Obituaries

Thursday, August 13, 1998

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Masayuki Tokioka
dies at age 101

By Michelle Cournoyer
Star-Bulletin

Masayuki Tokioka helped many immigrants rise from plantations and fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams by providing financial backing when no one else would. Tokioka died at age 101 in his Kaimuki home Aug. 2. At his family's request, notice of his death was not publicized while they honored him in private services.

The quiet, unassuming Japanese businessman loaned millions of dollars to thousands of young entrepreneurs. Many of them had little or no collateral, says George Engebretson, author of Tokioka's biography, "A Century of Trust."

The companies he founded and owned include National Mortgage and Finance Co. Ltd., International Savings and Loan and Island Insurance Co., Hawaii's only locally owned insurance company.

"He was generous in the criteria he used to make loans," said Island Insurance President Wayne Arakaki. "He used to make loans primarily based on character and ideas."

Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1897, Tokioka boarded the Chiyu Maru with his mother to join the rest of the family in Honolulu. The 12-year-old immigrant attended Kaahumanu School and graduated from McKinley High School in 1921. He went on to graduate from the University of Hawaii and then became the first Japanese American to get a degree from Harvard Business School.

After returning to Honolulu, he began his professional career at International Trust and started building his own businesses.

He chose members of the powerful plantation oligarchy and local Japanese banking powerhouses as partners -- a stunning feat during World War II, when anti-Japanese sentiment permeated the nation.

He is credited with reviving the Japanese Chamber of Commerce after the war. His community-based business philosophy led him to take on instrumental roles in building the Makiki Christian Church and the Japanese Cultural and Trade Centers in Honolulu and San Francisco.

He insisted his employees treat him as a co-worker.

"In spite of his traditional Japanese style, that stern adherence to discipline, inside he had a real soft spot for people," said Tsuneo Tanaka, an Island Insurance employee for 42 years who retired on company profit shares. "The discipline he gave us was really Japanese style, but his fairness was American style."

He is survived by his wife Harue, sons Lionel and Franklin, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Alton J.S. “Bundy” Anderson, 23, of Kailua, died Aug. 2 in Kapiolani Hospital at Pali Momi. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by son Justin Gusman; daughters Celine L.K. Brown-Anderson and Mahealani Gusman; mother Antoinette; brothers Andrew, Anthony and Alfred Anderson and Anson Fernandez; sister Leitina, and fiancee Carrie Gusman. Services: 11:30 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

Mieko Beckers, 71, of Honolulu, died Saturday in Kuakini Hospital. She was born in Osaka, Japan. She is survived by husband Gerald. Services: 11:30 a.m. Monday at Sacred Hearts Church on Wilder Avenue. Call after 10:30 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire.

Robert A.H. Chang was 89. Incorrect information for an obituary published Tuesday was provided by the mortuary.

Rose A. Costales, 78, of Waimea, Hawaii, a retired licensed practical nurse, died Tuesday in North Hawaii Community Hospital. She was born in Michigan. She is survived by sons Tommy Thompson and Joseph, Richard and Henry Costales; daughters Bonnie Rivera, Kathy J. Nelson, Alexis Stern, Dorothy Thompson, Betty Candida, Josephine Bautista, Dolores Corpuz and Frances Viloria; a brother; four sisters, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorial Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Honokaa Catholic Church. Casual attire. No flowers.

Ramona Espina, 40, of Ewa Beach died July 30 at home. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by father Alberto; brother Gonzalo; sisters Dianne Miller and Yvonne Medina, and caregiver Chris. Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 91-1004 North Road in Ewa Beach. Call after 9:15 a.m. Burial: Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City. Aloha attire.

Don Lum Goo, 98, of Honolulu died Aug. 5 in Maluhia Hospital. She was born in Chung Shan, China. She is survived by sons Kim Ming, Charley Tai Chock and Shih Hung; daughters Alice Kam, Shock Yee Lee and Dorothy Mow; 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. Chinese Buddhist services: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Federico C. Gregorio, 81, of Waipahu, a rice farmer, died July 27 in St. Francis-West Hospital. He was born in the Philippines. He is survived by wife Eusebia M.; sons Federico Jr., Edison and Nelson; daughters Pacita Manuel and Elma Gregorio; stepdaughter Susana Medrano; sister Irene Bernabe, and 10 grandchildren. Services: 7 p.m. Monday at Oahu Cemetery Chapel, 2162 Nuuanu Ave. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Cremation to follow. Casual attire. No flowers.

