Kauai lost a "favored native son" with the passing of longtime businessman and World War II veteran George Kawakami, Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said. GEORGE KAWAKAMI / 1923-2001
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Her sentiments were echoed by others who knew him.
"I thought he was the most uncommon man with the most uncommon touch," said longtime friend Noboru Yamane. "One of my friends called me, he thought George lived every minute of every hour ... to the fullest you know."
During the war, Kawakami fought in the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who remembers Kawakami as "my friend and my brother since we were in grammar school. Our fathers were classmates and our families very close."
Kawakami died Saturday in Seattle, where he was visiting family. He was 78.
Kawakami is the eldest son of H.S. Kawakami, founder of the Big Save supermarket chain and the H.S. Kawakami Store. He also served as Inouye's representative on Kauai.
After the war, George managed the family's general merchandise and furniture store in Lihue. After the store folded, he served on the Big Save Inc. board of directors and volunteered for 30 years with the Kauai Community Federal Credit Union.
Kawakami is survived by wife Kazue, daughters Kristen Dean and Cesili Kawakami-Wong, mother Elsie Kawakami, brothers Edward and Charles, sisters Gertrude Toma and Edith Tan, and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be after 9 a.m. Monday at the Kauai Veterans Center. Services will follow at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the American Heart Association, Hawaii Chapter, 245 N. Kukui St., Suite 204, Honolulu 96818; or Mid-Pacific Institute Class of 1941, 2445 Kaala St., Honolulu 96822. Aloha attire is suggested.