Obituaries

Bobby Cooke

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

Bobby Cooke of Kipu died on Oct. 29, 2010 in Honolulu. He was born in Honolulu on Feb. 12, 1943, and attended Hanahauoli and Punahou schools and Montana State University.  He lived and worked in Kipu his entire adult life, raising horses, playing cribbage, reading and doing crosswords. He loved God and Molokai, gave generously to charities, friends and pets. Bobby is survived by his sisters Rie (Bud) Vail and Susie Harrington, son Erick, nieces and nephews Mike, Tim, Robert, Juliette (EJ) Vail Engler, David Harrington and Danielle (Mike) Dixon.
A memorial to celebrate and remember the life of Bobby will be held at the family home in Kipu Jan. 29, 2011 at 2 p.m.

Aunty Ku’ulei Perez Moves On

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Ku`ulei Perez will be remembered for her love for music, Hawaiian language and being an irreplaceable and iconic Molokai aunty.

Her great-niece Nani Ayau remembers her as being a very generous woman and being a mother-figure to all children on the island.

About 150 of her family, friends and fellow local musicians gathered at Coffees of Hawaii last Sunday to honor her legacy.

“She probably raised 90 percent of the people here,” Ayau said, referring to the audience at Coffees of Hawaii.

After speaking with people who knew her and were close to her, only one word could describe Aunty Ku`ulei: music.

Local musician Lono spent time with her last Monday.  She passed away the next day on Jan. 18 due to old age. Born on Feb. 29, 1922, she was just shy of her 89th birthday.

They started playing at the Lodge in Maunaloa in 2004 until it was shut down in 2008, when they began playing concerts at Coffees.

Pelekai also took care of his aunty for four years when she was sick. He said he will remember her funny personality, gift of aloha spirit, and knowledge of Hawaiian language and Hawaiian music.

Her friend and band-mate, Julia Hoe, shared a story with the audience while the band performed over 20 of Aunty’s favorite songs last Sunday.

She recalled a time when Ku`ulei brought her guitar to her friend at Hotel Molokai for him to repair. He forgot the guitar and it ended up disappearing. But a local Molokai boy who she helped raise was living in Honolulu at the time, found the guitar at a pawn shop with her name written inside the guitar.
He bought the guitar, thinking she sold it because she needed money. He flew to Molokai to find her and give it back to her. 

“She was blown away,” Hoe said. “But once she found out the boy was going to be doing some missionary work, she gave the guitar to him and said, ‘Take this guitar and make beautiful music with it.’”

Letting Go
After playing music for her, Lono shared more of his last conversation with Aunty Ku`ulei, in her final hours.

“We were talking about turning in our bodies, moving on with our spirits,” he said. “She told me her husband John had been visiting her in her sleep trying to tell her, ‘Let’s go!’ But she just said, ‘No, no. I’m not ready.’”

But Aunty Ku`ulei finally let go. “He finally must have came and got her,” Lono said.

She is survived by her son Jon Perez, who lives in Honolulu and daughter Raina Dudoit, who lives on Molokai.

Phyllis Takase

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

Phyllis Takase, 82, of Kaunakakai, owner of Yoshi's Sweet Shop, died on Dec. 17, 2010 in Aiea. She was born in Lahaina. She is survived by sons, Clyde A., Neal S. and Warren Y.; daughter Carla L.; and four grandchildren. Visitation will be Jan. 21, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. at the Kaunakakai Baptist Church, with service at 4 p.m.

Neighbors, Veterans Honor One of Their Own

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Roland Lizotte didn’t have any family on Molokai, so when he died on Nov. 18, it was his neighbors at Home Pumehana who were by his side. When he was buried last Saturday, it was in a coffin built by member of a local veterans group, in honor of a fellow solider.

that’s what we’re called – Veterans Caring for Veterans,” said Commander Larry Helm, noting if they hadn’t gotten involved, Lizotte could still be at the hospital morgue.

Lizotte was buried at a small ceremony on Saturday at the Ho`olehua Veteran’s Cemetery. The honor guard preformed a gun salute and presented Dickson with the folded American flag in his honor. 

Though Lizotte had stopped by the veterans center in town once or twice, no one there knew him personally. That, Helm said, is not the point. The group was merely filling a void – one, he added, that will continue to grow with the U.S. fighting two foreign wars.

“Our military is stretched and therefore the promise from the government that each solider or veteran be properly buried… is slowly being eroded.”

For Dickson, caring for Lizotte in his last days was a way to pay tribute to her friend.

“I was so honored and blessed.”

Edward Fulkerson

Friday, November 26th, 2010

Edward “Big Ed” Fulkerson Sr., 80, died peacefully in his sleep on November 8, 2010, in Fremont, CA.
Big Ed is survived by his wife Shirley, eight children, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
After retirement, he and his wife Shirley moved permanently to Molokai Shores in Kaunakakai. He was very active in community service through the local Lions Club.
Private burial service will be held on Dec. 4 at the Fulkerson Cemetery in Santa Rosa, CA. A celebration of his life hosted by family and friends in Guerneville, CA, is to follow.