Melvin Tadashi Funai's Obituary
Melvin Tadashi Funai, 90, passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Born in 1933 to Francis and Madeline Funai, Mel, or “Tadash” to his brothers Donald and James “Jimmy,” grew up in Palolo Valley in Honolulu.
Mel graduated in 1951 from Saint Louis College and then attended the University of Hawaii where he studied Engineering for two years. He enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean war and was Honorably Discharged after serving for three years. Mel then worked at the City and County of Honolulu as a Land Survey Technician and was eventually promoted to Crew Chief capping a 40-year career. He also worked part time as a banquet bartender for the Ilikai Hotel and later for the Ala Moana Hotel.
Mel loved traveling with his wife Lorraine, relatives, and friends across the country and abroad. He and Lorraine made many trips to the East Coast with his parents to visit older brother, Donald and his family in Virginia. Mel especially loved Las Vegas and, starting in the early 1970s, visited several times a year, where he and Lorraine knew their way around like it was their second home. They made many, many good friends while staying at their favorite California Hotel and saw them on regularly scheduled trips for the Superbowl and Thanksgiving.
Mel was a loving husband and father and a kind and generous friend with a quick smile and funny joke. He loved his family fiercely and always put other people first. He will be missed enormously by those who knew and loved him.
Mel is survived by his wife, Lorraine, sons Brian and Wesley, daughter Pamela (Randal Ikeda), and 5 grandchildren.
A private service was held for family at the end of June. Thank you to all who have expressed your condolences, we are grateful that you were part of Mel’s life.
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