Kauai official stood up
for his beliefs

SHIGEOMI KUBOTA / 1915-2001

SEE ALSO: OBITUARIES

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

Retired Kauai Councilman Shigeomi Kubota "stood for what he believed was right and did not always go along with what was popular," said his daughter Adele Stevens.

"He did what was best for the people," she said.

Kubota died Thursday at his Koloa home. He was 86.

Kubota was born in Kekaha, Kauai, on Jan. 3, 1915, to Kiku Kitsutaka and Kizou Kubota. He was the second of 11 children. Kubota graduated from Kauai High School in 1933 and worked at a pineapple cannery to help support his brothers and sisters through college.

Kubota later became chairman of the Public Works Committee and was a supervisor for the Kauai Pineapple Co. A former football star, Kubota was the chairman of the Kauai Football Officials Association. He was known for his involvement in sports, coaching community football, basketball and baseball teams. Kubota also was the founder of the Garden Isle Mortuary in 1949.

Kubota served six years as a member of the County Board of Supervisors and two years as a councilman. He served as Kauai County Council chairman in 1973-1974.

"He was a people person," said Robert Yatsuda, who served on the Finance Committee while Kubota was chairman.

Kubota also served as chairman of Kauai's School Advisory Council.

As a father of five children, he was very indulgent, Stevens said. "He did everything for us," she said.

Stevens said education was important to her father. During his term on the Council, Kubota initiated free bus transportation for all children, said Kubota's wife, Bernice.

Stevens described her father as an independent thinker who taught his children to stand up for what they believe in.

"He taught us too well," she said.

Kubota is survived by wife Bernice of Koloa; sons Brian of Lawrence, Kan., and Burt of Koloa; daughters Adele Stevens of Honolulu, Louella Rita of Makawao and Sue Kubota of Honolulu; brothers Dr. Scott Kubota of Pearl City and Herbert Kubota of Mililani; sister Edna Imaoka of Waipahu; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Koloa Missionary Church. Services start at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at the Lawai Public Cemetery.