91, of Honolulu, an Army veteran and retired tour driver, passed away on May 12, 2020 at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by his wife, Helen; daughters, Clarene (Rex) Mitsunaga, Sharon (Collin) Tanabe, Karen (Brian) Pang and Gail Shimotsu (Gary Oshiro); sisters, Jane Isobe and Jean Rosalez; grandchildren, Cara, Dean, Tyler, Carlton and Brandi; and great-grandson, Mason. Private services were held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
Hiroshi Matsumoto
88, of Honolulu, a Korean War Army veteran and retired loan officer for Central Pacific Bank, passed away on May 30, 2020 at home. He was born in Paauhau, Hawaii. He is survived by his wife, Helen; daughters, Lynn (Lincoln) Oshiro and Lois Matsumoto; brother, Donald (Carol); sisters, Jane Osako, Yoshie Okada, Hideko Miyashiro, Alice (Henry) Nakahodo and Arline Matsumoto; and by grandchildren, Jake and Samantha Oshiro. Private services were held.
Bert Atsushi Matsuura
75, of Honolulu, passed away on May 3, 2020. Born in Lahaina, Maui. He owned McCully Stamp & Coin for over 35 years. He is survived by his daughters, Karen (Rey) Prado, Ann (Mario) Mata, Sara (Mitch) Berry, and Sally Matsuura; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Private services to be held.
Marylyn Satsuki Kira
98, of Pearl City, passed away on May 23, 2020. Born in Honolulu, she was a retired Pearl City Tavern Cook. Preceded in death by husband, Kumahiro, she is survived by her sons, Steven (Grace) and David Kira; grand- children, Scott, Dean and Megan Kira. Private services held. Family requests no koden.
Joel Yoshiyuki Fujita
100, of Honolulu, also known as Yoyan, a retired Sign Painter with the State of Hawaii, passed away on June 4, 2020. He was born and raised in Ewa and a Veteran of the 442 Regimental Combat Team, Headquarters Company. He is survived by son, Cedric (Debbie); daughter, Cynthia (Chester) Hughes; and grandchildren, Ariel and Rachel Fujita, Ian and Zachary Hughes. Private burial. Celebration of Life to be held at a later date. Please email JOELYFUJITA@gmail.com for information.
Tomiko Kitahata Fujitani
At age 96, succumbing to old age and Alzheimer's disease, Tomi passed away peacefully on March 13, 2020. Born and raised in Southern California, Tomi was a graduate of Excelsior Union High School in Norwalk, Class of 1941. Her cousins remember that as a child she was athletic and independent: she tap danced and could even steer the slop truck at age nine on her parents' hog farm in Artesia.
During WWII, Tomi and her family were interned at the Jerome, Arkansas camp. Following their release, the Kitahatas headed to Chicago to pursue trade and job opportunities. Tomi became a hairdresser.
She married Yoshiaki Fujitani in 1949, when he was a student at the University of Chicago, and followed him to Kyoto where he completed his studies to become a Hongwanji minister.
As a bomori, the minister's wife, Tomi developed many talents, including teaching herself to play the temple organ at their first assignment in Wailuku. Gracious, generous, and accomplished in ikebana and sumie, Tomi was an ideal partner to support her minister husband in serving the temple community on Maui and the statewide Hongwanji organization as the Bishop's wife.
She is survived by her husband of 70 years; three children: Pat (Jonathan) Holmes, Stephen (Souvaly), and Maya Togashi; and six grandchildren: Gen, Ke'ala and Kiyomi Fujitani and Akemi, Satsu and Akira Holmes.
Grandma Tomi loved children, and besides her own she helped raise two of her grandchildren-one completing a Master of Public Health and the other earning a law degree. We'll miss her a lot.
Services tentatively set for March 2021.
Betty Fumiko Hirozawa
Betty Fumiko Hirozawa, 90, born January 7, 1930 in Hilo, passed away unexpectedly on March 23, 2020. She was a graduate of St. Andrew's Priory and received a degree from Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She spent her entire career at Hawaii Employers Council, retiring as Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. In addition to serving on the Board of Castle & Cooke, she was an avid volunteer - giving her time, talent and treasure to St. Andrew's Schools, Aloha United Way, Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union, The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Women's Society, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, YWCA, Industrial Relations Research Association, Society of Human Resources Management, Institute for Human Services, Cornell University, Neighborhood Justice Center and the Administrative Review Board at Veteran's Administration - Tripler.
Betty was predeceased by her parents, Kanichi and Midori Fujii, and her husband, Shurei Hirozawa. She is survived by her 3 children, Gail, Joan (Jerry - Jake/Joey) Fujita, and Robert (Yukiko - Jewel/Joshua).
Memorial service to be announced at a later date.
Florence Tokie Takanishi
90, of Honolulu, passed away on March 18, 2020. Born in Kapaa, Kauai, she was a homemaker. Preceded in death by husband, Danny Takanishi, Sr. and daughter, Shirley Sasaki, she is survived by her son, Dr. Danny (Gayle) Takanishi, Jr.; two grand- children; brother, Raymond (Naomi) Shimamoto; sister, Janet Chong;, and son-in-law, Lester Sasaki. Private services held.
Florence Misao Kinimaka
91, of Aiea, passed away on March 24, 2020. She was born on January 27, 1929 in Honolulu, HI. She retired from JC Penney- Pearlridge in 1991.
Florence was preceded in death by husband David Thomas Kinimaka Sr. and daughter, Rebecca Yara. She is survived by daughters Cathy Kanehiro (Mark Miura), Kinia LaRose (Arthur), sons Hartwell, Jerry (Elvira), David, Jr., Matthew, and Dickie (Bernie) Kinimaka; 26 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Nieces and Nephews.
Burial Services are Open to the Public at Hawaiian Memorial Park on June 20,2020 at 1:00pm.
Takeshi Noji
Takeshi Noji, 95 of Honolulu, passed away on April 10, 2020. He was born in Kekaha, Kauai and retired after many years of service for the Federal Government in Okinawa, Japan. He was an Army Veteran who served with the 442 Regimental Combat Team, Cannon Company. He is survived by two daughters, Naomi (Glen) Lau, Joyce (Brian) Wong and 3 grandchildren. Private Services will be held at a later date.