April Goya Obituary

APRIL HARUMI IKEHARA GOYA April Harumi Ikehara Goya, 66 of Kaneohe, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2023 with her family by her side at the home of her sister in Vancouver, WA. April was born on April 24, 1957 in Honolulu, the daughter of Thomas and Emily Ikehara. She graduated from Hilo High School in 1975, then from California State University Fresno in 1983 with a BSN in Nursing. April worked at St. Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, CA in the oncology unit until mid-1984. Upon her return to Hawaii to help Mom care for Dad, April worked at St. Francis Medical Center in Honolulu, also in the oncology unit. In 1986, April jumped at the opportunity to work for Dr. Kevin Loh as his chemotherapy RN. Dr. Loh's practice and partnership was later named Hawaii Hematology Oncology, then renamed to OnCare Hawaii. Today the company is known as Hawaii Oncology, Inc. In her 30 years there, April managed the chemotherapy unit, scheduled staff education, oversaw billing and financial assistance departments, and considered herself extremely fortunate to have worked with extraordinary oncologists, hematologists and nurse practitioners. In 2016, April discovered her real calling and went to work at Hospice Hawaii, first as a case and patient care manager, then as the facilities manager at their Kailua Home. The company is known today as Navian Hawaii. April and Kent married in February 1989. She was very devoted to and very involved in her children's activities; PTSA at Kaneohe Elementary, AYSO soccer and Boy Scouts, to name a few -- once having to pick one of them up at camp out in the boonies to get to a soccer game in town, and then back to camp. She was a faithful member of both Hilo and Harris UMCs, and taught Sunday School at Harris UMC for several years. She was a strong ally of the LGBTQ+ community and recognized PFLAG as the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. When time allowed, April loved to bead, and made hundreds of bracelets, necklaces and earrings mostly to be given to others; patients, coworkers, family & friends and occasionally for herself. She especially loved to share beading with others, teaching both children and adults to create their own pieces to wear. She was quite the craftsperson. One of her favorite dogs (she/we always had at least one dog) was her shih tzu Hobbes. April also loved to watch Korean food and travel shows, and eventually learned all seven members' names from BTS. Those who will miss April most include her mother Emily Ikehara, husband Kent, their daughter Asuka and companion Nicole, son Mackenzie and husband Ferlino, brother Walter (Karen) Ikehara, sister Laura (Greg) Ikehara-Martin, nieces and nephews, aunties, cousins, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and a host of close friends. April is reunited in Heaven with her father Thomas and brother Ronald. Services to celebrate April's life will be held: In Hilo on Saturday June 24, 2023 at Hilo United Methodist Church, 374 Waianuenue Ave. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:00 a.m., service at 11:00. In Honolulu on Saturday July 1, 2023 at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:00 a.m., service at 11:00. April will be inurned at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe. Tributes to April may be left on her web page at caringbridge.org.