George Y. Hanzawa, 72, of Wahiawa, a retired carpenter, died Monday in Kahuku Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Beatrice; son George; daughters Ida Ho, Regina Shimomura and Laura Oka; hanai daughter Anna L. Mau; brothers Frank, Damon and Roy; sisters Jean Inouye, Rachel Kanno and Harriet Kondo, and 12 grandchildren. Services were private.

Josephine K.N. Herrmann, 76, of San Francisco and formerly of Kauai, died June 4. She is survived by children Stuart Nakamura, Carl, Herrick, Robin and Benson Herrmann and Carmella Yoshida; brothers Benjamin and Frank Napoleon; sisters Annie N. Perriera and Alice Iida, six granddaughters and four grandsons. Memorial services: 9 a.m. Saturday at Lihue First Church, Pua Loke. Donations suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Herbert H. Kaululaau Sr., of Haleiwa, a heavy equipment operator at the Wahiawa City and County yard, died Sunday. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Yolanda; sons Herbert Kaululaau and Conrad Anguay; daughters Rachael Berard, Ruth Tatupu, Leah Arruda, Janell Anguay, Joanna Moiha and Jewell Bajo, and 20 grandchildren. Memorial services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Haleiwa Harbor. Call after 9 a.m. Casual attire.

Nicole L. “Nikki” Keith, 11, of Kailua, died Saturday in Kapiolani Hospital. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by parents Stephen and Barbara; sister Brittney; grandparents Terry and Jean Ngum and Homer Keith, and great-grandfather Edward D.K. Mau. Services were private.

Richard Keola, 57, of Kaneohe, died Tuesday in Kailua. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Alice; sons Richard, Conrad and Christopher; mother Violet Schmidt; brother Joseph Jr.; sisters Violet Almeida and Jujen-Ann Keola; stepsisters Jennie Johnson and Lauralei Okihiro, and five grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Norman K. Koike, 64, of Honolulu, a retired painting contractor, died Aug. 4 in Straub Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Janet S.; son Rodney T.; daughter Carole N.; brother Robert T., and sisters Elaine S. Kawasaki, Jane A. Hamasaki, Janet Y. Inouye and Frances S. Nishida. Services were private.

Robert K. Koochi, 82, of Honolulu, a retired warehouseman for the state Department of Accounting and General Services, died Friday in St. Francis Hospice. He was born in Kapulena, Hawaii. He is survived by wife Alice A.; daughter Karen N. Muronaga; brother Leslie T., and two grandchildren. Services were private.

Myra L. Lewis, 69, of Wahiawa, a retired Tripler Hospital housekeeper, died Tuesday. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by sons Gordon and Michael; daughter Linda, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Graveside services: 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.

Helen I. Lillico, 86, of Kailua is survived by sister Elizabeth Foote. Incorrect information for an obituary published yesterday was provided by the mortuary.

Sau Loo, 94, of Honolulu, a retired manager of the Plantation Purchasing Department for AMFAC, died Monday at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Annie; sons Dr. Larry and Gary; daughter Luanne Lee; sisters Nancy Dung, Bessie Chang and Amy Chun, 10 grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. Services: noon Tuesday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 9:30 a.m. Burial: Manoa Chinese Cemetery. Casual attire. No flowers.

Adeline S. Marzo, 65, of Honolulu, a retired office clerk at the state Hawaii Housing Authority, died Saturday in St. Francis Hospital. She was born in Puunene, Maui. She is survived by husband Catalino; sons Lindbergh, Robert, Daniel and Jeffrey; daughters Joan Martinez, Karen Pang and Sharon Thompson; brothers Donald, Albert and Claudio Suyat; sisters Rosalind Acoba, Cecilia Marshall and Florence Bonner, and 11 grandchildren. Memorial mass: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Call after 5:30 p.m. No flowers.

