If you ever wondered what someone did after graduation, this is where you can find that information in their own words.
Joan Hardy (Layton)
(Joan - in center)
Contact Information:
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Kindergarten
Siblings who also attended UHS: sister - Cheryl - Class of ‘65
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: I have 3 boys, 5 girls, 14 grandsons, 5 granddaughters, and 5 step grandkids. My family is the world to me. They all live within 50 miles of me except two. One family lives in Manoa and the other Oregon.
What I do now: In 2019 I retired from teaching and got my divorce (finally). A year later I needed something to fill my time so went back to work as a high school substitute teacher which I am still doing. I try to go back to Hawaii at least once per year to visit family.
What I did after UHS: After graduating from UHS, I attended BYU Hawaii (known then as CCH) for a year and a half then transferred to BYU Provo. I got my bachelor's degree in speech pathology and a month after graduating got married. We settled in Utah and I was fortunate to be able to stay home and raise my children. My husband and I separated in 1996 and a year later I moved to Branson, MO with three of my daughters, to help an old friend with a show we were trying to get going. It was called Hawaii from a Distance. Unfortunately we ran out of funds before the show could turn a profit and had to shut down. We stayed on in Branson till 2005 when my youngest graduated from high school and second to youngest graduated from University of Missouri. We came back to Utah where most of my grandkids were. I had been teaching Head Start in Branson so I continued to do that Utah.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I have lots of bits and pieces of memories. I remember our senior camp, that was fun. I was so shy in school that it was often very difficult.
Janie Yamamura
WHAT I DID AFTER UHS:
“After two years at the University of Hawaii, I transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle. During the breaks, I'd take the ferry to Victoria and then to Vancouver with friends. I received a BA and got a teaching certificate: English Literature major and Social Studies/Math minors. Started teaching in Kirkland, east of Lake Washington. I commuted over the floating bridge. I found a studio apartment in Kirkland which was wonderful.
Ginny Okano also worked in Kirkland. She stayed with me for a time until she earned enough to get her own place. We had canned corn beef and cabbage dinners at her place. It's funny, but twice a month I would buy a can of Spam and the ladies at Albertson's would look at me sadly and say, "Between pay checks, huh?"
The man I was to marry was drafted after one year of law school but ended up as part of the JAG in Europe. Over the next year, I returned to graduate school, but had some health issues and returned to Hawaii in 1970.
I got a long term substitute contract in 1971 at Baldwin High School. My first teaching contract was in 1972 at a new Nanakuli School; the year of the first teachers' strike. I had moved to the top of Halawa Heights in 1972. I worked for a trucking company on Sand Island. I got another contract for Kahuku Schools and was there 1974 to 1979.
Illness in the family made me find work outside of teaching. In 1981, I lost my father and got a contract to Moanalua Intermediate School. I attended graduate classes to earn pay raises and in 2006 I reached the top of the pay scale.
I've been engaged once to a local man who decided he wanted mixed race children. That wasn't going to happen since he was also Japanese.
I went to Incline Village in Tahoe. It was beautiful! I stopped worrying about being married or having children. I bought a condominium in Salt Lake in 2005.
I'm happy, but overweight. I was the successor trustee for my mother's estate. I sold the house in Aiea; after trying a "caregiver's company." Only three caregivers were trustworthy and the woman who ran the company decided to charge $12,000 a month. I notified her of my concerns with my lawyer and Queen's Eldercare suggested my mother live in a caregiver's home. As long as she could stand, I would take her out to have her hair done and eat at Zippy's.
It's been a rollercoaster ride and over the years I've seen Georgine Komatsu, Sharon Soper and they have demonstrated that the class of 1963 was classy .
I am retired and looking for classes to take, books to read and stories to write.”
July 13, 2012
Fay K. Yamashita (Yoshida)
Contact Information:
Address: Honolulu, HI
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: Kindergarten
Siblings who also attended UHS:
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Footloose and fancy free, after twenty-two years of marriage. I am blessed with three children: Heidi (nurse), Reid (fire fighter/investigator), and Maile (nanny), and six grandchildren ranging in age from eight to nineteen who are adorable and fun-loving!
