Obituaries

James Henry Lani Acasio

Wednesday, March 8th, 2023

James Henry Lani Acasio, 74, of Aurora, Indiana, passed away Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born Aug. 2, 1948, in Ho’olehua, HI, son of the late Hipolito Acasio and Alice (Lani) DeMello. 

He served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Vietnam War. James will be fondly remembered as a loving husband and Papa.  

James is survived by his ‘ohana which include his loving spouse of 51 years Deborah (Bauer) Acasio; daughters Anela Acasio Schwier and Rachel Acasio; grandsons Zane, Jack and Owen Schwier; granddaughter Elise Bostick; siblings Walter (Kehau) Kaiama, Wilfred Demello, Jr.,…

Ricky C. Agbuya

Wednesday, February 8th, 2023

Ricky C. Agbuya, age 52, of Kaunakakai, Molokai, passed away surrounded by his family on Jan. 21, 2023.

Ricky was born in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines on Nov. 10, 1970. He attended Saint Louis College from 1983 to 1987. In 1991, he graduated from Lorma College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After nursing school, he worked at Ilocos Regional Medical Center for 10 years. Ricky made the island of Molokai his home in June 2001, where he worked as a caregiver for CareResource Hawaii for 20 years. He also worked as a dialysis technician at Molokai Dialysis since 2005.…

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli

Wednesday, January 25th, 2023

Noa Emmett Auwae Aluli, M.D., age 78, passed away Nov. 30, 2022 at Kaunakakai, Molokai. Born on Oahu in January 1944 and raised in Kailua, he graduated from St. Louis College ʻ62 (St. Louis High School) and Marquette University ʻ66. Dr. Aluli taught at Damien High School and Kailua Intermediate before graduating in the first class at the University of Hawaii Medical School ʻ75 (John A. Burns School of Medicine, JABSOM). 

Dedicated to the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians, Dr. Aluli was a family practice primary care physician at the Molokai Family Health Center (46 years), a Medical Director of Molokai General Hospital and an Adjunct Assistant Medical Professor at JABSOM.…

Bradford Winston Kaahanui

Wednesday, January 11th, 2023

Bradford Winston Kaahanui — Winston, as he was known by most — died on Nov. 29, 2022 surrounded by his ohana. He was a hard-working man who loved his family.

Winston has been preceded in death by his parents William and Olga, and siblings Lila, Donna, Josephine, Luana, and Korina. He is survived by wife Nadine; children Tisha (Kari), Bradford (Janeen), Peter (Kayla) and Max; grandchildren Nainoa, Ilika, Ayden, Ilona and Kaikanoa; siblings Olga, William Jr., Harold, Kanoe, Curtis and Eunice; and many nephews and nieces. …

Alvin Kalani Kawaa

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Alvin Kalani Kawaa was born on Nov. 19, 1962 in Honolulu and died on Dec. 3. 2022 at home in Ho’olehua, Molokai. He is survived by wife Kenetta Nani Kawaa; daughter Tanya Kaleinani Hanohano-Hashimoto; son-in-law Peter Hashimoto; grandsons Peter “Kahaku” Hanohano- Hashimoto (Hana) and Aaron “Kia’i” Hanohano-Hashimoto; and siblings Peter Kawaa III (LeeAnn), Kaeo Kawaa (Kahoiwai), and Glenn Adolpho (Cheryl). He was predeceased by his parents, Peter Kau Kawaa Jr and Blossom Puanani Adolpho, and sister Blossom “Sista” Kawaa. 

Alvin retired after working for more than 25 years from UPS.  He is also a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and graduated from Molokai High School Class of 1980. …

Sister Jessie Alai Kai, SS.CC.

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022

Born in Hilo on August 18, 1942 to Herbert Kai Sr. and Regina Aiu, Sister Jessie Alai Kai, SS.CC. went peacefully home to God on Dec. 2, 2022 at the convent of Malia o ka Malu on 4th Avenue in Honolulu. 

In 2009, Sister was part of the group that founded a Sacred Hearts community at St. Damien Parish in Kaunakakai, Molokai, endearing herself to the people as parish secretary, religious educator and enthusiastic volunteer.  Due to failing health, Sister Jessie and the other Sisters of the Molokai community returned to Honolulu in March, 2022.   

Sister Jessie is survived by her sisters Regina (Otto) Furlow, Pauline Weddle, Diane and Victoria Kai and three brothers Herbert (Ingrid) Kai, Thomas and Paul Kai and numerous nieces and nephews. …

Diane Fumie Akina

Wednesday, December 7th, 2022

Diane Fumie Akina (Tokuoka), 76, passed away on Nov. 16, 2022 in Seattle, WA.

Diane was born and raised in Molokai, HI. She moved to the mainland to begin her new journey and made Seattle her home. She worked very hard and retired early from Safeway Company. 

She was an excellent crafter and loved to use her hands to work. She crocheted, sewed, baked and had a green thumb for plants. She was very independent, strong and extremely organized. She was fun and up for anything.  Everyone who met her, loved her.  But most of all, she love, love, loved her family very much. …

Julie Marie Pierson Place

Wednesday, December 7th, 2022

Julie Marie Pierson Place, age 66, passed away on Oct. 24, 2022 at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu surrounded by loved ones. She was born Nov. 8, 1955 to Lorel and Frances (Schuler) Pierson in Nampa, Idaho, who have both since passed. She is also predeceased by her husband Rhinehardt K. Place of Ualapue, Molokai. 

Julie graduated from Nampa High School in 1972.  She moved to Molokai in 1984. She worked a while with Hotel Molokai, Molokai Ranch and Molokai Realty. Julie worked for the State of Hawaii until her retirement in December 2021, dedicating 30 years to the Department of Human Services, Child Protection Division where she helped to provide services for foster children.…

Ethel Hatsumi (Kawakami) Umemoto

Wednesday, December 7th, 2022

Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Ethel Hatsumi (Kawakami) Umemoto, 92, of Molokai Hawaii, passed away peacefully at her residence at Kahala Nui Nursing Home on Oahu on Oct. 28, 2022.  She was born on Oahu on Sept. 22, 1930, to Kiichi Kawakami (deceased), and Hanayo (Morioka) Kawakami (deceased). She is formerly from Kahaluu, Kane’ohe and Waimanalo. 

Ethel retired from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kane’ohe HI in 1993, She was a R.N. Nursing Supervisor.  She also was the vice president of Kahaluu Valley Nursery Inc. Ethel loved to play golf and belonged to Mid Pacific Country Club in Lanikai, Oahu. …