Karen Mae Maunakea, 52, of Waianae, a retired Hawaiian Studies teacher at Kamaile Elementary School, died Tuesday in Kaiser Foundation Hospital. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughters Avary and Robin; son ‘Eleu, and brother Scott Castanares. Memorial services: 5 p.m. Wednesday at Kamehameha Schools, Bishop Memorial Chapel. Call after 4 p.m. Inurnment: 11 a.m. next Thursday at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire. No flowers.

Pamela L.M. Monrouzeau-Klein,65, of Waipahu, died last Thursday at home. She was born in Puerto Rico. She is survived by son Harlan. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John Vianney church.

Emmaline Mae Nakamura, 56, of Honolulu, also known as Emmaline Helenihi, died Sunday in Kuakini Hospital. She was a cashier at Gas Express. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by companion Babes; daughters Jadelin Nakamura, Lillian Hueu and Christine Pantohan; son Francis; brothers Francis and Alan Helenihi and Peter Tolentino; sisters Gwendolyn Lopez, Charlene Nelson, Monica Carvalho, Beverly Tuzon and Donna and Annette Tolentino, 15 grandchildren and a great-grandson. Services: 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Burial: Hawaiian Memorial Park. Casual attire.

Victoria H. “Amy” Oda, 78, of Hilo, a retired loan officer at First Hawaiian Bank, died Tuesday at home. She was born in Hilo. She is survived by son Wayne; daughters Maxine Hashizaki and Myrna Nekoba; sister Ayame Ikeda, and five grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Saturday at Dodo Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Samuel K. “Daddy” Pang, 74, of Honolulu, a retired truck driver for HC&D Ameron, died Saturday in Queen's Hospital. He was also a musician. He is survived by wife Daisy; son Samuel Jr.; daughters Antanette Yuhas, Bernadette Clement, Gwendolyn Kealohapauole, Nanette Halemano, Dancette Auld-Evans, Joann Blackman, Sharn West and Sandra Gainey; brothers Eddie, Melvin and Henry; sisters Julia Kimura, Nadine Kauhi and Yvonne Barrett, 24 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. Private services.

Hattie K. Simerson, 68, of Honolulu, died July 18 in Queen's Hospital. She is survived by husband Robert; son Robert L. Jr.; brother Abraham Kaloa; sister Jesse Connor, and a grandson. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call after 8:30 a.m. Fraternal Order of Eagles services: 10 a.m. Saturday at the mortuary. Casual attire. No flowers.

Adela M. Sonson, 63, of Waipahu, a retired seamstress, died Aug. 5. She was born in the Philippines. She is survived by husband Alfonso; sons Wilmer, Alex, Arnold and Jerry; daughters Myrna Jurado and Thelma Sonson; brothers Dizon, Anselmo and Virgilio Morales; sisters Marina Bigay, Consuelo Mateo, Linda Calamayan, Wilma Lestino and Welia Carlos, and 12 grandchildren. Services: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Call from 6 to 9 p.m. Burial will be in the Philippines.

Hajime Takanishi, 85, of Kekaha, Kauai, was a retired businessman and owner of the Hale Taka Apartments in Kekaha. He also worked for the State of Hawaii-Job Corp. in Kokee. He is survived by six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Incorrect information for an obituary published July 27 was provided by the mortuary.

J. Rentz Thomas, of Honolulu, a teacher in the Honolulu school system, died Aug. 2 in Honduras. Services held.

Frank S. Victorino, 80, of Honolulu, a retired civilian worker at Hickam Air Force Base, died Sunday in the Veterans Center for Aging. He was born on Kauai. He is survived by daughters Evelyn and Paulyn; hanai daughter Chanda; brothers Harold and Leonard Nuuhiwa; sisters Nora Robello, Henrietta Egami, Nikki Aki and Jackie Thompson, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary. Call after 8 a.m. Burial: Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery. Aloha attire.