Pahoa man accused of fatal beating of dog remains in jail
A judge on Thursday denied a request to free a 41-year-old Pahoa man accused of a killing a dog with a hammer on cashless bail.
Obituaries for December 13
Paulette Pilialoha Baniaga, 69, of Honalo died July 24 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. Born in Kealakekua, she was a retired cashier at Kona Community Hospital Business Office, housekeeper at Kanaloa Resort and bus driver for Laupahoehoe School. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Honaunau Rodeo. Celebration of life service at 10 a.m. Lunch and fellowship to follow. Casual attire. Survived by partner, Stephen Tanaka of Honalo; sons, Valentine (Cassandra Pai) Wessel III of Honaunau, Richard (Lyn) Wessel of Kapolei, Oahu, Tarey Chris Wessel of Kailua-Kona and Donovan Sauvageau of Honalo; daughter, Dawnalyn (Clifford) Chung-Hoon Palau; stepdaughter, Tess (Bobby) Davis of Arizona; brothers, Ronald (Cliff-Ann) Baniaga of Ocean View, Hansel (Sheila) Baniaga and Michael (Margaret) Baniaga of Opihihale; sisters, Rita (Earl) Carvalho of Laupahoehoe, Valerie (Malco Magana) Winkler of Honaunau and Nancy-Anna (Lito) Bautista of Opihihale; 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Oahu Mortuary and Crematory.
Obituaries for December 12
Martha Lululani Ahuna, 80, of Keaukaha died Dec. 3 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a heavy equipment operator for the county Department of Public Works and member of Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church and Hula Halau O Kawananakoa. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 17) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Prayer service at 10 a.m. Committal service to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 Pavilion. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Walter C. Ahuna Sr. of Keaukaha; daughter, Lurl (Arnold) Agbayani of Panaewa; sons, Walter “Bully” Ahuna Jr. and Dan (Rena) Ahuna of Keaukaha; brother, Frank (Dayle) Santos of Pahoa; sisters, Ida (Jesus) Perez of Keaukaha, Teresa Ignacio of Laupahoehoe, Bernie (Blink) Soares of Papaikou, Etta NacNac of Honokaa, Lurline Milare of Pahoa, Marie (Ronald) Coleman of Texas and Nellie (Ben) Fejeran of Panaewa; sisters-in-law, Luella Aina of Panaewa and Wanda (Pat) Cardines of Keaukaha; brother-in-law, George “Chiefy” Ahuna of Oregon; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Obituaries for December 11
Martha Lululani Ahuna, 80, of Keaukaha died Dec. 3 at home. Born in Honolulu, she was a heavy equipment operator for the county Department of Public Works and member of Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church and Hula Halau O Kawananakoa. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 17) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Prayer service at 10 a.m. Committal service to follow at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 Pavilion. Casual attire. Survived by husband, Walter C. Ahuna Sr. of Keaukaha; daughter, Lurl (Arnold) Agbayani of Panaewa; sons, Walter “Bully” Ahuna Jr. and Dan (Rena) Ahuna of Keaukaha; brother, Frank (Dayle) Santos of Pahoa; sisters, Ida (Jesus) Perez of Keaukaha, Teresa Ignacio of Laupahoehoe, Bernie (Blink) Soares of Papaikou, Etta NacNac of Honokaa, Lurline Milare of Pahoa, Marie (Ronald) Coleman of Texas and Nellie (Ben) Fejeran of Panaewa; sisters-in-law, Luella Aina of Panaewa and Wanda (Pat) Cardines of Keaukaha; brother-in-law, George “Chiefy” Ahuna of Oregon; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Let’s Talk Food: Soup dumplings
Din Tai Fung Restaurant is a Taiwanese restaurant with 16 locations in the United States (but not in Hawaii). That is only a fraction of its 165 locations around the world, which include Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
Your Views for December 10
Dems are to blame for Trump’s landslide win
PHOTOS: BIIF paddling kicks off in Hilo Bay
By Tim Wright
Obituaries for December 10
Carlina Acupan, 76, of Keaau died Oct. 13 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Isabella, Philippines, she worked at Green Point Nursery, Hawaiian Greenhouse and Island Princess Macadamia Nut. Visitation 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Service at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Alae Cemetery, New Section. Lunch to follow at Lam’s Garden. 172 Kilauea Ave. Casual attire. Survived by children, Paulino (Nita) Acupan, Eliza (Jerry) Queja, Arnel (Marites) Acupan, Cristina Acupan and Gina (Roberto) Ganir; siblings, Lolita Colangan, Natividad Calantes and Victorino Madriga Calantes; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces, nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
The Hilo Jazz Orchestra does Steely Dan
The Steely Dan catalog contains some of the most exacting and technically difficult music ever to grace the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Hawaii Care Choices to host candlelight memorial Wedensday
The public is invited to “Season of Light — A Candlelight Memorial Tribute,” a free community event presented by Hawaii Care Choices to honor and remember loved ones who have departed too soon. The event is slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Wailoa State Park in Hilo.
