LEIgacy Gala Celebrating Miss Kunioka - November 29, 2025
The gala event was held on November 29, 2025 at the Regency Room at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
Attending the event dressed in “chic Aloha” were:
Fay Yoshida
Linda Mae Onomoto
Naomi Kim
Carolyn Smith
Carolyn Adler
Ricky AuHoy
John Chong
Mel Choy
The gala event was held on November 29, 2025 at the Regency Room at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
Attending the event dressed in “chic Aloha” were:
- Vernon Kajikawa (one of the program speakers)
Fay Yoshida
Linda Mae Onomoto
Naomi Kim
Carolyn Smith
Carolyn Adler
Ricky AuHoy
John Chong
Mel Choy
The program consisted of a buffet brunch and speakers representing different Laboratory School graduating classes and from Miss Kunioka’s family. The program is shown below.
“There were 25 tables set up, but I would guess that they had about 220 participants. There were two classes (’63 & ’64) that filled their respective tables with classmates and spouses. Some tables were purchased for the entire family so they were loaded with their respective family members (i.e., Warren Nishimoto ’67 and family, and Roger Watanabe ’69 and his family).
The honored guests were Laura Kunioka-Weis (Miss Kunioka’s niece), Hiroko Kunioka (Miss Kunioka’s sister-in-law and Laura’s mother), and Sarah Kunioka-Weis, Laura’s daughter and Miss Kunioka’s grand niece)! I spoke on our class’ relationship with Miss Kunioka, and Laura gave us a “different” perspective of Miss Kunioka as a family member. She did a very good job and I know that Miss Kunioka was very proud of Laura and her family.
The honored guests were Laura Kunioka-Weis (Miss Kunioka’s niece), Hiroko Kunioka (Miss Kunioka’s sister-in-law and Laura’s mother), and Sarah Kunioka-Weis, Laura’s daughter and Miss Kunioka’s grand niece)! I spoke on our class’ relationship with Miss Kunioka, and Laura gave us a “different” perspective of Miss Kunioka as a family member. She did a very good job and I know that Miss Kunioka was very proud of Laura and her family.
Bob Sigall (Star-Advertiser columnist - writer of the Rearview Insider column) was invited by Roger Watanabe to the affair and he was placed on the head table with the Kunioka Family members, and Reverend Joe Onosai (I don’t know which year he graduated but was a decorated lineman for UH and drafted high by the Dallas Cowboys) and wife sat with the Kunioka's. Unfortunately, Joe had a disc injury and his pro-career with the Cowboys did not materialize).
Bob Sigall with Vern Kajikawa, and Laura Kunioka-Weis (Miss Kunioka’s niece), Hiroko Kunioka (Miss Kunioka’s sister-in-law and Laura’s mother), and Sarah Kunioka-Weis, Laura’s daughter and Miss Kunioka’s grand niece)!
Excerpt from Rearview Insider column by Bob Sigall.
ROYAL HAWAIIAN STILL HAS IT. The Royal Hawaiian still has its special charm that cannot be found anywhere else. So the setting was perfect and the food was ok … a buffet with the normal spread of food loaded with salads, cooked veggies, desserts, etc. They had a roast beef carving station, so there was quite a feast for most except for someone who just started eating regular food on Wednesday, 11/26.
The two ’53 graduates were also placed on the table with the Kunioka’s. I don’t know if there were attendees older than our class except for two representatives from the Class of ’53. But it was nice visiting with the many underclassmen that we haven’t seen for years! And as I pointed out, we were the last class that DID NOT have a multi-purpose building to eat our lunch (the multi-purpose building was completed during the 1964 school year). It was fun chatting with many of the underclass mates!
For an inaugural event, it was a success. Fortunately, they picked Miss Kunioka to honor at this event, and she definitely was the draw.”
(Comments provided by Vern Kajikawa; Pictures provided by Ricky AuHoy, John Chong, Naomi Kim)
For an inaugural event, it was a success. Fortunately, they picked Miss Kunioka to honor at this event, and she definitely was the draw.”
(Comments provided by Vern Kajikawa; Pictures provided by Ricky AuHoy, John Chong, Naomi Kim)
DEDICATED TO MISS KUNIOKA - Who Taught Students Lessons of Life
Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Miss Kunioka made us feel special and we did not even know she was doing it.
This page is created to celebrate the life and impact an Honorary Member of the Class of ’63, had on our lives and the esteem in which she was held by everyone. Links to previous articles and pictures throughout this website have been consolidated on this page. Looking at the numerous links below it is relatively easy to see the part Miss Kunioka played in our lives.
The excerpt below is from the Rearview Mirror column by Bob Sigall on December 27, 2024, in which he recognizes individuals in different fields.
