Luis Habon Altura, 89, of Honokaa died Oct. 21 at Hale Ho’ola Hamakua. Born in Sapang, Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, he was a retired farm worker and member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Visitation 4:30-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Prayer service at 5 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 at the church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Burial to follow at Honokaa Catholic Cemetery. Survived by sons, Maurino (Jeana) Altura, Lito (Lorna) Altura and Jimmy (Maripol) Altura of Honokaa, Rene (Mila) Altura of Philippines; daughter, Mila (Froilan) Gaspar of Paauilo; brother, Marcelino (Trinidad) Altura of Honokaa; 11 grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Luis Habon Altura, 89, of Honokaa died Oct. 21 at Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua. Born in Sapang, Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, he was a retired farm worker and member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Visitation 4:30-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Honokaa. Prayer service at 5 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 at the church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Burial to follow at Honokaa Catholic Cemetery. Survived by sons, Maurino (Jeana) Altura, Lito (Lorna) Altura and Jimmy (Maripol) Altura of Honokaa, Rene (Mila) Altura of Philippines; daughter, Mila (Froilan) Gaspar of Paauilo; brother, Marcelino (Trinidad) Altura of Honokaa; 11 grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Francis C.“Russian” De Morales, 70, of Hilo died Oct. 27 at home. Born in Pahala, he was a retired deputy county police chief and U.S. Navy veteran. Visitation 4:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 7 p.m. Urn committal service 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire; flowers welcome. Survived by wife, Paula De Morales of Hilo; daughters, Kimberly (Albert Rosas) De Morales and Joanna (Bradley) Silva of Hilo; mother, Lillian De Morales of Hilo; sister, Carol (Leslie) Kanaka‘ole of Hilo; brother, Joseph De Morales of Hilo; five grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Antonio Gragas, 78, of Los Angeles, formerly of Hawaii, died Oct. 27 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Hakalau, he was a retired aircraft mechanic for Delta and Western airlines a U.S. Army veteran. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo. Mass at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire. Burial at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Survived by sons, Bo (Luz Maria) Gragas and Aaron (Wendy) Gragas of California; sister, Linda (Fred) Maluenda of Ewa Beach, Oahu; brothers, Raymond (Alice) Gragas of Los Angeles, Phillip Gragas of Maui and Robert (Vel) Gragas of Honolulu; sister in-law, Felicia Gragas of Honolulu; 11 grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Joann Walker Morse, 85, of Volcano died Oct. 31 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Massachusetts, she was co-owner of My Island Bed & Breakfast Inn in Volcano, owner of Scale Models by Morse, founder of Island A-Frames, was a media contact for the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament and an artist. No public services. Survived by husband, Gordon R. Morse Jr. of Volcano; son, Timothy (Beth) Morse of Colorado; daughters Jody (Joe) Pedro of Nebraska and Kii (Byron) Morse of Volcano; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Soko “Shorty” Nishihira, 75, of Pepeekeo died Oct. 24 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pepeekeo, he was the retired owner of Shorty’s Appliance Service and member of Honomu Hongwanji Kyodan, Hui Okinawa, and Hilo Okinawan Cultural Club. Visitation 4-5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Marvalee Nishihira of Pepeekeo; son, Gene (Julie) Nishihira of Honolulu; daughter, Jan (Ron) Nishihira of Aiea, Oahu; brother, Kenneth (Sugin) Nishihira of Hilo; sisters, Masako Tsukimura of Torrance, Calif., and Linda (Robert) Otomo of Hilo; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Mark) Gentz of Anaheim, Calif.; one granddaughter; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Isabel “Bella” Hannah Pua, 69, of Hilo, died Oct. 19 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Hilo, she was a retired education assistant for Waiakea High School and a member of the reinstated lawful Hawaiian Government, Gospel of Salvation and Door of Faith. Visitation 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at the mortuary. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park, lehua section. Aloha attire. Survived by husband, George “Nolan” Pua Sr. of Hilo; daughters, Geola (Derrick) Cardoza and Gina (Mark) Gomes of Hilo; sons, George (Kimberly) Pua Jr. and Kyle (Lisa) Pua of Hilo, Lopaka (Heather) Pua of Hawaiian Shores; sisters, Eunice Hulama and Rachel Kuilipule of Hilo; brother-in-law, John Jones Pua of Hermosa Beach, Calif.; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Carolyn “Kennie” Suverkrup Thomas, 80, of Volcano died Oct. 27 in Hilo. Born in Moline, Ill., she was the office manager of Waimea Medical Center and later Lucy Henriques Medical Center. Private services. Survived by husband, James Thomas of Volcano; sons, Michael (Diana) Thomas of Waimea and Kimo Thomas of Waikoloa; daughter, Carolyn Thomas of Kapaau; sister, Ellen Sorenson of Oregon, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.