Michele Malani Momi Arakaki, 80, of Hilo died Feb. 17 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hilo, she was a manager for McDonalds and the former Karaoke Box and a YMCA member. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday (April 5) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by husband, Garfield Arakaki of Hilo; children, Dyson (Michelle) Arakaki of Keaau and Lou-Ann (Channing) Tokeshi of Mountain View; brothers, Molyneaux “Joe” Henderson of Hilo, Ivan (Carol) Nakashima of Maui, Alden (Susan) Henderson) and Elden “Rocko” (Rob Coutts) Henderson of Oahu, Aaron (Iris) Henderson of Honolulu, Marvin “Pee Wee” Henderson, Darrin (Jenelle) Henderson and Shane (Shari) Henderson of Oahu; sisters, Maureen “Mona” (Michael) Oliver of California, Alison Uehara and Jamie (Paul) Dunlap of Oahu, Sharon Graves of Florida, Carmella (Earl) Long of Washington, Dawnzy Ogo of Guam; sister-in-law, Helen Henderson of Hilo; brother-in-law, Carey (Mary Look) Arakaki of Kurtistown; three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter; an aunt, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Alan Kiyomori Arakaki, 64, of Hilo died Feb. 21. Born in he retired from Oahu Sales, was a member of the Plumbers-Fitters UA Local 675 and taught refrigeration classes at Honolulu Community College. Celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: homelanimemorialpark.com. Survived by wife, Debra “Debi” Arakaki; stepdaughters, Heather Clarke and Stephanie (Nathaniel “Nate”) Letro; brother, Alton (Lisa) Arakaki; sisters, Joy Arakaki and Jayne (Rick) Arakaki; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Memorial Park.

James “Kimo” Stanley Hodgins Jr., 82, of Waimea died Feb. 25. Born in Lihue, Kauei, he was retired from Hawaii Electric Light Co., member of Lions and Civitan Clubs blood donor for the Blood Bank of Hawaii; volunteered for the Liquor Commission, was on the delivery collection team for the Office of Elections and a U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. Private services held. Survived by wife, V. June Hodgins; sons, Kimo (Rose) Hodgins and Peter (Kayla) Hodgins; sister, Deborah (Gus) Garcia; three grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Craig Alexander Kuegler, 71, of Pahoa died March 17 at home. Born in Glen Cove, N.Y., he was a farmer. Private services held. Survived by sons, Waylon (Abigayle) Kuegler of Pahoa, Jesse (Danielle Kealoha) Kuegler of Montana, Ace Baldwin of California and Gulliver Brown of Kona; hanai sons, Soloman (Jessica) Swart of Hilo and Adam McAnish of Oregon; hanai daughter, Maggie (Jon) Roberts of Keaau; sister, Carol (Jerry) Blackburn of New York; six grandchildren; nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Harue Ono, 94, of Hilo died March 8 at Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center. Born in Hilo, she was a retired registered nurse for the former Hilo Hospital. Private services held. No koden (monetary gifts). Survived by son, Rodney (Sunok) Ono of Hilo; daughter, Arleen (John) Ono-Desa of Hilo; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

Dustin O’Toole, 56, of Hawaii Island died March 16. No known family. Survivors are asked to call Hilo Benioff Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.

Robert Pratt, 76, of Hilo died Feb. 8 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Surviving relatives please call Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo at (808) 935-8445.

Catherine V. Zamora, 53, of Kailua-Kona, died March 11 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in the Philippines, she was a food and beverage cashier at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Visitation 4-6 p.m. Thursday (April 3) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 6 p.m. Visitation 8-9 a.m. Friday (April 4) at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No 2. Light-colored casual attire. Survived by husband, Almar Zamora of Kailua-Kona; son, Alika Zamora of Kailua-Kona; parents, Nicanor and Nancy Valiente of Philippines; brother, Noel Valiente of Waimea; sisters, Noeme Valiente of Waikoloa and Lilly (Keith) Germain of Waimea; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

A bill that would provide funding for Hawaii Island Community Health Center to expand the reach of its services to about 55,000 patients yearly is making its way through the state Legislature.

The $80 million in special purpose revenue bonds sought by House Bill 341 would help HICHC purchase or lease land to develop four additional health care facilities.

The additional 32 new primary care exam rooms across the four new sites would offer the ability to serve 15,000 more patients a year, according to HICHC estimates.

“By issuing special purpose revenue bonds, the state of Hawaii can facilitate the construction of much-needed new primary care infrastructure without imposing undue financial strain on taxpayers,” said HICHC President and CEO Richard Taaffe.

Currently, HICHC serves 40,000 patients annually — 60% of whom are Medicaid beneficiaries — through the 25 sites it operates islandwide, the nonprofit said in its statement of support for the bill.

“Hawaii Island Community Health Center plays a pivotal role in providing comprehensive, affordable and accessible primary health care to residents who often face significant barriers to receiving timely medical attention,” Taaffe said. “The current limitations in health care infrastructure — whether due to geographic isolation, financial constraints or other shortages — underscore the necessity of supporting this expansion effort.”

The bill — which was introduced in the House by Rep. Nicole Lowen of Kona in mid-January and transferred to the Senate on the last day of February — received support from the Hawaii Primary Care Association and Aloha Care at multiple readings, along with a private citizen, Daisy Chung, who provided additional testimony in support on Friday.

“This is particularly important for underserved areas on Hawaii Island, where access can be limited,” Chung said. “By supporting HB 341, we are investing in the health and well-being of our community, reducing health care disparities, and promoting a healthier future for all.”

According to HICHC’s expansion goals, the first proposed development would be a new 45,000-square-foot facility in North Kona offering medical, dental, behavioral health, specialty care and a pharmacy. Additionally, a new 10,000-square-foot primary health facility serving Pahoa and neighboring Puna communities would be built with the funds.

The funding also would allow for a 10,000-square-foot building in Hilo to be converted from an administrative space into a “one-stop primary health care facility for women’s health, pediatric care and family medicine,” according to HICHC.

Finally, a building in Na‘alehu that was a six-bedroom plantation house would be repurposed using the funds to offer housing for health care workers at HICHC’s medical and dental clinic there, Taaffe said.

The funding potentially obtained through this legislation also would support additional projects HICHC plans to establish in the future, such as the expansion of school-based clinics, an expansion of a dental clinic in Keaau, and renovations to other existing facilities, Taaffe said.

“Our goal is to increase access to primary care islandwide,” Taaffe said.

Email Kyveli Diener at kdiener@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Hawaii County police officer has finished jogging across Italy.

Officer Michael Abran was one of about 80 law enforcement torch runners for the Special Olympics Winter Games earlier this month.

The 15-year veteran was the only officer from Hawaii.

He was chosen for his more than a decade of volunteering and coaching bocce ball and track and field athletes.

The department said he first got involved with the Special Olympics while serving in the Kona Community Policing Section. He also participated in the Badges and Buckets event, known previously as Cop on Top, were off-duty police officers and Special Olympic athletes would raise awareness and funding for Special Olympics Hawaii events.

Abran said it was a challenge running in 20 degree weather and snow.

“The air was seemed a little thinner, kind of like when you’re on top of Mauna Kea, your fingertips to get a little numb,” Abran said. “The most memorable part of it is visiting the different cities and getting to carry that torch with an athlete to run into those cities and to be in the events.”

Abran will be running in a torch run in Kona on April 26, and again on May 3 in Hilo before the Special Olympics Track meet.

His cousin Sean is a Special Olympics weightlifter from Kamuela.

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