Obituaries

Artice May Swingle

Wednesday, October 11th, 2023

Artice ‘Artie’ May Swingle suffered a heart attack and passed away in the loving arms of her husband of 50 years, John Wordin, at their home in Kalae. EMS reestablished a heart rhythm and transferred Artie to Queens on life support, discontinued on Aug. 31. She was 84 years old.

Artie is survived by husband John, sons Richard and Daniel Burke, and nephews Mark, Steven, and Neil Haynes.

Artie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1960, a Master’s in Special Education in 1961, was a certified Child and Family Counselor and Special Education Teacher for many years in Idaho and Hawaii.…

Caroline Bicoy

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

Caroline Bicoy, 73, of Ho’olehua, Molokai, passed away on Aug. 29. She was born on July 21,1950 in Honolulu. 

Caroline graduated from Radford High School. She relocated to Molokai with her predeceased husband, the love of her life, Gerald Bicoy in the late 1970s. Caroline is predeceased by her parents Catalino Monderen, Miriam Monderen and Mary Rodrigues. She is also predeceased by her brother, Andrew Monderen. Caroline is survived by two brothers, Bernard (Mozel) Monderen of Makakilo and Shawn Murdoch of Honolulu and her two sisters, Debbie Rodrigues of Kahului and Frances (Richie) Young of Lihue. She is also survived by her three children, Cheryl (Daniel) Sterner of Ho’olehua, Kezia (Daniel) Asao of Wailuku and Matthew Bicoy of Ho’olehua.…

Lucy Leonilda Kealoha Whiting

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

Age 83, Lucy Leonilda Kealoha Whiting passed away on Sept. 12, in Arvada, Colorado. Born May 18, 1940, Lucy attended Roosevelt High School, Class of 1958. She was employed by the National Park Service in Kalaupapa on Molokai. After 20 years she retired and moved “topside” with her late husband Albert Pu where they had a Hawaiian Home Lands lot. After many weeks of clearing the land by hand, they built a beautiful home with stunning panoramic views of the west side of Molokai. They were very proud of that home.

She is survived by her sister Bernice Blalock, daughters Nadine Benton (Randy), Wendy White (Larry), Harrilyn-Lena Hindle (Mark) and son Harry Galdeira, Jr.…

John K Nakahara

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

John K Nakahara, 72, of Molokai died Friday, Aug. 18 on Oahu. Molokai High Class of 69’ graduate and an honorable discharge from the US Navy, John was never married and had no children. John is the son of John KK Waipa Sr. (predeceased), Dorothy L Pa (predeceased) and David K Pa III (predeceased). His siblings are Joan P. Yamashiro (predeceased), Maureen Fredrickson, Johnette Kaai, Bill PaGrimes, John Waipa, Thomas Waipa (predeceased), Davelynn Han, Davidette Pa-Kala, George Nakahara, Randy Aurio, Guy Aurio, Mel Aurio, Charlene Nakahara, and Alison Kupau. Memorial services will be held at the Molokai Veterans Cemetery Friday, Sept.…

Suette Kaoru Tollefsen

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

Suette Kaoru Tollefsen, age 73 of Waialua, Molokai, died on Aug. 29. Suette passed away in the comfort of her home with her family by her side, under the care of Hospice Maui. Suette was born to the late Harry and Aiko Panui on Sept. 19, 1949 in Lihue, Kauai. Preceding her death was her sister Jayde Nakihei and brother Tyson Panui. She is survived by husband Stephen Tollefsen, son Harry Tollefsen (Rietta), daughters Elizabeth “Liz” Coleman (Mike), Michelle Hiro (Raymond), Sybil Kapahulehua (Russell) and Stephanie “Panui” Tollefsen, brother Lambert Panui, sisters Elgie Spears (Dave), Adele and Fern Panui, as well as nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  …

Jonelle “Sweetie” Huelani Kaaihue

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

Jonelle “Sweetie” Huelani Kaaihue, 61, of Honolulu and formerly of Ho’olehua, Molokai died on Aug. 23, at her residence in Honolulu. She was born in Honolulu and was a certified substance abuse counselor. 

She is survived by her brother Joseph P. Kaaihue Jr. and sister Jolene L. Apostol, both of Ho’olehua, Molokai, nieces Laila K. Siaris of Ewa Beach, Oahu and Amber L. Apostol of Honolulu.  

Friends may pay their respects on Thursday, Sept. 28 at Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary-East Chapel in Honolulu at 10:30 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. Services pending on the island of Molokai.…

Celedonia Gomes

Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

Our beloved mom, Celedonia, known also as Sally or Cele, Gomes, left us peacefully while at home with us to be with our Lord on Aug. 17. 

Born on Mar. 3, 1932, she was known to many as Auntie or Nana Sally among our Maunaloa Pineapple Plantation ohana, her church family of Kaunakakai Baptist Church and her fellow workers and customers of her many jobs and services on Molokai – the longest being a clerk at Atlas Bldg. Supplies. Her smile and loving personality will be greatly missed. 

She is survived by her children Junedale Ed Misaki, Sydney Lei Gomes, Narda Lino Lollis, Joel “Joey” Corina Gomes, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. …

Sheila Loretta Polena Awai

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

Sheila Loretta Polena Awai, a cherished kupuna, passed victoriously at age 86. Aunty Sheila exemplified her belief of unconditionally loving her Molokai island community. She was a beloved preschool teacher, an advocate towards foster care, education, mental health, and sexual and drug abuse services. She dedicated her life to God and was a faithful member of the Molokai Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 

Our mom passed away peacefully with God’s grace on July 3, 2023, at her home in Kalamaula, Molokai, surrounded by her ‘ohana. She was born on Feb. 26, 1937, in Kalihi, Oahu. She is survived by her four children Candace W.…

Thadd R. Camara

Wednesday, July 26th, 2023

Aloha e ka ʻohana a me nā hoa aloha o Molokaʻi a ma ʻō aku o ka pae ʻāina o Hawaiʻi a puni ka hōnua. We, the children of Thadd R. Camara share with you some of his words of aloha…

“My spirit lives in everyone that knows who I was and who I still am — Thadd R. Camara, Mr. Aloha — and if it wasn’t for Molokai I could never ever be Thadd R. Camara, the person I became to be…So for every sunset there will always be a new beginning. So my Molokai family, enjoy every beginning you are blessed with I waiting for you on the other side….Please…

Nancy Shizuko Yamagata Unemori

Wednesday, July 26th, 2023

Nancy Shizuko Yamagata Unemori of Kaunakakai, Molokai was born on August 29, 1924 in Kapaa, Kauai, the eldest of 7 children. She passed peacefully on June 4, 2023.

She married Hisashi “Fats” Unemori (deceased), and moved to Molokai in 1958. Together they had 5 children. Alison (Warren) Yasuda, Kevin (Lynne) Unemori, Jeffrey Unemori (deceased), Kathleen (Rod) Wong and Scott Unemori (deceased). She also has six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She was a member of the Molokai UE club. Nancy supported her husband’s activities with the Molokai Lions Club along with many other local programs. As a dancer of Na Kupuna O Moana she made many new friends, traveled to different places and enjoyed her fun performances, never imagining the joy she would experience being on stage!…