Patricia Ann Wong Akiyama, 66, of Hilo died Jan. 4. Born in Honolulu, she worked for the state Judiciary Traffic Operations Branch and previously for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Condolences to P.O. Box 11287 Hilo, HI 96721 or online at ballardfamilymortuaries.com.
Patricia Ann Wong Akiyama, 66, of Hilo died Jan. 4. Born in Honolulu, she worked for the state Judiciary Traffic Operations Branch and previously for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Condolences to P.O. Box 11287 Hilo, HI 96721 or online at ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by mother, Agnes Wong; daughters, Lisa (David Stein) Akiyama of Saratoga, Calif., Janel (Bob) Meehan of San Diego and Gail (Csaba Pallos) Akiyama of Edmonds, Wash.; brother, Donavan Wong; sisters Verna Wong and Michelle (Tinker) Schutte; four grandsons. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Chad Avery Cabral Chaves, 41, of Hilo died Nov. 17 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Kailua, Oahu, he was an employee of Onomea Orchards and Ohana Banana Co. and member of New Hope Christian Fellowship. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 16) at the New Hope Christian Fellowship, 840 Kupulau Road, in Hilo. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Natalie Ann Chaves of Hilo; son, Chad (Cheani) Satomba of Hilo; stepdaughter, Natasha Thomas of Hilo; stepsons, Waylon Thomas and Rusty DeMotta of Hilo; mother, Lei (George) Otani of Hilo; father, Wilfred Chaves of Hilo; sisters, Rose (Sumo) Miles, Doreen (Duane) Spencer, Kathleen (Alfred) Agaran, Gwen (Wilder) Jamile and Selina (Dominic) Meditz of Oahu, Stacey (Ricky) Furtado, Shawnalei Bowman of Washington, Laurie Lei Lizarraga of Kauai; brothers, Joseph (Joanna) Chaves and Sean (Noe) Chaves of Oahu, Wilfred (Jaye) Tabian of Kauai and Darrell Markus Jr. of Texas; stepsisters, Lori (Sam) Martin and Jeton Washington of Hilo; stepbrothers, Dean Otani and Chris Otani of Hilo; one grandson; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services.
Perlita Cabanting Defiesta, 65, of Keaau, formerly of Kaunakakai, Molokai, died Dec. 19 at Castle Medical Center in Kailua, Oahu. Born in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, she was a retired Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. factory worker and a cornfield machine operator for Funk Seeds International on Molokai. Visitation 5-6:30 p.m. Friday (Jan. 15) at Nuuanu Memorial Park &Mortuary in Honolulu. Service at 6:30 p.m. Hilo visitation 6-9 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 19) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation again 8-10 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 20) at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Survived by husband, Virgilio A. of Keaau; sons, Fernan “Vern” (Kim) Caspillo of Kalihi, Oahu, and Paul “Maji” (Marilyn) Caspillo of Kaneohe, Oahu; daughter, Teresita “Tessie” (Howard “Chuck”) DeCosta of Heeia, Oahu; sister, Pacita Corpuz of Narvacan; seven grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Bronson Lee Salas, 30, of Broward County, Fla., formerly of Hilo, died Jan. 6. Born in Hilo, he was a construction worker and chef. Hilo services and celebration of life at a later date. Condolences to parents at 16-2101 Uilani Drive, Pahoa, HI 96778. Survived by fiancée Tara Orth, stepdaughters Sophia and Tiffany Huckabee; parents, Thomas Salas and Bernadette Cabral-Salas; brothers, Benjamin Cabral and Brenner Salas, sisters, Starlene (K-How) Cabral, Sheena Salas, Shampagne (Saesha) Salas and Shavana Salas; grandmother, Rose Salas; sister-in-law, Bethany Salas; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
