Verna Mae Kawai‘ula “Kupuna” Branco, 81, of Hilo died May 21 at home. Born in Hilo and raised on Kukaiau Ranch, she was a retired CPR district coordinator for the Hawaiian Studies Kupuna Component, had several kupuna and Hawaiian studies
Verna Mae Kawai‘ula “Kupuna” Branco, 81, of Hilo died May 21 at home. Born in Hilo and raised on Kukaiau Ranch, she was a retired CPR district coordinator for the Hawaiian Studies Kupuna Component, had several kupuna and Hawaiian studies positions with DOE and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Hale O Na Ali‘i of Hawaii. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Friday (May 26) at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 10 a.m. Casual attire; flowers and lei welcome. Entombment to follow at Homelani Memorial Park Mausoleum. Survived by sons, Robert (Grace) Branco Jr. of Ahualoa, Michael (Lei) Branco of Kailua-Kona and James Branco of Waiakea Uka; daughters, Verna Gale (Robert) Tavares of Captain Cook, Lola Ann (Gheeza) McGhee Branco, Anna Rose (Curtis) Azevedo, Charlotte De Reis of Waiakea Uka; hanai sister, Vivian Araujo of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Colette Ako of Las Vegas, Kay Manlapit of Nanakuli, Oahu, and Margo Branco; brothers-in-law, Charles (Lei) Branco of Volcano and Sam Bishaw; 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ana “Nicky” Maria Dominguez, 64, of Hilo died May 16 at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in New York City, she was a floor walker for KTA Super Stores and Long’s Drugs and blackjack dealer at the Cal-Neva Casino in Reno, Nev. Celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by companion, Peggy Gartrell of Kurtistown; father, Humberto Dominguez Sr. of Hawthorne, Calif.; brother, Humberto Dominguez Jr. of Hawthorne; sisters, Lupi (Mike) Perkins of Hawthorne and Nora (Ed) Simon of Ramona, Calif.; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
