Monica Joyce DeCosta, 62, of Honomu, died Jan. 12 at the former Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, she was a sales associate for Lowe’s. Celebration of life gathering 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday (June 29) at Kolekole Beach Park. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by husband, Victor K. DeCosta of Honomu; son, Blaine (Danielle White) Faris III of Honomu; sisters, Sandra (Ronald) Konanui of Honomu and Sharon (Robert) Ariel of Pepeekeo; brother, Wayne (Tina) Mattos Sr. of Honokaa; a granddaughter; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Isaiah Ka‘onohi Ekau 31, of Pahoa died June 9 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he was a farmhand and rancher, former basketball and volleyball star at Pahoa High School, member of Moku O Keawe and other basketball leagues. Visitation noon-2 Thursday (June 27) at Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar in Kalapana. Service at 2 p.m. Survived by mother, Chasity Ekau of Pahoa; son, Daniel Ka‘onohi Ekau of Pahoa; daughter, Shaelani Aliyah Kapoliokalehua Baltero-Ekau of Pahoa; partner, Kierston Baltero of Pahoa; brothers, Isaac (Jainine) Ekau and Islee Ekau of Pahoa; paternal grandparents Alfred and Fayleen Ekau Jr. of Honolulu; maternal grandmother Sandi Aki of Pahoa; aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Wayne C. Metcalf III, 71, of Bend, Ore., formerly of Hilo, died April 6 in Bend. Born in Portsmouth, Va., was a former state representative and state senior from Hilo, state insurance commissioner, Third Circuit District and Family Court per diem judge he graduated from University of Hawaii at Hilo and UH-Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law, worked for the United Nations in Liberia and International Monetary Fund in Bermuda, and served as a special deputy insurance commissioner in Washington state, member of Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii County Bar Association, Swedish Club of Washington and Japanese American Society of Central Oregon. Visitation 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Celebration of life at 5 p.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by wife, Shirley Imada Metcalf; sisters, Alison Metcalf and Jan (Kerm) Swartz; sister-in-law, Katie (Bob) Wirsing; brother-in-law, Clyde (M’Liss) Imada; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Loretta Billena Nitura, 89, of Laupahoehoe died June 10 at home. Born in Paauhau, she was a homemaker and member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Papaaloa and Laupahoehoe Senior Citizens and Nutrition Program. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Friday (June 28) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at the Alae Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by daughter, Pauline (Joseph Jr.) Ah Choy of Papaaloa; brothers, Roland Billena of Kapehu and Richard (Patsy) Billena of Honolulu; brother-in-law, Jerry Domingo of Papaaloa; sisters, Adeline Saldua of Papaikou, Trinidad (Henry) Real of Keaau, Gloria Sanchez of Honokaa and Erlinda Walker of Hilo; sister-in-law, Marilyn Billena of Hilo; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
The Rev. Lawrence Ernest Walter, 77, of Keaau died May 29 at home. Born in Boston, he was a retired United Church of Christ minister, member of Hilo Coast United Church of Christ. In California, he served on the Thermalito Union School District board and the Oroville Hospital board of directors. In Hawaii, he worked with SafeTalk, a teen suicide education program and served on UCC conference committees. Celebration of life at 11 a.m. Saturday (June 29) at Hilo Coast UCC in Honomu. Casual attire. Memorial donations to ACS-Hope Lodge-Honolulu, 251 S. Vineyard St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Survived by wife, Debbie Walter of Keaau; son, Erik (Joyce) Walter of Kona; daughter, Kristin (Aaron) Hallmark of California; sister, Louise Schiffer mainland U.S.. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.