“Shizumi Kunioka
Culinary Excellence Award”
"Everyone's all-time favorite cafeteria manager was Shizumi Kunioka at University High Lab School." John Chong said. Sheworked there from 1944 to 1982. One student said, "The one thing I miss from school lunch is Miss Kunioka's Ivory Jell-O with chocolate gravy (sauce) over the top. Soooo good. I've never had it since or even seen it anywhere.” Other student favorites included hamburger pizza, Spanish rice, chili con carne, baked spaghetti, almond cookies, corn chowder and tuna macaroni. At her 1982 retirement party, she arrived in a Rolls-Royce limousine. She was presented with a plaque that said: "Rarely does one person touch the lives of so many during their careers. You not only nurtured us by serving over 3,000,000 lunches, but you have also taught us the values of hard work, being responsible, and having concern for others, which have helped us throughout our lives.”
Source: Rearview Mirror by Bob Sigall, December 27, 2024
"Two weeks ago I gave my readers an opportunity to ask questions about places in Hawaii they fondly recalled. One asked about the restaurant near the University of Hawaii on the corner of University Avenue and Dole Street that served tater tots in the 1970s. Kathryn Tyler said "we University Lab School rats loved going there and eating our burgers and tater tots under the monkey pod trees across the street on our campus. But we were also very loyal and faithful to our cafeteria staff. Miss Kunioka was the best cafeteria manager. She made sure we had excellent meals. We were very spoiled kids! Lol! "By the way, Miss Kunioka still comes to our ULS All School Reunions. S h e r e m e m b e r s everyone and we all love her dearly.”
Source: Rearview Mirror by Bob Sigall, March 23, 2018
Other sources of information about Miss Kunioka are ULS Alumin website juniorbowshi.com/jr-bow-alumni-tell-the-history-of-our-school/
and Facebook which contained this picture of Miss Kunioka with members of the class of ’61.
This page is created to celebrate the life and impact an Honorary Member of the Class of ’63, had on our lives and the esteem in which she was held by everyone. Links to previous articles and pictures throughout this website have been consolidated on this page. Looking at the numerous links below it is relatively easy to see the part Miss Kunioka played in our lives.
- I Remember site page (uhs63.weebly.com/i-remember.html) remembrances of, and about Miss Kunioka from classmates.
- Reunion Pictures of Miss Kunioka are spread throughout the website as she was a frequent visitor to our functions. She was made an Honorary Member of our class at our 70-in-2015 function when we celebrated our 70th birthday. Site pages containing photos of Miss Kunioka are at:
- Miss Kunioka’s 100th Birthday Celebration ( uhs63.weebly.com/whats-new.html )- the last time members of the class saw her as we celebrated her 100th birthday.
The excerpt below is from the Rearview Mirror column by Bob Sigall on December 27, 2024, in which he recognizes individuals in different fields.
“Shizumi Kunioka
Culinary Excellence Award”
"Everyone's all-time favorite cafeteria manager was Shizumi Kunioka at University High Lab School." John Chong said. Sheworked there from 1944 to 1982. One student said, "The one thing I miss from school lunch is Miss Kunioka's Ivory Jell-O with chocolate gravy (sauce) over the top. Soooo good. I've never had it since or even seen it anywhere.” Other student favorites included hamburger pizza, Spanish rice, chili con carne, baked spaghetti, almond cookies, corn chowder and tuna macaroni. At her 1982 retirement party, she arrived in a Rolls-Royce limousine. She was presented with a plaque that said: "Rarely does one person touch the lives of so many during their careers. You not only nurtured us by serving over 3,000,000 lunches, but you have also taught us the values of hard work, being responsible, and having concern for others, which have helped us throughout our lives.”
Source: Rearview Mirror by Bob Sigall, December 27, 2024
"Two weeks ago I gave my readers an opportunity to ask questions about places in Hawaii they fondly recalled. One asked about the restaurant near the University of Hawaii on the corner of University Avenue and Dole Street that served tater tots in the 1970s. Kathryn Tyler said "we University Lab School rats loved going there and eating our burgers and tater tots under the monkey pod trees across the street on our campus. But we were also very loyal and faithful to our cafeteria staff. Miss Kunioka was the best cafeteria manager. She made sure we had excellent meals. We were very spoiled kids! Lol! "By the way, Miss Kunioka still comes to our ULS All School Reunions. S h e r e m e m b e r s everyone and we all love her dearly.”
Source: Rearview Mirror by Bob Sigall, March 23, 2018
Other sources of information about Miss Kunioka are ULS Alumin website juniorbowshi.com/jr-bow-alumni-tell-the-history-of-our-school/
and Facebook which contained this picture of Miss Kunioka with members of the class of ’61.
