Medeiros was expert on Hana

By Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- When Josephine Ka‘uakea Medeiros helped visitors make room reservations at the Hotel Hana-Maui, she described not only the room but also the amenities, such as the sweet scent from a nearby plumeria tree.

“She was just poetic, just a colorful person,” said Alberta De Jetley, the former publisher of a Hana newspaper.

Medeiros, 74, a kumu hula and the hotel’s reservations director and social director for many years, died on April 16.

Medeiros, also in charge of Hawaiian entertainment for the hotel, was a noted expert and historian on Hawaiian culture, especially for the Hana region, and served as a chairwoman of Hana Aloha Week.

Occasionally, she wrote stories about Hana for various newspapers.

Medeiros was a member of church and civic groups, including the Sacred Hearts Society, Soil Conservation Service and the “Na Leo ‘O Hana” choral group.

De Jetley, who met Medeiros in 1969, remembers her as having a special touch for flower arrangements.

“She said the reason why she could do flowers so well was the flowers talked to her.”

She is survived by her husband Leslie; sons Leslie Jr. and William; daughter Mavis Helekahi; brother William Roback Jr.; sisters Louisa Pu, Gladys Sinenci, and Cecelia Park; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Friday at St. Anthony’s Church in Wailuku 6-9 p.m., with rosary at 6 p.m. and a service at 7:30 p.m. The visitation will continue Saturday at St. Mary’s Church in Hana at 8 a.m. with mass at 11 a.m. Burial is to follow at St. Peter Church Cemetery in Puuiki at 12:15 p.m.

Ofanio G. Aczon, 54, of Waipahu died March 21 in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, he is survived by brother Joseph; sisters Jovita and Francisca. Services: 7:30 a.m. Friday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Mass: 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, 712 N. School St. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Valley of the Temples.

Maria A. Barba, 62, of Waianae died Friday in Tripler Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Sebastian, James and Michael; stepsons Eddie Jr. and Ronnie; daughters Linda Alalem and Cindy Manuel; stepdaughters Pamela and Tammy; brothers Henry Villita and Filimore Aldorsa; sister Jean Aldosa; and six grandchildren. Services: noon Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.

Ronnie L. Beougher, 47, of Honolulu, a registered nurse at Queen’s Medical Center, died last Tuesday in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Kansas, he is survived by mother Eva Mae; brothers Cliff and Dennis; and sisters Sonya Bishop, Coleen Schreiner, Vicki Anway and Deborah Pence. Memorial services: 6 p.m. tomorrow at Queen’s Medical Center Chapel.

Marlon A. Bueno, 30, of Haliimaile, Maui, a truck driver trainee with Maui Pineapple, died Thursday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Laoag City, the Philippines, he is survived by wife Estrelita D.R.; son Renz M.; daughter Christine M.; father Emeterio M.; mother Francisca A.; brothers Edgar, Jesse, Chester and Julius; and sisters Emelyn B. Dancel and Mary Grace. Wake: 8 p.m. tomorrow at Ballard Family Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Burial at a later date. Casual attire. No flowers.

Ernest A.T. Chan, 85, of Honolulu, an Interscholastic League of Honolulu football official, died Saturday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by sons Ernest G. and Kenney G.; daughter Gay Chan-Lorch; brothers Abraham, Gilbert, Benjamin, Solomon, Gaylord and Bernard Williams; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and a great-great grandson. Services: 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Casual attire. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park.

Sang Choi Au Chang, 74, of Honolulu died Friday at home. Born in China, she is survived by son Yet Chiu; daughter Siu Pang Li; brother Kai Chung Au; sister Yau Choy Au; and four grandchildren. Call after 9 a.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary. Taoist services will be held. Procession leaves 11:30 a.m. for Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Margery Guenett, 67, of Kihei, Maui died Saturday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Verdun, Quebec, she is survived by husband Richard; sons Richard A., David, Drew and Charlie; sister Winnie Manley; and three grandchildren. Private services.

Miriam K. Hanawahine, 79, of Honolulu died Friday in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by son Samuel J.; sister Sunrise Monterde; 21 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. Services: noon Friday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park, Kaneohe. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Hideo Higa, 79, of Pearl City, who served in World War II in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, died Thursday in Maluhia Hospital. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Born in Honolulu he is survived by wife Rose K.; daughters Brenda H. Akau and Lynette Duque; brothers Nobuo, Fred and Warren; sister Sarah Onaga; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Services: 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary, 20 S. Kukui St. Call after 11:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Casual attire.

Emma L. Ho, 79, of Honolulu died April 7 in Queen’s Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by daughters Lenora, Coralee, Jeanetta and Debra; brother Wilson Lau; and two grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. May 12 at Lutheran Church of Honolulu. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

Harry S. Hokama, 58, of Ewa Beach, executive vice president of Edward Enterprises Inc., died Sunday in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by companion Joy Bush; daughter Suzette; brother George T.; and sisters Alice Hinkle and Nancy S. Sampoang. Memorial services: 8 p.m. Friday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Scattering of ashes: Saturday. Casual attire.