What I do now: Nothing awesome or earth-shattering ... one ongoing activity is simplifying my life by sorting, bundling, giving away, and disposing of material possessions I've accumulated through the years (TOUGH UNDERTAKING)! Though I'm not always successful, I'm getting better by asking, "For whom will this have meaning when I cross the bridge?" A highlight is being around the grand-kids, whether it's attending their events, or simply hanging out - my spirit are always uplifted, and I love the 'Nana' role. Another fun undertaking is traveling to Kimcheeland. If any of you watch Korean dramas, you'll have an inkling of the effect that the programs have on most viewers, especially with the great storylines and hot actors!!! Korea is also a shopper's paradise. Last, but not least is getting together with friends ... it's always such a joy to laugh and share and care.
What I did after UHS: UH Manoa was my second home for two years before transferring to the Ohio State University where I received my BEd and MEd. I briefly taught first grade at Aliiolani Elementary School before being hired as a flight attendant for Pan American World Airways. I loved teaching; however, I was nearing the age at which I could be hired for the airlines, so I decided to pursue that course, and that lasted for fourteen wonderful, eye-opening years. After that, it was being full-time CEO and domestic engineer for Yoshida & Company until the present.
Favorite Memory from UHS: OMG ... are you kidding ... no single memory comes to mind because as soon as I think of one, another pops up!!! The entire lab school experience was memory upon memory!
One question I have been meaning to ask: None
Howard Yoshiura
(Photo taken at Statue of David Park dedicated to Michelangello, overlooking the city of Florence, Italy, September 2013)
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, HI 96822
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Kindergarten
Siblings who also attended UHS: Susan(class of ’66)
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Married to Linda Yoshiura (Hongo); Kailua HS grad
What I do now:
- Retired from career in banking – 18 yrs with HonFed Bank(Honolulu Federal Savings & Loan); First Federal S&L, American Savings Bank (retired in 2010)
- Working on cutting into a “honey do” list that was about 50 projects long, and barely got 10 done
- Re-engineering the game of golf – playing w/ classmates like Vern, John, Clay, Dennis, Roy Kanno, Brian Shimabukuro, etal. We all get together at least once a week
- Traveling – discovering places that we’ve only read about in books; did a fall cruise w/ group of classmates & their wives that was most memorable; we just returned from 24 days in Italy (toured most of the country, visited add’l 5 days in Florence); the country, cuisine & wines were superb!
- Caring for the future generation – we have one grandson(Benji) that Linda babysits; so I take him on an outing once a week.
What I did after UHS:
- Attended college @ Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin; graduated in 1967
- Peace Corps – upon graduating, volunteered in Peace Corps & spent next 4 yrs in Micronesia as an agriculture volunteer; as well as TESL(Teaching English as Second Language)
- In 1971 was hired at Honolulu Savings & Loan; spent the following 18 yrs working as a branch manager, training director, and other related jobs in retail banking division.
- 1988 – 1991 – After Honfed Bank was sold to Bill Simon & group of investors I left to work for American Savings bank(1 yr) and then joined First Federal Savings & Loan as a Regional Director(2 yrs)
- In 1992 – Bank of America bought the Honfed Bank assets from Simon & his investors. At that time it seemed that it was a good time to be involved with building BofA in Hawaii, and it was an exciting time when the services & face of banking was changing to full retail banking(with expanded weekend banking, supermarket banking, larger ATM networks, use of debit cards, etc. It was an innovative time, and a fun time to be involved with an aggressive banking paradigm.
- End of 1997 – BofA Hawaii assets were acquired by American Savings Bank, Hawaii, and all branches, deposits, and most loans were also acquired by ASB. I chose to remain w/ ASB to be a part of the transition, and to remain in Hawaii vs. moving to the mainland to stay with Bank of America. I continued my career with ASB Hawaii for the next 13 years and retired in 2010 as a corporate Vice President & Retail Regional Executive.
Favorite Memory from UHS:
- There are so many wonderful memories of UHS, that it would be difficult to pick out a favorite. Unfortunately, most of the brightest memories don’t involve academic achievements! Some of the fondest have to be playing in the band with John Chong, Dennis Sugihara, Ken Chun, Jim Vine, James LaVine, Fred Witt, and Walt Fong, among many others as well. We had some of the best times playing practical jokes such as putting water on Jim Vine's seat before he sat down in the band room; or stuffing John or Walt’s instrument with rags & tee shirts to muffle the sound; not to mention all the times they stuffed my tuba with balls, shirts & other miscellaneous items found along the route from upper campus to the band room.
