Services for Kau'ilani Tadeo set for Thursday
By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
PAHOA, Hawai'i — A celebration of life for young homicide victim Kau'ilani Tiarau Lucas-Tadeo will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Hall in Pahoa.
Kau'ilani, 6, a first-grader at Keonepoko Elementary School, was found dead in a vacant home near her residence Sept. 27. A 14-year-old boy who lived nearby has been charged with murder and remains in custody.
The girl's parents, George and Tumata Tadeo, said their daughter was a bright girl who helped take care of her younger brother and loved to sing and dance hula.
Kau'ilani also is survived by her brothers, George Tava Tamatoa Tuki Lucas-Tadeo and Tihoti Hauura Tadeo; a stepsister, Teilre Iona-Tadeo; her grandparents, Max and Simone Mataurani Lucas of Texas, Remedios Reyes of Pahoa, and Julito and Melody Tadeo of Na'alehu; her great-grandparents, Marcella Lucas of Tahiti, Eugene and Claudie Haeraeraaroa of Tahiti, Santiago and Rosalia Tadeo of Pahoa, and Alfonso and Felias Labiano of Pahoa.
Following Thursday's celebration of life, friends and family may visit from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at the family's home, 15-168 Puni Kahakai in Hawaiian Beaches. Burial will follow at the Pahoa Catholic Cemetery.
Donations to the Tadeo family may be sent to "Friends of Kau'ilani Tadeo," c/o First Hawaiian Bank and PuaTahiti Productions, P.O. Box 10688, Hilo 96720.
PuaTahiti Productions is sponsoring a benefit concert for the family Oct. 19 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
Spokeswoman Pua Tokumoto said singing star Maruia of Tahiti will be among the entertainers volunteering their talents for the event. Her appearance at the fund-raiser is being co-sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines and the Hawai'i Naniloa Hotel. For more information on the concert, call Tokumoto at (808) 935-3002.
A separate benefit concert is planned for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Aloha Center near Pahoa village. For more information, call Ku'ulei Snyder at (808) 961-8533.
