Obituaries

Karleen U’ilani Van Winkle Meyers

Thursday, February 4th, 2021

Karleen U’ilani Van Winkle Meyers was born on Oct. 16, 1953 (a twin) in Ho’olehua, Molokai. She passed away in her sleep on Jan. 13, 2021. She was predeceased by mother and father Elizabeth K. Wilson Van Winkle and Jarrett Van Winkle, and sister Kathleen U. Imamura. She is survived by sisters identical twin Karla U. Puerto, Kolleen Naipo, Kayla Teriipaia and Kollett Noga; brothers Bruce, Farrett and Darrett Van Winkle; and friends Lino Nolasco and Terry Salazar.

A celebration of life will be held at a later time.…

James “Kimo” Ioane Paleka, Sr.

Wednesday, January 27th, 2021

James “Kimo” Ioane Paleka, Sr., one of Molokai’s well known musicians, passed away on Jan. 11, 2021 at the age of 73. He was born on April 10, 1947 to Herbert and Elizabeth “Haahaa” Paleka, Sr. of Ho’olehua. He was a graduate of Molokai High School and at a very young age learned to sing and play guitar with his mom. While working for Hawaiian Airlines for many years, he would spend his evening with his mom and best friend Waipa Purdy serenading guests at the former Sheraton Hotel. Guests loved requesting favorite songs and in response to their request, Waipa, grandma, and dad would leave the stage, walk to the guests table and welcome them with their music and Molokai’s aloha.…

Bruce Duffy

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

Bruce Duffy was born on April 6, 1948. He passed away at home with his wife Diane was by his side on Nov. 3, 2020.

Bruce was a Licensed General Contractor for almost 30 years, he loved what he did and took pride in his work. The projects that he was most proud of were the Molokai Ice House, the Waialua Pavil-ion, the Women’s Shelter, and taking part in moving the Hina statue to her resting space. Bruce built many homes on Molokai and he put his whole heart into all of them.

Bruce is survived by his wife Diane, son Keoni and daughter Ana, two beautiful grandsons, Johnny and James.…

Flora Cabaccang Agulan

Wednesday, November 18th, 2020

Flora Cabaccang Agulan was born in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines in 1937. She worked hard to support her family at a young age buying and selling until she married the late Hilario “Ariong” Agulan arriving on Molokai, Hawaii in 1971. Her journey began working in the pineapple industry for Del Monte (CPC) and a weekend job doing yard maintenance for “Pepe” Cooke and the McCarthy family, tagging along the kids to teach the values of hard work. After her husband’s passing in 1983, she worked for various fruit and plant nurseries and continued her buy and sell endeavors.

In 1988, she established the Kualapu’u Launderette and was better known as “Nana.”…

Dorothy Leimomi Kong

Thursday, November 5th, 2020

Dorothy Leimomi Kong went to be with the Lord on Oct. 23, 2020. She was born on Sept. 7, 1938 on the island of Oahu to John Kekoa Kalamau and Dorothy Wong. She is survived by her children Luana K. Kamai (Charles) Wanda Kong, William Billy Kong, Shawn Seri (George) Alan Kong (Mili) Cheryl Kong; 11 grandchildren Sean Alan Kamai, Shaynna Ann Seri Sheldeen Kamai, Kekoa, Ameron, Anna Nicole Madela, Moana, Maunalani, Ekolu (Cowboy) Maile Manintin, Alanna Kong Kalamau; 28 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. Dorothy has now joined her husband, Soloman Aloan Kong, who is with the Lord.…

Henry William Kawailani Kanawaliwali

Wednesday, October 28th, 2020

On Sept. 11, 2020 our Lord decided it was time for Henry William Kawailani Kanawaliwali to return to him. Henry is survived by his wife Velma Momilani Kanawaliwali; his children, Henry N Kanawaliwali, Erin M Bentley, Lawrence K Kanawaliwali, and Kayla H K Urban; 10 grandchildren, Gaela Joi, JanVier, Eli, Jasmine, William, Jahsiah, Kaohele, Alyah, Kalapana and Maile; three sisters Helen O’Connor, Joyce Dillon and Eden Castillo; one brother, Newton Kanawaliwali; and many nieces and nephews.

Henry was raised in Ho’olehua, Molokai. Growing up he learned farming, fishing (diving) and hunting. Raised down in Mo’omomi, his favorite place on Molokai, he became a great fisherman/diver.…

Gladys “Cookie” Brown

Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

Gladys “Cookie” Brown was born in Lahaina, Maui on June 4, 1926, the youngest of 10 siblings. She graduated from Lahainaluna High School in 1944 and was active in many leadership roles while she was there. One close friend and classmate described her as a “really smart girl.” She spent a year teaching in Missoula, Montana, followed closely by some time teaching in Waimanalo on Oahu.

She moved to Molokai and continued her teaching career on the East end of the island. Throughout the years, she had stints at different schools on the island, including the no longer existent Holomua School.…

Marge Carol Leeks

Wednesday, September 30th, 2020

Marge Carol Leeks, 89 years old, passed away on Aug. 2, 2020. She was born on Nov. 18, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. She is survived by Irwin (Cookie) Pawlak, Richard Pawlack, Arlen Cohen and Tedd Palek, as well as her extended ohana on Molokai.

Marge worked from the time she was 13 years old, and lived through the Great Depression. In Chicago, she owned a beauty store and a bar. On Molokai, she worked at many places, including Wines and Spirits, Pau Hana Inn, Hotel Molokai, and cleaning the American Savings building. Many people remember her driving around in a red Cadillac and delivering baked goods to everyone she appreciated, including the post office employees, bank tellers, grocery store employees, doctor’s office staff, and friends and neighbors.…

William “Bill” Guillermo Sahagun

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

It is with great sadness that the family of William “Bill” Guillermo Sahagun of Honolulu, HI announces his passing on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020.

Bill was born in Kaunakakai, Molokai on June 4, 1965; son of the late Felipe and Eugenia (Bumanglag) Sahagun. He graduated from Molokai High School in 1983 and attended Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. He later returned to Hawaii and worked at the Pagoda Hotel as front desk manager for 18 years. Bill enjoyed being a Steelers fan, but more than anything, he enjoyed spending time with his children Waverly Hope and Tristan Ford Sahagun.

Bill will be lovingly missed and remembered by his siblings Filma C.…

Felix John Kehano, Jr.

Wednesday, July 29th, 2020

Felix John Kehano, Jr. was born in the morning of March 22, 2005 in Wailuku, Maui.
He spent the first seven years of his life on Maui doing the things he loved to do. Felix loved spending time with his family, riding horses, playing soccer, camping, going to the beach and going holoholo. Felix and his family were heavily plugged into Pukalani Nazarene church while on Maui.

In 2013, Felix and his family relocated to Molokai. Felix enjoyed being a part of the Kualapu’u Robotics team, visiting the Molokai Art Center and doing arts and crafts, working on the homestead with his family, gaming with friends from school and friends afar, helping to restart the Molokai Nazarene church in Kalama’ula, creating on YouTube (dmdgamer_youtuber), hanging out in his Kualapu’u neighborhood, and playing Fortnite (maui_hammah).…