Elizabeth Keawe Kaili Alapai, 89, of Pahoa, formerly of Kalihi Uka Valley, Oahu, died May 18 at home. Born in Kilauea, Kauai, she retired as a nurse for the Hawaii State Hospital and was a kupuna at Royal Elementary School, member of the Sacred Heart Society in Honolulu and a docent at Iolani Palace. Friends may call 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home; service at 1:30 p.m. Friends may also call 8:30 a.m. May 29 at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church, Kalihi Uka, Oahu, Mass at 10 a.m., burial to follow at Valley of the Temples. Survived by son, Sam Keola (Eva Maria) Alapai of Pahoa; daughters Valerie Momi Chu of Washington, Taila Jean Alapai of Washington; 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home and Moanalua Mortuary.
Elizabeth Keawe Kaili Alapai, 89, of Pahoa, formerly of Kalihi Uka Valley, Oahu, died May 18 at home. Born in Kilauea, Kauai, she retired as a nurse for the Hawaii State Hospital and was a kupuna at Royal Elementary School, member of the Sacred Heart Society in Honolulu and a docent at Iolani Palace. Friends may call 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home; service at 1:30 p.m. Friends may also call 8:30 a.m. May 29 at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church, Kalihi Uka, Oahu, Mass at 10 a.m., burial to follow at Valley of the Temples. Survived by son, Sam Keola (Eva Maria) Alapai of Pahoa; daughters Valerie Momi Chu of Washington, Taila Jean Alapai of Washington; 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home and Moanalua Mortuary.
Lawrence “Larry” Wah Bing Ching, 89, of Mountain View, Calif., formerly of Hilo and Hawaiian Beaches, died May 7 in Mountain View, Calif. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired Sears salesman, bellhop, seaman, typewriter repairman, U.S. Army veteran and survivor of a World War II prisoner of war camp in Japan. Services private; no flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Memorial donations to favorite charity. Survived by son, Lawrence (Mary) Ching Jr.; daughter, Janice (Russell) Roberts; sisters, Eleanor (Howard) Kam and Helen (Albert) Serrao; sisters-in-law, Naomi (Clarence) Ching, Lynette (Harry) Ching and Elsie (Joseph) Ching.
Laureto “Lito” S. Julian, 67, of Pahoa died April 29 at home. Born in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, he was proprietor of L J Farms and a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pahoa. Visitation 5-9 p.m. Friday, May 25, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 26, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; burial at Pahoa Catholic Church Cemetery. Survived by wife, Elizabeth P. Julian of Pahoa; daughters, Jane D. (Mel) Vigilla and Joy D. Julian of Keaau, Jessica Joyce P. Julian of Pahoa; sons, Rudy (Noemi) Arzaga of Hilo, Laureto P. Julian and Charlie P. Julian of Pahoa; father, Marcos L. Julian of Pahoa; brothers, Juanito (Eredulin) Julian and William (Catherine) Julian of Pahoa; brothers-in-law, Ben (Romy) Duldulao of Honolulu, Anastacio Salvador, M.D. of Columbia, S.C., Alex (Julie) Duldulao of Las Vegas and Redel M. Pasion of Milan, Italy; sisters-in-law, Estefania (Tito) Joson of Honolulu, Viola Duldulao and Mary Jane M. Pasion of Philippines; four grandchildren; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Thomas Kaimi Spinney, 54, of Waimea died May 6. Born in Honolulu, he was a carpenter and landscaper. Memorial scattering of ashes 10:30 a.m. Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 at Honokau Harbor. Luncheon to follow at the point. Survived by wife, Minnie; son, Jonathan Spinney of Reno, Nev.; daughter, Leslie-Ann Spinney of Honolulu; brothers, Alfred (Darlene) Spinney and Howard Spinney of Kailua-Kona; sisters, Demeatrice Spinney, Lorna Spinney and Faith (Andrew) Taketa of Kailua-Kona, Sandy Lippertz (Kuhio) of Kailua, Oahu. Arrangements by A Hui Hou Crematory & Funeral Home of West Hawaii.
Regan Steelman, 63, of Kailua-Kona died May 17. Born in Anaheim, Calif., he was a high school special education teacher and was a member of the Kona Underwater Photography Society, Keauhou Canoe Club, was a reef teacher for Kohala Center, and a volunteer at the Kona Humane Society. Private services. Survived by wife, Julie Steelman; daughter, Jordana Steelman of California; sister, Stephanie (George) Scott of Portland, Ore. Arrangements by A Hui Hou Crematory & Funeral Home.
Mildred Lehua Taketa, 82, of Hilo died May 17 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired store manager of Love N Lace bridal shop and member of New Hope Christian Fellowship Church. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Friday, May 25 at New Hope Christian Fellowship Church, 840 Kupulau Rd. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Shozo Taketa of Hilo; daughters, Jettijean (Rodney) Kelii and Laurisa (Harry) Nishimoto of Hilo; sons, Russel (Stephanie) Taketa and Dennis (Lori) Taketa of Hilo; sister, Renee Von Elsner of Keaau; brother, Ronald (Shirley) Kobayashi of Hawaiian Paradise Park; sister-in-law, Alice Kobayashi of Hilo; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mildred “Millie” Vrzina, 84, of Kailua-Kona died May 16. Born in Clinton, Ind., she worked for Columbia Records and the U.S. Postal Service as a carrier and teller. Services in Indiana. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to the Kona Hawaii Island Humane Society. Survived by son, George (Carolyn) Vrzina of Clinton; daughters, Patty (Tom) Evans of Roseville, Calif.; Connie (David) Peters of Montclair, Calif.; Barbara (Steve) Machesky of Kailua-Kona; sister, Katherine (Ronald) Glover of Clinton; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by A Hui Hou Crematory & Funeral Home.