SHUREI HIROZAWA / 1919-2002

Star-Bulletin editor gained
respect of those he met

See also: Obituaries

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

Shurei Hirozawa was revered by many as a soft-spoken gentleman who had a vast pool of knowledge.

He became the labor and business editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin after working on a sugar plantation on Kauai.

"He was a great personal friend. ... He was respected from every major CEO in Hawaii," said Walter Dods, chief executive officer for First Hawaiian Bank.

Hirozawa died yesterday in his Manoa home. He was 83.

Hirozawa was born in Eleele, Kauai, on May 12, 1919. He attended Waimea High School. After nine years of working as a mill worker and payroll clerk at the McBryde Sugar Plantation, he moved to Minneapolis to attend Hamlin University after an Episcopalian priest convinced him to attend college.

During his two years at Hamlin, Hirozawa overcame a stuttering problem. He later transferred to the University of Iowa where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1950.

Soon after he graduated, Hirozawa moved to Honolulu where he started as a general assignment reporter at the Star-Bulletin.

Lyle Nelson, a Star-Bulletin reporter for 31 years, started working at the newspaper the same week as Hirozawa.

"He was one of my best friends. He was a wonderful guy and very humble," said Nelson.

From 1962 to 1970, Hirozawa was the labor and business editor for the newspaper.

"We were very impressed with what he could do. He was the type of guy that got the confidence of people," Nelson said.

"He was respected by all."

Hirozawa and Nelson often enjoyed attending University of Hawaii baseball and football games together.

In September 1970, Hirozawa left the Star-Bulletin to work at First Hawaiian Bank as an assistant vice president for economic research. He later became the vice president for the public relations department before retiring in June 1991.

"He was very competent and well liked," Dods said.

"He was one of a kind."

Star-Bulletin reporter Helen Altonn said: "He was beloved by everyone who knew him.

"They just don't make people like that anymore. He was wonderful at his craft. He was a gentleman. He was a kind, dear friend. We all miss him a lot."

Hirozawa is survived by wife Betty; daughters Gail Hirozawa and Joan Fujita; son Robert; sisters Edith Fujita, Charlotte Takishima, Doris Ishida, Lois Oshiro, Florence Kubota and Janet Nitahara; and brothers Stanley and Henry.

Services are pending.