Marino Valenzuela Acosta, 84, of Hilo died March 13 at home. Born in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, he was a retired steward for Mauna Lani. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Survived by wife, Arsenia Acosta of Hilo; sons, Joseph (Kanani) Acosta of Honolulu and Reynald (Azelyn) Acosta of Hilo; daughters, Evangelyn (Erwin) Galapon of Honolulu, Annabelle (Nestor) Ganotisi of California, Delia (Cris) Ragasa of Hilo and Norma (Orlando) Ulep of Honolulu; sister, Norma Ganir of Las Vegas; 18 grandchildren and a great-grandchild; nephews, nieces, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ruth “Rowe” Bridgett, 84, of Hilo died April 15. Born a preacher’s daughter in Estill County, Ky., she was a a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and devout Bible reader until the end of her life. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Bernette “Pua” Hui-Collo, 64, of Waimea died Feb. 28 at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital. Born in Kohala, she was a homemaker. Celebration of life 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at Spencer Beach Park. Casual attire. Survived by husband, John Collo; children, Shalome (Kalden Esquerra) Collo, Junior John (Wallissa Carvalho) Collo, Franklin Juan (Melynie I‘i) Collo, Sunny (Andrew Carvalho) Collo; sister, Dorothy (Gary) Souza; 11 grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Ralph Masaru Nishiyama, 83, of Kainaliu died April 8 at a private care home. Born in Waipahu, Oahu, he was retired from the state Division of Workforce Development, a food and beverage manager for the former Kona Surf Resort, and manager for the former Spencecliff, Uncle Billy’s, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, Colony Resort Kanaloa, and Jolly Roger restaurants. Services at a later date. Survived by wife, Geraldine Nishiyama of Kainaliu; daughter, Laura Samaranayake of Kainaliu; brother, Melvin (Soon Wah) Nishiyama of Honolulu; two nieces and a nephew. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Jesse Rios, 66, of Kailua-Kona died April 5 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Honokaa, he worked for the former Hamakua Sugar Co. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday (May 4) at King’s Chapel Honokaa, 45-3370 Mamalahoa Hwy. Service at 10 a.m. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by son, Jeremy Rios of Oahu; siblings, Laurie (James) Moeller of Ahualoa, Cindy Rios of Kalopa and Kathleen DeRego of Paauhau; four grandchildren and a great-grandchild; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Dr. Francis T.P. Zee, 70, of Hilo died March 29 in Honolulu. Born in Hong Kong, he was a retired research leader/horticulturist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service’s Daniel K. Inouye Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, received his doctorate in horticulture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, held a second-degree black belt in kendo, and was an avid gardener and cook. Visitation 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 3:30 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Julia Kohashi Zee of Hilo; son, Benjamin (Jenny Greenland) Zee of Allenspark, Colo.; daughter, Samantha Zee of Bellingham, Wash.; brother, Gabriel (Dixie) Zee of Portland, Ore.; sister, Jean (Joe Cheng) Zee of Mililani, Oahu; sister-in-law, Lois Kohashi (Mickey) Sinclair of Port Ludlow, Wash.; brother-in-law, Owen (Miky Ishida) Kohashi of Seattle; nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.