LACA Members 
Who Have Passed on 2017

Sally Montecillo
Ernie Barroga, Sr.
Sally Herologa
Gustancia Connie Amoncio Roach
Magdalena Ballesteros Talon
Patrick Viela
Takeo Yamato
Josephine Suetos Haupu
Elizabeth Jean Piena
Mitsuko Kurashige Matsuda
Domingo Alboro, Sr.
Ted Arsenio Perez
Adeline Viduya Uyeda
William D. Wilkinson

Congratulations! are in order for Patrick Obado and his wife Billye Cashman. Both retired at the same time in October. Patrick retired from Mid Pacific Steel, Inc. and Billye retired from Kamehameha Schools. I asked my brother if he will be traveling now… he said he does his traveling via The Discovery Channel. Sorry, Lance Nobui… although retired, still not going to be easy to get him to even attend LACA. Patrick thanks three teachers that laid the foundation toward his successful career: Mrs. Helen Fujii (Math), Mr. Stanley Oshima (Science), and Mrs. Molly Sakamoto.

Submitted by Gloria Obado Reyes

Naha ke kanaka, ka hale o ke aloha.

Broken is man, the house of love.

One is grieved by the death of a beloved. 
(‘Olelo Noeau 2210)

Keenan Kim

Sinaide Pascua Dugay

Augustina Acoba

Royalene Mamo Fernandez

Lionel Mano Sr.

Randy Piena

Liberato Viduya, Jr.

Donna Shin

Frank Sarocam

Michael Del Rosario

In August, the Class of 1968 bid Aloha and Rest In Peace to classmate Michael Del Rosario.  Michael was one of the class “kolohe” guys who always had a ready smile and story to share.  He gave instructions that he didn’t want a sad service, thus his family and friends did their best to laugh and smile.  Despite being an average student in high school, Michael earned all of his educational degrees in education after the age of 50.  He found his passion in teaching subjects like math to science to computers at several Honolulu schools including the Argosy University.  About a dozen fellow classmates gathered at his service to recall his basketball playing years for Lana’i High and his love of sharing jokes and pranks.  A hui hou, Mike RIP – you were one of the Block 35 kids – mahalo for the good times! 

It’s Not the Length of Life; It’s the Depth of Life: In memory of Liberato “Libby” Viduya, Jr.  (1937 – 2016)

Liberato “Libby” Viduya, Jr. of Pearl City passed away peacefully on January 8, 2016 at Kaiser Hospital surrounded by his loving wife, Loretta and their family.  He was 78 years old.  Libby was born on February 15, 1937 in Lanai City, the second child and first son of Loreta Caluya and Liberato Viduya, Sr. who predeceased him.  His memorial service was held on February 26, 2016 at the Mililani Mauka Chapel, Oahu.  In loving tribute, at the Mililani burial site, many of the Lanaians sang the high school alma mater led by Monica Cockett.

Libby attended Lanai High and Elementary School and is an alumnus of the Class of 1955.  Through the decades, he and his classmates have remained life-long friends.  From Libby’s freshman to senior year, Mr. Kengo Takata, an agriculture teacher who later assumed the position of Department of Education (DOE) Deputy Superintendent of Schools, was Libby’s Future Farmers of America speech coach and mentor.  With gratitude to Mr. Takata and an endorsement from the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, Libby’s oratorical presentation of “Soil, the Stepping Stone to Freedom” in Kansas City won first place in the national contest.

Libby had a special affection for Lanai and its people.  As the offspring of immigrant parents from the Phillipines, Libby’s humble pineapple plantation upbringing became the foundation of his life’s journey.  He never forgot being fostered with the Lanai spirit of aloha and the goodhearted kinship with one another.

While attending the University of Hawaii, Libby worked at two and three part-time jobs.  He was active in the university’s student government affairs on campus.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and a Master’s degree in Education Administration.  Libby’s educational achievements enhanced his public service career for 45 years in various positions with the DOE as the Leeward District Superintendent, the Central District Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the State of Hawaii, counselor for the disadvantaged, teacher at Lanai High & Elementary School, principal at various elementary schools (Nanaikapono, Ewa Beach, Aiea, Waialua, and Mililani), and the Farrington High Community School for Adults.  Teaching was his passion.  He also taught as an adjunct instructor for 20 years at Chaminade College.

With humility, Libby accepted awards which were presented to him from New York to Kansas to Hawaii and a military award in Washington, D.C.  Libby served for 15 years on the board of directors for the Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union and was a lifetime member of the Lanai Alumni & Community Association (LACA).

Libby is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, the former Loretta Canida, daughter Liamarie Ligaya Thomas (Dale), grandchildren: Tyler, Brittany and Tamara; nephews: Aaron and Gavin Canida; sisters: Rosita Hueu (Jacob), Adeline Uyeda (Sidney –deceased); and brother Robert Viduya, Col. USA Ret.