- Of course there were those flag football, and softball games between Class of ’63, and Class of ’64 (Harvey Takemoto’s class) that we enjoyed every season for class bragging rights.
- The many Destiny Hi-Y club events that were fun, and of course all those times that we had to sneak Mel Choy out of his house & home again so his parents wouldn’t know he was out “studying” with the guys!!
One question I have been meaning to ask: No questions
Judi McQuaig
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Statesboro, GA 30458
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: I attended UHS for less than one year, beginning in November 1962. I only lived in Hawaii from November until June 1963 and UHS was one of 17 schools I attended over 12 years. No real reason; my mom just liked to move around.
Siblings who also attended UHS: I have no siblings and my two daughters attended school in the Southeast and in Germany when their dad lived there.
Family Information: Spouse - Bill (married 27 years); 2 daughters; 7 grandsons.
Current Activities: As for now, I see the girls and grand kids whenever I can, am involved in church activities, take piano lessons, take swimming lessons, take a class at Georgia Southern University, located in Statesboro, and try to become a vegetarian, the last a work in process.
My youngest daughter was married to a Navy SEAL on SEAL Team 6, a master chief with more than 20 years experience as a SEAL. On August 6, 2011, he and his troop were killed when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. In the SEAL community, it was the largest loss of life at one time. He was an extraordinary man who we will always love and miss.
What I did after UHS: Went to college one year and then got married like all good southern girls were supposed to do. Was married 10 years, divorced for 10 years, and have now been married to Bill for 27 years. I finally completed college in 1988 with a degree in accounting and worked for FDIC as a bank examiner, which Bill was also. We are now both retired.
Favorite Memory from UHS:
One question I have been meaning to ask: Wish I could be there to celebrate the 50 years since our graduation. Aloha and best wishes to all of you. (Does that mean the same thing? It has been too long.)
Stan & Jan (Mitsuzawa) Naguwa
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Davis, CA 95616
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: Jan’s younger sister, Karen and Stan’s younger sister
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: 2 daughters, 1 son, all grew up in Davis & after college, one by one, each moved to Hawaii (Hilo & Aiea). Even our grand-dog, Sophie, moved from Davis to Aiea. Thus, we have spent Christmas & New Year in Hawaii for the past decade.
Current Activities: I currently volunteer every Wednesday at the International Center in Davis, teaching foreigners (usually wives of postdocs at UCD) various crafts. I also make donation quilts for the Project Linus group & the battered women’s center in our county.
We have about 15 fruit trees in our back yard. Stan has always taken care of the plants, and I do the harvesting. We have meyer lemon, navel orange, Algerian tangerine, 3 types of white peaches, 20th century pear, Royal Anne, bing & Rainier cherries, grapes, red & yellow delicious & Fuji apples, Bartlett pear, white nectarine.
Since Stan has been a senior professor for the past decade or so, the best benefit has been traveling with him as he lectures at conferences all over the world. We love to travel! One of our favorite experiences was spending a month each year in Japan, as he taught new medical residents the western style of medicine (evidence-based).
Stan is semi-retired from the UC-Davis faculty in June 2013.
What We did after UHS: I attended UH, majoring in French, then after graduation flew for UAL for a year. It was so long ago, a time when they didn’t allow married “stews.” Thus, when Stan & I married in 1968, I had to resign. I returned to college to get a 5th year teaching certificate but only used it to teach 1 summer session. Thereafter, I did private tutoring in French, then worked for the dental school dean while Stan was in med school.
Stan jokes that I have lived the “life of Riley (sp?)” since I didn’t have an outside paid job until I managed his private practice office. When he became a professor, I could “retire” & then dabbled in educational administration for a short while. My best job at this time was working from home for a publisher, formatting & editing several children’s reading books. There’s nothing like working in your nightgown when it’s cold in winter!
