Alfredo ‘Ped’ Cabacungan
Alfredo “Ped” Cabacungan, of Waipi‘o, passed away peacefully on Feb. 24, 2025, at the age of 85 years. Born in Makaweli, Kaua‘i and raised in Kaumakani on Sept. 10, 1939, graduated from Waimea High School, Kaua‘i, attended University of Southern California — Los Angeles and the University of Hawai‘i Kapi‘olani Community College.
Alfredo began his professional chefs training as a dishwasher on his home island in 1959 at a tiny resort, the Wailua Ranch Hotel, which had the first full-service restaurant on the island. He started at the hotel peeling and cutting vegetables and worked his way up. Alfredo’s parents hail from northern Luzon, though, and he was a well-traveled student (and eater) of Filipino cuisine.
From 1964 and 1994, he rose through the ranks at resorts and restaurants including the Coco Palms, Kauai Surf Resort and the Waiohai Resort Hotel on Kaua‘i; John Dominis (which he opened in 1979) and Wai‘alae Country Club on O’ahu, the Sheraton Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel on Maui and the Orchid Penang Hotel in Malaysia.
Alfredo was chosen to work under European chefs at the Kauai Surf Hotel and Coco Palms Resort. With the experience and skills, he acquired, Alfredo opened “Alfredo’s” his own restaurant. Shortly thereafter, he sold the restaurant and moved to Honolulu to help open the John Dominis Seafood Restaurant in 1979. He was the first executive chef there.
After two years at John Dominis, Alfredo moved back to Kauai as an Executive Chef at the Waiohai Hotel. Once more he was offered an opportunity to broaden his expertise. He went to Malaysia where he worked in a continental restaurant. There he learned to prepare local dishes from the employees. Not one to let an opportunity slip by, he traveled extensively learning to cook Indonesian and Thai foods.
After a year, Alfredo returned to Honolulu and worked at the Waialae Country Club for two years. In 1985 he moved to Maui and worked at the Sheraton Hotel. Since then, he has traveled to the mainland to open a John Dominis Restaurant, back to Honolulu to work for the Perry Smorgy’s restaurants and even spent a summer in Italy, learning to cook Italian food.
In 1994, he joined the staff at the Kap‘iolani Community College. His areas of teaching specialization are Asian-Pacific, fusion, Pacific-rim and Hawai’i Regional Cuisine.
Alfredo retired as a Chef-Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Food Service and Hospitality Education Department, Culinary Arts, for the University of Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College. He represented the college as an exchange scholar in China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand to develop international partnerships with countries eager to learn Western culinary arts.
Alfredo’s said, “I find that I like teaching, especially to young students who might be working as chefs in hotels and fine restaurants someday.”
He is also an inveterate collector of cookbooks and combed through them to find these recipes in response to reader requests. Alfredo enjoyed hunting especially on Kaua’i and Lanai, he had the act of tracking, scouting, and preparing for a hunt, he found it to be incredibly rewarding, stamps and antique collecting, as well as reading, fishing, sports, especially football.
Preceded in death by mother Epifania Cabebe Cabcungan and father Alejandro Cabacungan, brother Rudolph Cabacungan, sisters Dolores Raymundo, Carol Espino.
He is survived by his wife Aurelia N. Cabacungan, daughters Sonya (John Anthony) Cabacungan of Kekaha, Tina (Eric) Unciano of Ele’ele, sons Alfredo A. Cabacungan, Alfred (Chikako) Cabacungan of Okinawa Japan, stepchildren Lowena (Ferdinand) Bunag of Granada Hills California, Russell Ibera of Waipi‘o, grandchildren Chastity Hada, Taylor Cabacungan, Waiyan Cabacungan, Issa Cabacungan, Aito Cabacungan, Meena Aurelia Bunag, Jianna Bunag, cherished great-grandchild Hunter Alexander Kostjuk who will carry on his memories; and numerous loving nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and friends.
A Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at The Resurrection of the Lord Catholic Church 94-1260 Lumikula St., Waipahu, HI 96797. Mass service will begin at 10 a.m. An interment will follow at 1:30 p.m., join family at Mililani Memorial Park & Mortuary at Ka Uka Blvd, Waipahu, HI 96797.
Edee Leimomi Poai Bandmann
Edee Leimomi Poai Bandmann passed away peacefully on March 4, 2025, at the age of 78.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Kauai Veterans Center on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
In Loving Memory of Gabrielle Olivier Dorman
November 26,1937 — March 2, 2025
Gabrielle has returned home to Heaven, now resting peacefully alongside those who passed on before her — including her beloved parents, Vincent and Amy Olivier, and her firstborn son, Grant Armstrong.
She leaves behind her devoted and loving husband of 40 years, Rob Olivier Dorman, her cherished son Aaron Armstrong and his wife Tanya, her grandchildren: Lacey, Jesse, Chad, and Charley, along with a growing legacy of great-grandchildren, who will all carry her distinct special memory forward through time.
Gabrielle truly led an exemplary inspiring Wonder-Full Life, fulfilling all her many dreams and countless endeavors, always giving and receiving respect with Aloha. And…. glowing with her always noticed effervescent smile. Prior to arriving in paradise on Molokai — 1977, she co-owned and managed a restaurant, antique store and art gallery. On all Hawaiian Islands, she excelled at her own successful design/decorating business completing work on numerous estates, homes, condos, commercial properties, and restaurants plus sharing her talents with the Monks at the renowned Hindu Monastery on the Garden Island of Kaua’i. She worked for many years with two local furniture stores on all aspects of the business from sales, advertising store layout, to producing the commercials for print and television. She co-founded the Kaua’i Design Center in Kapa’a. Many of her design projects have been featured in numerous international, national and local publications. Gabrielle practiced at different times: TM, ashtanga yoga, tai chi and fencing.
Gabrielle is a poet laureate and former board member of Poets for Integrity where she published more than 600 thought provoking powerful poems. She studied numerous religions and spiritual paths in her quest to discover “Truths That Don’t Lie”. She wrote many spiritual Holiday messages for the Mayor of Maui. Self-published three inspiring books. Learned filmmaking with Ho’ike Community Television becoming a board member on Kaua’i. Then, co-produced four documentaries with her husband. Gabrielle was a member of the Interior Design Society, and a member of the Kaua’i Society of Artists. She painted for about 50 years on canvas and silk, featuring a series of beautiful Hawaiian Angels.
Over four decades, Gabrielle co-partnered with her husband on their specialized Travel Agency catering mostly to celebrity guests on all islands. With an appearance on the Emmy award winning TV show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in 1985. Additionally, appearing on two segments for the Travel Channel.
Mahalo to: Aaron, Tanya, Cheryl, Lisa, Paula, Scott, Joanne, Richard, Dr. Scheppers
Gabrielle’s Celebration of a Wonder-Full Life, Service: May 25, 2025, 3 p.m. Church of the Pacific in Princeville… Potluck sharing to follow.
Annette ‘Nette’ Ku‘ulei Manaday
Annette “Nette” Ku’ulei Manaday, 72, of Summerlin, Nevada, passed away at home on Nov. 12, 2024. She was born on June 1, 1952, in Lihue, Kauai. She graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1970. She worked as a Medical Records Manager at Wilcox Hospital. After retiring, she also managed Kalaheo Medical Clinic and Pacific Eye Center.
She was preceded in death by her parents Dora and Joseph K. Contrades Jr., brothers Maurice Contrades and Thomas Contrades, sisters Patricia Happek and Monica Contrades.
She is survived by her loving husband Steven Manaday, brothers Stanley Contrades and Robert Contrades, sisters Susan (Dennis) Brooks, Therese Stazkow, and Lisa (Daniel) DeRosiers.
A service will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at St. Raphael Church in Koloa. Visitation from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., followed by Mass at 10 a.m. Private burial at a later date. The family requests aloha attire.