About Us
The Diamond Head Difference
Since 1968, we have been honored to deliver healing experiences to our ohana on Oahu. We exist to serve the unique needs of every family. Learn our story. Lean on us. And let our expertise lead you through the best experience possible.
Our pledge
We’re here to give you care and comfort as we help guide you through the planning journey.
Our Story
We've learned a lot about caring for families over the years. We realize that we aren't just caring for a loved one, but the entire family. People come to us during their most difficult times, and we respond with kindness, understanding and expertise. Our goal is to make everyone feel at home as we work with them to create a memorable service in honor of a beautiful life.
Proudly serving Oahu for generations
Diamond Head Mortuary and Williams Funeral Services in partnership with Williams Funeral Services has been proudly providing funeral services on Oahu for generations. Diamond Head Mortuary and Williams Funeral Services carries on the tradition that started with the establishment of Williams Funeral Services in 1859, making it the oldest funeral service provider in Hawaii.
One-stop convenience
Our partnership with Valley of the Temples Memorial Park & Crematory allows us to offer the one-stop convenience of an expansive funeral home, cemetery and crematory.
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8K+
Legacies Honored
54
Years in Business
450K+
Moments Remembered
Our team
We're members of the local community who have many years of experience caring for families from all backgrounds and all walks of life. Families know they can count on us to provide them the comfort they need when they need it most.
J Dickinson
Community Service Supervisor
Ryan Santana
Family Service Advisor
Brian Baker
Family Service Advisor
Abel Carrasco
Family Service Advisor
Lindzey Ng
Family Service Advisor
Rob Hienaman
Community Service Advisor
Huseyin Guler
Family Service Advisor
Jane Tibuyen
Family Service Advisor
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Cindy Kawamura
Funeral Home Manager & Family Service Advisor
Cindy is a dedicated professional and cares deeply about Diamond Head Mortuary, the service level provided to that community and her teammates that work beside her with a common goal.
She was born in Hilo, on the Island of Hawaii, and later raised in Honolulu where she attended the University of Hawaii. Cindy later opened a restaurant in 1983, specializing in homemade cornbread, fresh fish daily, homemade soup/sandwich combos, & other local favorites. Her business was the first restaurant on island to offer "mini" plates, providing our smaller-appetite clients with reduced portion options.
Over the years she expanded to a lunch wagon and wholesale production. Her wholesale division grocery store deli departments daily. Cindy sold the restaurant in the economic downturn of 1993. She waited as a Catering\Supervisor for the US Navy @ Pearl Harbor. Cindy came to DHM on rotation, right after NorthStar acquired the Oahu businesses. At the time of acquisitions, she says that the preneed sales were almost non-existent because they depended on the AN walk-in traffic. The FA in residence never followed up with aftercare. The resident FA and the prior mortuary management never focused on PAF. Doing five AN arrangement daily had lulled them to sleep, believing it would never end. They did not see the value of planning ahead and the peace of mind it created, not to mention the job security for everyone. “Our mission is three-fold. First and foremost, it is our responsibility to care for our community.” Cindy told me with a tenacious look on look on her face. She went on that “what we do is part social worker, part financial planner, and a full-time resource are an integral part of our community when we care to make a difference every day- on the worst day for a family having lost a loved one.
“Every day, every family, one family at a time”. “Service should never be compromised.” “It is what separates us from our competitors. It is our responsibility to illustrate to our families the importance of celebrating a life well-lived.” Cindy had plenty to say on the subject but what stood out to me about her thoughts were around measuring the impact of a parent on any child is immense. Our values, our beliefs, our lives. Time well-spent, and memories created. Our work allows us to make a difference and truly serve our families. Service should never be compromised. It is what separates us from everyone else. Cindy went on to explain that our third responsibility to the living is to educate survivors on the value of advanced planning. The number one reason families prearrange is that they have recently been influenced by the arrangements of a family to protect those, they love. Advanced planning is the answer. How better to serve a family? Service should never be compromised. It is what separates us from everyone el ta>“Cindy said that she has been blessed to have served wonderful families over the years, and now she is able to serve a 2nd generation with their advanced planning.
In her off-time, Cindy has enjoyed international travel and the pursuit of good food and good fun.
E. Casey Rose
Managing Partner, Operations
Casey is a 4th generation Funeral Director who grew up in Paris, Texas and has over 30 years in our profession. Casey and his partner Walt recently celebrated their 23rd anniversary. They are both native Texans but are very grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Oahu! Casey & Walt embrace the Aloha Spirit and will work diligently to be worthy of such a beautiful people & place.
Casey is a graduate of Paris Junior College and a 1992 graduate of Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. He later attended The University of Texas at Arlington. Casey served his internship at Bakker Funeral Home in Eastland, Texas, receiving his Funeral Directors and Embalmers licenses in 1993. While in Eastland, Casey was active in the city fire department, earning both an Emergency Medical Technicians License and a Firefighting One certificate from Texas A&M University at College Station.