Edna I. Iaela, 85, of Honolulu died last Tuesday in Honolulu Convalescent Center. Born in Kula, Maui, she is survived by husband Raymond H.; daughter Tiare Kauhi; brothers Akong and Richard Ing; and four grandchildren. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call 8-11:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Inaz R. Kama, 81, of Honolulu, a licensed pratical nurse with Leahi Hospital, died Thursday in Straub Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by son Isaac; daughter Darlene Goya; sisters Stella Gibbs and Betty Kim; and three grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call 6-9 p.m. Private burial. Casual attire. No flowers.

Raina I. Robb, 78, of Ewa Beach died Friday at home. Born in Hilo, she is survived by son Donald G.; daughters Andrea L. Cabanilla and Janice H. Smith; brothers Samuel K. and Clarence Iona; sister Margaret N. Johnson; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Services: 12:30 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Jovita R. Romena, 67, of Wahiawa died April 10 in St. Francis Hospital. Born in Camiling, Tarlac, the Philippines, she is survived by sons Alvaro R. Jr., Romeo R. and Richard R.; daughters Estrella R. Venerable, Alvita Beth R. Languit and Carolyn R. Moore; brother Reynaldo Rilveria; sisters Nonie Tandal, Lucita DeGuzman, Leticia Pineda and Olivia Bernardo; 23 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mass: 7 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 1403 California Ave., Wahiawa. Call 6-9 p.m. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel. Call after 9 a.m. Burial: Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Fumiko “Bernice” Shirachi, 71, of Kailua died yesterday in Castle Hospital. She is survived by daughters Sandra Shirachi, Susan Shirachi-Gonsalves and Selma Sumi; brothers Sam and Mack Maki; sisters Grace Warner, Shizue Nakayama and Gertrude Kusunoki; and two grandchildren. Memorial services: 6 p.m. Thursday at Nuuanu Memorial Park Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Jack Shuttleworth, 82, of Kaneohe, a retired auto mechanic, died Sunday in Honolulu. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he is survived by wife Clara L.; daughters Jeanine Zachary and Jackquiline Shuttleworth; stepdaughters Lei, Momi, Maile and Mary Lou; and several grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Serena J. Silva, 18, a student at Waiakea High School, died Wednesday in Hilo Hospital. Born in Hilo, she is survived by mother Pearl; brothers Thomas C. and Alfred G.; and care-givers Darryl and Charlotte Liborio. Services: 5 p.m. Thursday at the residence of Darryl and Charlotte Liborio, corner of 23rd Street and Kaloli Drive. Call after noon. Private scattering of ashes. Casual attire.

Gabriela C. Silva, 94, of Honolulu died April 13 in St. Francis-West Hospital. Born in Portugal, she is survived by nephew and caretaker Raphael Vares; and other nephews and nieces. Services: noon Wednesday at Diamond Head Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: Diamond Head Memorial Park.

Joe Y. Takeguchi, 73, of Hilo, a retired storeroom manager at Hawaii Electric Light Co., died Saturday in Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Kapoho, Hawaii, he is survived by wife Chiyoko; brothers Bob, Takashi and Hidenobu; and sisters Izumo Matsubara and Shigeko Sato. Services: 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 1:30 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire.

Dawn N. Teves, 42, of Wailuku died Friday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Wailuku, she is survived by parents Matsuichi “Mutt” and Clara Matsumoto; son Chad; daughter Jasmine; brothers Larry, Kelly and Keith; and two grandchildren. Services held today.

Masatoshi Umemoto, 78, of Honolulu, a retired accountant for U.S. Support Command and finance and accounting office, Fort Shafter, died Wednesday in Kuakini Hospital. Born in Honolulu, he is survived by wife Caroline T.; sons Ernest M. and Donald K.; daughter Pat Kuniyoshi; sister Janice A. Ouchi; and five grandchildren. Private services.

Jeanette M. Wooten-Hoffman, 53, of Kahului died Saturday in Maui Memorial Hospital. Born in Wailuku, she is survived by husband Ed Hoffman; mother Blanche S. Kosaka; son Jeffrey Wooten; brothers Leroy and Donald Kosaka; and sisters Ruth Jones and Claire Kawamura. Services over ashes: 6 p.m. Thursday at Nakamura Mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Lorna G. Young, 63, of Kaneohe died last Tuesday in Castle Hospital. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by sons Cyrus “Kimo”, Byron “Ona” and Allen K.; sister Lois Murphy; and 10 grandchildren. Services: 11:30 a.m. Friday at St. John by the Sea. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire.

Dolores J.K.K. Zakimi, 67, of Kaneohe died April 12. Born in Honolulu, she is survived by husband Raymond Y.; son Kenneth A. Carvalho; daughters Verna Mae L. Ho, Rose Mary K. Iyoki, D.J. Peahi “Baby Doll” Spencer, Cora M. Billanor, Luana Lee M. Cuyo and Terri Ann Chong; sister Barbara K. Watson; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Sunday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary. Call after 5:30 p.m. Private burial. Aloha attire.