Michael “Merks” Stephen Kobayashi, 75, of Hilo died April 14 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Hilo, he was a retired Hawaii County rescue firefighter, U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient and member of Lincoln Wreckers Athletic Club. Visitation 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 4 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by children, Michelle “Michi” Kobayashi, Liane (Don) Yokoyama, Breeani (Keawe Kualii) Kobayashi and Bronson (Alaina Villatora) Kobayashi of Hilo, Brock (Shoshanna) Kobayashi of Torrance, Calif., Tiarre Kobayashi of Hilo; brothers, Terrill (Gail) Harrison and Thomas (Elaine Nakatani) Harrison of Hilo; 10 grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Michael “Merks” Stephen Kobayashi, 75, of Hilo died April 14 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Hilo, he was a retired Hawaii County rescue firefighter, U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient and member of Lincoln Wreckers Athletic Club. Visitation 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 4 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by children, Michelle “Michi” Kobayashi, Liane (Don) Yokoyama, Breeani (Keawe Kualii) Kobayashi and Bronson (Alaina Villatora) Kobayashi of Hilo, Brock (Shoshanna) Kobayashi of Torrance, Calif., Tiarre Kobayashi of Hilo; brothers, Terrill (Gail) Harrison and Thomas (Elaine Nakatani) Harrison of Hilo; 10 grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Donna Ke‘alaonaonaonapua Mei Lan Leong, 75, of Hilo died May 3 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a teacher at St. Joseph and Hilo High schools, and Laupahoehoe Elementary and High School, member of Halau o Kekuhi and advocate for na mea Hawai‘i, her final stand on Mauna Kea. Visitation 4-5 p.m. Friday (June 7) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 5 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. Survived by son, Lani Swain; daughters, Ka‘aka (Matthew Phillips) Swain and Ke‘ala Baker; sister, Sylvia (Dr. Daniel) Belcher; brother: Kernan (Betty) Leong; five grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mary Ku‘uleiaukai (Ewaliko) Pawai, 86, of Hilo, formerly of Nanakuli, Oahu, died April 10 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired executive secretary for the Honolulu Community Action Program and had worked for Straub Medical Center. Visitation 10-11 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel in Waipio, Oahu. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial 12:30 p.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Aloha attire. Survived by son, John Pawai of Honolulu; daughter, Geraldine (James) Kaeo of Hilo; siblings, Nellie Punahele, Jerry Punahele, Elaine Stevens and Wendell Punahele of Honolulu, Evelyn Awai of mainland U.S.A.; 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Isaac “Sonny” Sadato Takayama, 89, of Papaikou died May 17 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Papaikou, he was a retired heavy equipment operator and U.S. Army veteran. Private services held. Survived by wife, Ruth Takayama of Papaikou; daughter, LeAnn Takayama-Paiva of Hilo; son, Dwayne (Dale) Takayama of Oahu; sister, Promise (Wendell) Grace of Hilo; brother-in-law, Delbert Chang of Papaikou; two grandchildren and a great-grandson; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