Stan attended the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs; medical school in Hawaii and Seattle; residency training in the Air Force; rheumatology-allergy fellowship at UC-Davis; staff MD at Travis Air Force Base; was in private practice in the Davis, CA area and joined the UC-Davis faculty in 1993.
We have lived in Davis continually since 1978 (after Stan finished his subspecialty training, there were only 2 rheumatologists in the entire USAF, and one had to be at Travis).
One memory is encountering Cathy Coulter in Sacramento (and not recognizing her) when we were audited one year. She had to pass me on to another agent!
Favorite Memory from UHS: Having such a small class that enabled everyone to know all the members of our class. Stan’s favorite memory are the friends he made at UHS.
One question I have been meaning to ask: What has everybody done/doing?
Melvin Choy
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, HI 96822
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7 th
Siblings who also attended UHS: Norene (‘66) , Russell (‘73)
Children who attended UHS: none. They all attended Iolani
Family Information: Wife Vivian, Sons Aaron, Andrew and Austin. Daugther –in-laws Christina, Vanessa and Amy. Grandchildren Raiden, Camille, Torin, Ryne and Ava.
Current Activities: I am still practicing dentistry as I have been since 1972. Since 2006, my son Austin has been in practice with me and because I no longer have to pay large educational bills, I can take more time off from work to engage in activities I enjoy. Beginning 2013, I have drastically reduced my work hours. I am now able to spend much of my free time playing tennis, softball and basketball and I try to work out at the Y at least once a week. I am just glad I am still physically capable of doing this and will continue doing these activities until I can’t. I am also involved with dentistry outside my practice with volunteer groups, Donated Dental Services and the Hawaii Academy for Sports Dentistry. When I have time, I tend to my extensive baseball card collection. I also have ongoing business ventures in China so have spent the last 10 years doing business and visiting all the sights and cities there. This still leaves me time to spend with my grandchildren which I enjoy tremendously although regular baby sitting is not an option. My two current projects: Editing a soon to be published autobiography of a famous Chinese war hero and researching and compiling a written history of my family’s roots in China and Hawaii. Didn’t realize how much work it would involve but I have enjoyed working on these projects.
What I did after UHS: Like many of our classmates, I attended UH. I got my degree I in chemistry in 1967 and then attended graduate school at the University of Oregon where I changed my major to math (hurray for UICSM background) with the goal of teaching or becoming an actuary. The Vietnam War draft was looming upon completion of school so my contingency plan was to keep going to school. Dental school was one of the fields which qualified for draft exemption and I got accepted to Northwestern University Dental School so I studied in Chicago for 4 cold but memorable years and graduated in 1972. I joined my father in general practice of dentistry and have been doing so till this day.(Side note: I have 2 sons who are dentists and their spouses are also dentists so I figure we got the dental market covered in Hawaii.) I got married in 1976 and my wonderful wife and I have three sons who provided us with a great experience in raising kids to be successful and good people. We were able to put three sons through professional school and have no regrets about all the time and sacrifices made to accomplish this. We have travelled extensively and experienced many memorable events together. We have nothing spectacular about our lives but our family is very close and this we hope to pass this closeness to our next generation. Small fun fact: At one period, Dennis Sugihara, Howard Yoshiura, Ken Chun, Carolyn Watanabe, and I all lived within a half mile of each other (Ken has since moved). Also, Vernon Kajikawa, Carolyn Watanabe and my kids were classmates at Iolani.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I barely remember what I did last week but I actually have many memories of UHS but nothing specific stands out. Generally, playing sports, our Hi-Y club activities, “studying” at the library at night, and just hanging out with friends come to mind. In conjunction with this reunion, I found some memorabilia and while sorting through the old newspapers and annuals, I had fun reminiscing about things I read. The many life long friendships I made at UHS will always be associated with these fond memories. Specific details are fuzzy but that’s why we write stuff down-so we can read about it after we forget everything.
One question I have been meaning to ask: How many of the student teachers we had actually ended up as teachers? Did many of them change careers? Were we responsible?
Naomi Lee (Kim)
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, HI 96816
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Kindergarten
Siblings who also attended UHS: None (they went to Punahou!); lots of cousins!
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Spouse - Barry A. Kim, children: Heather & Gregg Tanaka, Logan (12), Cade (10); Josh & Mckenzie Inoue
Current Activities: Retired and having fun!
