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.

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.

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 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.

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.