuta and was raised on Kaua‘i. He graduated from Kapa‘a High school and continued his education throughout the years, studying at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Honolulu Community College and Kaua‘i Community College.
He was a retired firefighter with the Kauai Fire Department. In 1986, he was hired as a groundskeeper with the county Department of Public Works. In 1992 he was hired as a firefighter after completion of the firefighter trainee program. He received certificates and training in fire rescue and hazardous materials, and was also a fire apparatus operator.
He also worked for Rosa’s roofing part-time while working as a firefighter. In previous years, he also worked in restaurant management and fine dining. As a young boy, he helped his father work the pineapple fields that eventually became the farm, where he maintained the duties related to farming and raising cattle in his retirement. He also cared for the orchard, where he picked fruit to share with family and friends. He was a hard worker with an excellent work ethic.
He is survived by children and grandchildren Korin Ann (Charles) Wakuta-Kenney, Alexia and Charlize Kenney, Bradley (Ashley) Wakuta and Maddox Wakuta, Tyler (Ashley) Wakuta, Aria, Spencer and Kenna Wakuta, brothers Terence (Naomi) Wakuta and Stuart (Lori) Wakuta, fiance Vera Glushenko, and numerous family and friends.
He enjoyed various hobbies throughout his life that included sports, fishing, crabbing, hanging with friends and family, and playing his guitar, to name a few. In his retirement he devoted many hours working on the farm, all the while enjoying a cold Coors Light. Above all, he valued and believed in education and learning. He always supported education for himself and many others.
Private services were held.
To reach out to the family, contact Korin Ann Wakuta-Kenney, POB 724, Lihu‘e, HI 96766.
Please enjoy a Coors Light to honor and celebrate the life of Dean K. Wakuta.
Borthwick Kaua‘i Mortuary assisted the family with arrangements.
