GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Crossing guard Mieko Tatashy, above left, watches over the children from Royal School who cross the intersection of Punchbowl Street and Vineyard Boulevard on school mornings and afternoons. Originally from Chuuk, Micronesia, Tatashy moved to Hawaii in 1997.

Guardian Angel
in the crosswalk

Mieko Tatashy braves traffic to
protect elementary students
of Royal School

Who: Mieko Tatashy Title: School crossing guard and adult supervisor Job: Directs vehicle traffic near Royal School to protect students as they cross the street, and supervises the students at recess and lunch time

Mieko Tatashy says she moved to Hawaii from Chuuk, Micronesia, in 1997 so her children could get a good education. In addition, she was encouraged to move her by her mother and brother, both of whom were already living here. Her husband, Chechemi, also from Chuuk, joined her later, and they now live in Aiea with the four of their nine children who are still in school. Tatashy herself also goes to school, in a sense, working as one of two crossing guards and as an adult supervisor for the elementary students of Royal School on Queen Emma Street in Honolulu. Asked if she ever finished high school or college, Tatashy, 48, laughed and said, "No, that's why I don't know much English."

Question: How long have you been a school crossing guard?

Answer: I think five years or more.

Q: Has it always been at Royal School?

A: Yeah.

Q: Who is actually your employer -- HPD (the Honolulu Police Department) or the DOE (state Department of Education)?

A: HPD.

Q: So you're not a volunteer?

A: No.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Crossing guard Mieko Tatashy helps children from Royal School cross the intersection of Punchbowl Street and Vineyard Boulevard.

Q: What kind of training did you undergo before taking on this job?

A: Not only me. Plenty people go on the training. They train us about how we stand there and take care of the kids, and stop the car, and what else we going to do to help the kids with crossing.

Q: How did you get this job?

A: My principal before, she gives it to me. Before I was volunteering at this school, and they need a crossing guard over here, and the principal ask me if I like the job, and I said, yes, I like it, and she hired me.

Q: Who was that?

A: Mrs. (Sandra) Shibata. (The current principal is Ann Sugibayashi.)

Q: What did you do as a volunteer?

A: Take care of the kids, supervise them, recess time and lunch time.

Q: Do you enjoy watching out for the children?

A: Yeah, I like it.

Q: What do you like the most about your job?

A: I like watch the kids most.

Q: You go out in the mornings and the afternoons to guard the children in traffic. Which time of the day do you like better?

A: Both of them. (Laughter) Morning time really busy, with plenty cars turning.

Q: The intersection you work at has a traffic light, so why do they need a crossing guard?

A: Because plenty cars turn that way. That's why they need me, to cross the kids, to stop the car. Especially morning time 'cause plenty cars turn that side. That's why they need me.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM There is a traffic light at the intersection, but Tatashy's presence helps ensure that the children will be safe.

Q: Have any accidents ever occurred while you were on the job?

A: No.

Q: What else do you do at Royal School?

A: I'm an adult supervisor. I take care of the kids at recess time and lunch time.

Q: You're from Micronesia, but your first name, Mieko, that sounds like a Japanese name.

A: That's 'cause my grandpa is Japanese.

Q: Did he live on Chuuk?

A:Yeah, but he passed away.

Q: Why did you move to Hawaii?

A: Because I want my kids to learn, to get an education.

Q: They don't have schools in Chuuk?

A: They do, but it's not like over here.