Obituaries

Smith Tipo Lafaele

Wednesday, July 9th, 2025

Smith Tipo Lafaele passed away June 14, 2025. Born on June 26, 1984, he is survived by wife Marina Lafaele, beautiful pride and joy daughter Amelia-Rose Luafalemana, mother Pele, and brother Michael, Tipo and Aneki Lafaele. He was a proud uncle to 32 hammah nieces and nephews. Known for his honesty, truthfulness and sense of humor, our #1 jokster. His legacy will forever live on in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to know him. Services will be at Oahu Mortuary Chapel at 2162 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu July 21, 2025. Public viewing is 5-6 p.m. with services 6-8 p.m.…

John Kakuihewa Kapu III

Wednesday, July 9th, 2025

John Kakuihewa Kapu III, 85, of Ho‘olehua, died surrounded by family in Hauula on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.  He was born in Kahuku, Hawai‘i and is survived by his spouse Donna Kapu, 5 children, 21 grandkids and 29 great grandchildren.

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Irene Maile Michiko Pauole Kaahanui

Friday, June 27th, 2025

Irene Maile Michiko Pauole Kaahanui, age 82, passed away on May 13, 2025, at Ho‘olehua, Hawaii, surrounded by her ‘ohana. She was born on March 7, 2025 in Ho‘olehua. She was U.S. Army Veteran, director for MEO on Molokai, and retired as the Molokai Community Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Irene has been preceded in death by parents Robert and Helen Pauole; sister Annette Pauole-Ahakuelo; and stepdaughter Charmaine Davis.
She is survived by husband Charles A. Kaahanui Jr; sons Kelly Pauole, Justin Kaahanui, Jonathan Kaahanui, Charles (Alice) Kaahanui III, Chad Kaahanui, Shannon Kaahanui; daughter Sherry (Ronald) Sasada; sisters Roberta “Cookie” (Greg) Helm, Beverly Pauole (Dale) Moore, Melinda Talon; brother Mickey(Nadine) Pauole; mo‘opuna Kellysa (Namaka), Brennan, Kaya, Charice, Bryson, Jarian, Braeden, Ikaika, Kaleikamaka, Yukiko, Sumiko, Brandon, Matthew, Jewel, Lahela, Alicia, Amber; 19 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and her loving pet companion Shushu.…

Margaret Allana Noury

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

Margaret Allana Noury passed away at her home in Kualapu‘u, Molokai, June 10, 2025. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, June 6, 1946. She is survived by children Heather Noury, Faith Noury, Luke Noury, Jacob Adopho, Isaac Adolpho, Malia Waits and Jared Noury. Her services will be at Kalaiakamanu Hou Congregational Church in Kalamaula, Molokai, June 21, 2025. ‘Ohana viewing is 9-10 a.m., public viewing is 10-11 a.m., and services are 11 a.m-12 p.m. Lunch is 12-1 p.m.…

Claudia Jane Kamai

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

Claudia Jane Kamai, 74, of Ho‘olehua, Molokai, born on October 6, 1950, passed away peacefully at home on June 2, 2025. We would like to thank Hospice Maui for all their caring support and services. Claudia retired from Del Monte Corporation after 33 years of service as a Lead Payroll Clerk.
Claudia is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel K and Lillian M Kamai.
Family members include sisters Carolyn (Rodney) Vair of Henderson, Nevada; Lorna (Longie) Dudoit of Hoolehua; Lydia (Cheyenne) Joao of Kaunakakai; and Kathleen (Joey) Joao of Kaunakakai; brothers Victor (Wena) Kamai of Maui; and Daniel (Rally) Kamai of California; and many nieces and nephews.…

Yolanda Hiilani Kealohapauole Uahinui

Thursday, June 5th, 2025

Yolanda Hiilani Kealohapauole Uahinui, 70, of Kalama‘ula, Molokai, died April 25, 2025 at Queens Hospital in Honolulu. Born May 16, 1954, she was a graduate of Molokai High and Intermediate School, class of 1972, and a graduate of Cannon’s Business College in Honolulu. She was a retired manager with Enterprise Holdings Alamo in Hoolehua, Molokai. Survived by: daughter Hamau (Joseph) Howe and hanai daughter Jessyli (Vandale Dudoit III) Domingo Kupau, brothers Abraham Kalei (Ellenbelle) Kaulia of Honolulu, Wilfred Kalani Pieper of Wisconsin, Kaihehau Uahinui of Washington, and Ekela (Cheryl) Uahinui of Molokai, sisters Rebecca Kolo of California, Ruth Domingo of Molokai, Frieda Uahinui of Las Vegas, and Kamakea Uahinui of Molokai, nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.…

Shaynah Haunani Colipano Delacruz 

Thursday, June 5th, 2025

Shaynah Haunani Colipano Delacruz was born on July 5, 1971, at the Molokai General Hospital. She passed away peacefully on May 14, 2025 in the hospice at the Molokai General Hospital. Shaynah loved finding shells, drawing, baking and cooking. She leaves behind six children, seven grandchildren, her mother, Annette H. Colipano English (Clayton), and her father, Richard (Chocum) Dela Cruz (Jackie). Shaynah’s celebration of life will be held July 26 at Lanikeha in Ho‘olehua, Molokai at 9 a.m.…

Mahiki Lankford 

Thursday, May 15th, 2025

Mahiki Lankford was born in Ho’olehua, Molokai. She is preceded in death by her husband Adolphus Lankford, parents William and Annie Kaiahua Aki, and siblings.

She is survived by her children Lu Ann Mahiki (Kenneth), Donna, Kuulei, Micheal (Ronnette), Yvonne, Kaanohi, and Mahikili’ili’i, 26 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

We will celebrate her homecoming luau Friday, June 20, at 4:30 p.m. at the Maunaloa Recreation Center.  …

Lynn Karakawa Kahalewai

Thursday, April 24th, 2025

Lynn Karakawa Kahalewai, 81, of Wailuku, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025, at Hospice Maui Hale. Born on Nov. 1, 1943, in Paia, Lynn dedicated her life to educating keiki at Kaunakakai Elementary, Kualapu’u Elementary, Waihee Elementary, Wailuku Elementary, Lihikai Elementary, and many other Maui elementary schools.

She leaves behind her sons Reynold (Davlynn) Kahalewai and Leyton (Shaila) Kahalewai; daughters Edlyn (Eddie Jr.) Carvalho, Edwyna (Kai) Tancayo; sisters Gladys O’Connor, Jennie Sniegowski, and Trudy Fujioka; 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, a godson Kahinau, four fur babies and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Lynn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edward Kahalewai, parents Hajime and Hisano Karakawa, and brothers Robert Karakawa and Stanley Karakawa.…

Herbert Iopa Paleka Jr.

Thursday, April 17th, 2025

Herbert Iopa Paleka Jr. passed away on March 23 at Kona Community Hospital with his family by his side.

He was born on Nov. 30, 1945 on Molokai to Herbert Sr. and Eliza (Enos) Paleka. He would often share stories of being raised on Molokai, feeding the pigs and working in the kalo patches.

Herbert attended school on Molokai and in 1964 graduated from Molokai High School. He married Hinano Hapai on April 10, 1971 and raised his family on Oahu. He was a truck driver for Gaspro and a member of the Hawaii Teamsters Local 996 for over 35 years.…