George Darwin Curtis, 93, of Honomu died Jan. 16 at home. Known as “the godfather of tsunamis,” he was an affiliate professor of marine sciences at the University of Hawaii, science advisor to the Pacific Tsunami Museum and president of the Tsunami Society, Civil Air Patrol squadron commander, board member of the American Red Cross Hawaii, president of the UH Chapter Sigma XI and senior chairman at Hawaii Section Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Memorial service 11 a.m. Friday (Jan. 28) at Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles, 1407 Kapiolani St. in Hilo. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by wife, Sandra Curtis; sons, Ted (Nan) Curtis and Paul Curtis; daughters, Carol (Sid) Curtis Buckingham and Ann (Jim) Curtis Moore; brother, Lawrence Curtis; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Masayuki “Buddy” Kiyojima, 88, of Hilo died Jan. 2 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a construction laborer, member of the Construction Laborers’ Union Local 368 and U.S. Army veteran. Visitation 9-11 a.m. Sunday (Jan. 30) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral services at 11 a.m. Committal service noon Monday (Jan. 31) at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 pavilion. Face masks and social distancing required. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Leiko Kiyojima of Hilo; son, Keith R. Kiyojima of Hilo; daughter, Cindy K. Kiyojima of California; brothers, Thomas (Susan) Kiyojima of Hilo and Lloyd (Zelda) Kiyojima of Keaau; brother-in-law, Tom Otomo of Hilo; sisters, Chiyono Kinoshita of Honolulu, Sumie Adams of Wisconsin, Amy Shimabukuro of Los Angeles and Lois (Clyde) Silva of Keaau; five grandchildren; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Richard Kiyoshi Maeda, 88, of Kailua-Kona died Jan. 17 at home. Born in Honolulu, he was a retired teacher at the former Kalaoa Elementary and Konawaena Elementary school and U.S. Army Korean War veteran. Survived by wife, Janet Maeda of Kailua-Kona; daughters, Dawn (Kenneth) Broderick of Rockville, Md., and Yuri (Dennis) Toyama of Honolulu; brother, Calvin (Donna) Maeda of Honolulu; sister, Lillian (Leroy) Uyeda of Honolulu; sister-in-law, Ellie Maeda of Honolulu; four grandsons; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Gerry Earl Meyer, 87, of Hilo died Jan. 9 at a private care home. Born in Paauhau, he was a retired Hawaii County Police Department officer. No services. Survived by daughters, Suzette (Thomas) Cossey of Honolulu and Monica Meyer of Hilo; sons, Kerry Meyer of Hilo and Gregory (Akiko) Meyer of Osaka, Japan; brother, Leslie (Ludi) Meyer of Honokaa; sister, Joan Texeira of Las Vegas; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Stanley Hideo Sumiki, 82, of Kapehu Village died Jan. 18 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Laupahoehoe, he was a retired groundskeeper for Parker Ranch and member of the Wainaku Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Virtual service 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6. For info, email stanleysumiki@yahoo.com or call (808) 796-1182. Condolences to: HC1 Box 4186, Keaau, HI 96749. Survived by brothers, Kaname (Loretta) Sumiki of Hilo and Walter (Dina) Sumiki of Baguio, Philippines; sisters, Joanne Iseri of Guam and Carol (Bob) Post of Arizona; sister-in-law, Geraldine Sumiki of Kapehu Village; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kikue Yagi, 100, of Hilo died Dec. 14 at home. Born in Pepeekeo, she was retired from Kulana Foods and a member of Hilo Hooganji Buddhist Temple. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Wayne (Jean) Yagi of Hilo; daughters, Verne (Alan) Yoshinaga of Hilo and Vivian Yamamoto of Kaneohe, Oahu; brothers, Edward “Seizun” Urasaki of California and Masato Urasaki of Hilo; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.