Fujie “Jean” Watanabe Fujimoto, 94, of Honokaa died Dec. 9 at home. Born in Holualoa, she was a deli cook at KTA Super Stores in Waimea, worked at Hawaiian Holiday Macadamia Nut Factory and the former Harris Sanitary Laundry in Honokaa, member of ILWU Pension Club and former member of Honokaa Hongwanji Mission. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. Survived by sons, Scott (Ilima) Fujimoto and Wesley (Audrey) Fujimoto of Honokaa; sister, Harumi DeMello of Honokaa; sister-in-law, Cheryl (Charlie) Kitamura of Oregon; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Shikimi Hayama, 96, of Honaunau died Dec. 6 at home. Born in Captain Cook, she was a coffee farmer and member of Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and Honaunau Kumi. Private service. No koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sisters, Gail Maruyama of Honolulu and Jane Iha of Captain Cook; daughter-in-law, Claire Hayama of Honaunau; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
William Pelekane Konanui Sr., 75, of Pahoa died Dec. 4 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Papaikou, he was a retired heavy equipment operator for Jas. W. Glover, self-employed mechanic and a U.S. Army Vietnam War era veteran. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Casual attire. Survived by children, Carrie (Lloyd Tagalicod) Konanui, Wendal (Ronnie) Konanui and Helena (Levi) Waiwaiole) Konanui of Pahoa; sister, Myra Auna of Honokaa; nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Marcelino Gano Lactaoen, 84, of Keaau died Dec. 2 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Camilig, Tarlac, Philippines, he was a Laborer for Puna Certified Nursery. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park. Survived by wife, Juliana Lactaoen of Keaau; children, Pascual (Julie) Lactaoen, Lorna (Chris) Mateo, Joel (Michie Gay) Lactaoen and Roberto Lactaoen; nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Leihuanani “Penny” Kepa‘a Luhiau, 64, of Hilo died Dec. 23 at Legacy Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. She was born in Hilo. No services. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by daughters, Kuuipo “Ipo” Luhiau (Christopher “Junya” Subica Jr.) Subica of Washington and Leeann (Jhauntae Peahi) Ogata of Oahu; son, Riley (Leilani Wilson) Ogata of Hilo; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.
Benjamin Garcia, 86, of Keaau died Nov. 22 in hospice care in Nuuanu, Oahu. Born in Eleele, Kauai, he was a retired technician for Hawaiian Tel, worked at Wheat International and Securitas Security, and member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Visitation 10:30 a.m.-noon Sunday, Jan. 12, at Sangha Hall in Hilo. Celebration of life memorial service at noon. Lunch to follow. Survived by wife, Gwendolyn Garcia of Keaau; daughters, Verleen Garcia of Keaau, Janeen (Gene) Mendes of Pleasant Hill, Calif., and Kristeen (Geoff) Wilson, of Keaau; sons, Daris Garcia of Keaau and Jamin Garcia of Hilo; brother Juan (Loreto) Garcia, of San Leandro, Calif.; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Lawrence Rogers, 91, of Kurtistown died Oct. 25. A native of Oakland, Calif., he was a professor emeritus of Japanese and chairman of Department of Languages. In 2004, he was awarded the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature by the Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University for his book “Tokyo Stories: A Literary Stroll.” He received his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in Japanese language and literature from the University of California at Berkeley and was a U.S. Air Force Intelligence veteran. Survived by wife, Kazuko Fujihira Rogers; son, James Mark Rogers.
Van K. Tanabe, 67, of Aiea, Oahu, died Nov. 17 at home. Born in Kailua-Kona, he was a retired cable splicer for Hawaiian Tel. Private services. Survived by sons, Brandon (Lissa Onishi) Tanabe of Hilo and Michael Tanabe of Pearl City, Oahu; daughters, Jasmyne Tanabe of Pearl City, Brigette (Daniel) Tanabe of Aiea, Danielle Tanabe of Ontario, Calif., and Melanie Tanabe of Pearl City; sisters, Thelma Tanabe of Aiea and Iris (Bobo) Hirose of Pearl City; four grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