Orchid Isle Orchestra presents ‘Earth, Snow and Fire’
Orchid Isle Orchestra celebrates “Earth, Snow and Fire” in its annual holiday concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Hawaii Science and Technology Museum. The museum is located just upstairs from Jackie Rey’s Restaurant, at 64 Keawe St. in Hilo.
BIIF soccer: Season kickoff continues over weekend
HILO — Hilo and Waiakea boys soccer partook in a crosstown matchup Friday in Hilo, with the result ending in a 1-1 draw.
Grind Session hoops tourney coming to Hilo
HILO — Some of the best boys youth basketball talent in the nation will be coming to Hilo town later this month.
BIIF basketball: HPA wins big over the weekend
KEA‘AU — In a low-scoring, defensive battle, Hawaii Preparatory Academy girls basketball handled business in a 23-4 road-trip victory over the Lady Cougars on Saturday night at Kea‘au High School.
Obituaries for December 9
Kevin Acdal, 59, of Honokaa died Nov. 30 at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea. Born in Honokaa, he was the store director for Malama Market in Honokaa, accountant for T. Kaneshiro Store and Big Island Meat, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Honokaa, high council for Kona Hawaii Stake and Hawaii Army National Guard veteran. Visitation 5-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Honokaa. Visitation again 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the church. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Casual attire. Survived by wife, Clarita Acdal of Honokaa; sons, Jay ( Mahea Yurong) Hidaro Jr., of Kona, and Kevin Acdal Jr. of Tacoma, Wash.; daughters, Brendie (Kevin Yamasaki) Del Rosario of Kona, Ranelle Jardine of Honokaa and Kevanna Doolittle of Tacoma; brother, Zoilo (Nerissa) Acdal of Oahu; sisters, Sandra (Keith) Kaniho of Waimea and Manel (Miller) Castillo of Georgia; brother-in-law, Andy Oania Jr. of Kahului, Maui; sisters-in-law, Karen (Anthony) Reyes of Kihei, Maui, Valarie (Kenneth) Peters of Laupahoehoe and Milla Raquel of Waialua, Oahu; mother-in-law, Juanita (Leonard) Chesebro of Hilo; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; an aunt, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Volcano Watch: How have eruptions shaped Hawaii? Volcano Awareness Month 2025, with a twist
The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors the six currently active volcanoes in Hawaii, but past eruptions have shaped all of the Hawaiian Islands. Join us in January 2025 for Volcano Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn about volcanic activity in Hawaii over the past year and beyond, or — new for this upcoming edition — submit art or poetry recognizing Hawaii’s volcanic history.
Obituaries for December 8
Gerald “Jerry” Fred Alatan, 73, of Pepeekeo died Nov. 12 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a heavy equipment operator for the former Hilo Coast Processing Co. and former employee of Leonard Cardoza. Visitation 11:30 a.m.-noon Monday, Dec. 16, at the Alae Cemetery. Graveside committal service at noon. Casual attire. Survived by brothers, Michael Alatan of Honolulu and David Alatan of Hilo; sisters, Laura Fontes, Nancy (Arnold) Areola of Keaau, and Verna Alatan of Pepeekeo; brother-in-law, Ellsworth Fontes Sr. of Hilo; sister-in-law, Stephanie Clark of Hilo; aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Your Views for December 8
Cost of the proposed HPP park ‘outrageous’
Tropical Gardening: Tropical pines sometimes hard to find
Christmas is less than three weeks away, but it seems like most folks are a bit slow in getting their trees up this year. Don’t delay any longer since trees that are shipped in early are best.
Cougars, Warriors seal wins
KEA‘AU — After falling to Waiakea earlier in the week, Kea‘au boys basketball got back on track with a 63-29 win over St. Joseph’s on Thursday inside the Cougars’ gymnasium. Kea‘au improved to 2-1 in the early season.