His first position as a licensed funeral director was with Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery in Lubbock, Tx. He moved to Dallas to become a funeral director at Grove Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park. While in Dallas, Casey was cited by the Dallas Morning News and the City for acts of heroism during floods in 1998 in southeast Dallas, receiving the Keys of the City from then Mayor Ron Kirk.
He later became regional marketing manager for Wilbert Burial Vaults, serving Texas and New Mexico. After two years, he accepted a position as assistant manager with Restland Funeral Home & Cemetery in Dallas, Texas’ largest funeral home. Casey & Walt moved back to their childhood home where Casey became a director of Gene Roden’s Sons Funeral Home and eventually being named operations manager of that firm in 2005. In 2006, Casey became an Owner and Operator of the Funeral Home which became Starrett-Rose Funeral Home. In 2008, after selling their interest in the funeral home Casey & Walt moved back to Dallas. Casey became a General Manager for several funeral homes and Funeral/Cemetery combination locations in the Texas DFW Metroplex, before moving here to the Pacific Northwest. Casey recently was the Managing Partner at Mountain View Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Tacoma, WA. While in Washington Casey served a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the Washington Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (WCCFA). Casey is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) & The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA).
Casey & Walt have served several communities in many ways – one as board members of Paris Habitat for Humanity, and chairs of the Heritage Tourism Committee for Visionaries in Preservation. Casey is passionate about the re-birth of cities downtown areas, historic & cultural preservation, and grief recovery to mention a few.
Jeff Short
Managing Partner, Family Service
Jeff has served in the funeral services profession for more than six years, always working to bring out the best in everyone around him while creating a culture of belief in each other and what we can accomplish as a team.
“Our team does not have limits or restrictions to what we can do to ensure a family's needs are met,” Jeff says. “We say 'yes' first and then find a way to make it happen. We encourage complete personalization and customization for every family and we pour our unique gifts and talents into every service."
“I love having the opportunity to work with the most dedicated, hardworking, and positive-minded champions you will find in any profession. Our team is fiercely committed to providing caring and compassionate service to every family. We believe in building lasting legacies and are empowered to do whatever it takes as we continue to shine as a beacon of hope in and through our community.”
Deborah Kamakana
Family Service Supervisor
With 18 years of experience, Deborah is a fiercely committed individual, who is passionate about helping families pre-plan their legacy. Based on her integrity and pride for helping others, she has been serving families for almost two decades and has humbly earned an impeccable reputation for outstanding service.
“When you have the heart to serve and help others, you unlock something of you.” – Reuben Morgan.
As a Managing Partner in Family Service, the foundation of her leadership consists of simple values, serve from the heart, take care of the family, and the rest is bound to follow.
“I am very fortunate to be a part of an elite sales team, who shares the same passion, commitment, and values as I do. We are a unit, whose goals are to take care of the families we encounter as if they were our own. It is our sincere honor to be able to offer our services with the utmost care and compassion.”
Cherie Akina
Cemetery and Funeral Home Office Manager
Cherie brings over 20 years of experience to her role at Diamond Head Mortuary, Hawaiian Memorial Park and Valley of The Temples, where she manages the administrative team, provides support to the family services team, and works alongside the Managing Partner of Operations on various projects.
What Cherie enjoys most about her role is being able to help members of her community deal with the loss of a loved one.
We illuminate paths to peace with personalized ceremonies and memorial tributes that honor your loved one.
What Families Are Saying
Aloha. The staff at Diamond Head Mortuary along with the staff at Valley of The Temples have been nothing short of excellent. Extremely professional in every aspect. I would definitely recommend Diamond Head Mortuary as a place for our loved ones who have gone before us. Mahalo for everything. Michael Pearson
Author: Michael Pearson rated with 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Jesse Welsh did a great job at the burial and at the chapel Celebration of Life. He reminded me of things to do...but gave me the freedom to do things at my own pace. He was very helpful. So were the staff, Cindy and Rey.
Author: Norrin Lau rated with 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
On behalf of my entire ohana, grateful mahalos to Deenie and her assistants, Erin & Tante for making my mother's service in March an awesome and peaceful event! Deenie was so very wonderful from helping us through our sadness for mom from the service to even at the burial. Much Aloha to you, Deenie and Diamond Head Mortuary!
Author: J Murray rated with 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Thank you to Cynthi, Erin and Rey for helping me put my wife’s celebration of life. You guys did a great job!!! Thank you again
Author: Aaron Young rated with 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I wanted to give a big "Mahalo" to Azure for helping me prepare for the inevitable. Finding the perfect plot and funeral service plan was easy with Azure, who was very patient and helpful. She answered all my questions, and basically guided me through the entire process without a glitch.
Author: Al Egan rated with 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Director Deenie Sampaio and Staff Associate Rey Dagdagan were excellent. They were very professional and attentive. Many compliments were brought forth by guests. Thank You!
Author: Roberta Degracia rated with 5 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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Join us
We offer a healthy work/life balance and invite ideas and innovation. Diamond Head Mortuary and Williams Funeral Services is where our team members' purpose and passion unite.