Obituaries for September 23

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Alejandro Jose Baxa, 86, of Hilo died Aug. 15 at Hilo Medical Center. Born on Kauai, he worked at Foodland and University of Hawaii at Hilo and was a member of St. Joseph Church and RSVP. Private services held. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by wife, Mercedes Baxa; son, Christopher (Susan) Baxa; daughters, Charisse (Norman) Rapanut and Celeste Baxa; three grandchildren; aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.

Joseph Anthony Bearth, 89, of Kailua-Kona died Sept. 18 in Kailua-Kona. Born in St. Paul, Minn., he was the owner/operator of the former Suzanne’s Bakeshop and a U.S. Army veteran. Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by wife, Suzanne; sons, Daniel (Darlene) Bearth and Donald Bearth of Kailua-Kona; daughter, Joy (Gerry) Brazier of Kailua-Kona; brother, Jack Bearth of St. Paul; sister, Rose Mary Huot of St. Paul; two grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.

Leonard Santos Cervantez, 74, of Waikoloa died Sept. 6 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Los Angeles, he was a food and beverage director at Holiday Inn, police officer, industrial air conditioning technician and U.S. Army veteran. Services at a later date. Survived by wife, Florence Pike of Waikoloa; sisters, Gilda (Van) Chambers and Priscilla Lincoln of St. George, Utah, Denise Lincoln Tofoya of Crestline, Calif.; a niece and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Nobuichi Imade, 89, of Hilo died Aug. 16 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Born in Kurtistown, he was a mechanic for United Airlines in California and U.S. Army Korean War veteran. No services. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.

John B. Knoll, 70, of Mountain View died Sept. 1 in Hilo. Born in Pennsylvania, he was a Union Local 3 Operating Engineer. No services. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Suzanne G. Knoll; sisters, Charlotte Lerner of Rancho Mirage, Calif., Eileen Schneider and Denise Spooner of Westlake, Calif.; two nieces and a nephew. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.

Christina Malia Keanaaina Rodrigues, 46, of Honolulu died Sept. 7. Born in Kailua-Kona, she was an employee of Family Support Services of West Hawaii and member of Solid Rock Ministries. Services at a later date. Survived by husband, Sidney Rodrigues of Honolulu; daughters, Leila Kanoa of Honolulu and Lena (Dillon) Moreno of Muldoon, Texas; father, Abraham K. Keanaaina Jr. of Ewa Beach, Oahu; mother, Yvonne Keanaaina of Honolulu; sisters, Amy Jean (Wilbert C.) Secuya of Hawi and Juanita (Shaun Oda) Thompson of Kahului, Maui; brother, Abraham K. Keanaaina III of Ewa Beach; a grandson; aunts, uncles, nieces, a nephew and cousins. Arrangements by Oahu Mortuary.

Shinichi Taira, 96, of Aiea, Oahu, formerly of Pepeekeo, died Aug. 11 at Pali Momi Medical Center in Aiea. Born in Hakalau, he was a retired machinist for the former Hilo Coast Processing Co. Private services. Survived by wife, Setsuko Taira; sons, Lloyd (Gayle) Taira, Allen (Patricia) Taira and Milton (Ann) Taira; daughter, Nancy (Joel) Taira; sister, Sue Oyama; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The late Kawailiula Lei Waipa Thornton was survived by, among others, brother, Frank Kanalu Waipa of Oahu. His name wasn’t submitted for an obituary published Thursday.