What I did after UHS: Went to Lincoln College; spent time in SF; worked at Liberty House; got married; worked for 40 years at American Savings Bank. Finally retired!!! Yeah loving it!
Favorite Memory from UHS: Having great teachers...Camping at Camp Erdman; getting together at Wada’s house; walking home to Fay’s house; catching rides to school with Barbara (Centeio) Yamashita and stopping at the gas station to fill her car and the attendant asking “Ethel?” - she answered “No, Barbara”...crack up!!! Making friends for life...when we get together it is like we never left each other!
One question I have been meaning to ask: can’t think of anything right now!!!
Diane Hosaka
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, HI 96822
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: Either pre-school or kindergarten (don’t remember)
Siblings who also attended UHS: All my siblings attended UHS - Sheila, Carol, Edwin and Joan.
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Spouse - Steven Scott-Hosaka; 2 children
Current Activities: I’m currently working for the Social Security Administration in disability appeals.
What I did after UHS: After I graduated from UHS, I got my B.S. in psychology, MPH in Public Health, and J.D. from UH. I clerked for then Justice Kobayashi at the Hawaii Supreme Court, worked at the Attorney General’s office, and went into private practice for three years, then worked at the City Council for the next 28 years in the Office of Council Services. I started as a staff attorney and later as the Director.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Some of my favorite memories are singing at school assemblies as part of the Four Angels, and singing in the choir with the chorus teacher whose false teeth flew out during a practice session. I also remember some of our student teachers, Ms. Kunioka in the cafeteria, and trying to play basketball and golf in PE classes. I remember home economics class because it was so silly learning to wash dishes (the right way).
One question I have been meaning to ask:
Keith W. Racuya
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 9th (??)
Siblings who also attended UHS: Carl (1962 ), Guy (relocated to Berkeley in 1963)
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Married to Candy B. since 1978. Iwalani ”Lani”, adopted daughter of my 1st marriage, married to C.Grim. They have 2 sons; Micah 13 and Evan 12. Both boys are avid participants of soccer, lacrosse baseball and surfing. The all live in San Diego; Wayne,“our 6’5” haole boy). His best line for getting the girls is ”I really am ½ filpino” haha. Wayne currently lives in Pacific Grove, next to Monterey and manages two restaurants for the Pebble Beach.Co.; the Delmonte restaurant and the Spyglass Bar and Grill.
Current Activities: Candy and I like to use our RV to go camping at various areas around Northern California ; the coastal ranges and beaches, thru the giant redwoods, or to explore the western Sierra mountains. We always take along our Buff Cocker Spaniel “Pele” and occasionally Candy’s sister.
Candy has picked up the crocheting hobby and gotten very good at making blankets, shawls and hats. She gets special orders from people who know of her work but she’ll usually make gifts for relatives or special friends.
Me, I’m kind of still a car nut and speed freak. While not out riding my Yamaha 1000cc FZ! I’m usually saving racing or auto specialty programs on DVR (to be viewed later). My son and his other motorcycling friends look to me as a hip father figure on our annual 5 day trip to Laguna Seca for the International MotoGP race. (Motorcyclist version for Formula1 racing)
What I Did After UHS: Attended 1 semester at UH then relocated to the San Francisco Bay area to join my family. I joined Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. for a 28-year career learning and operating large scale super computers. Eventually, like most things, the good times began to slow and the IT department was the last to be downsized. I took the severance package and ran. Haha. So I tried my hand at being an entreprenure. I operated a Slot Car/Hobby store for 5 years (just couldn’t stay away from fast cars no matter how small). My wife then operated 4 purified water stores around the county for 8 years. She went on to a very good job with a small electronics firm just 2 miles from the house.
Me, I took on a “less stressful” job with Loomis Armored. I picked up and delivered mucho cash to banks, financial institutions, and businesses. Most of my work was centered on servicing ATMs and maintaining the cash levels.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Too many to list all, but here goes: Senior year was a blast as I only had easy classes; then lunches with Miss Kunioka; College Inn. Playing football in the dark at Ala Moana Park. Cruising around the island at night. Mud slides at Tantalus; Hi-Y Destiny’s club. Senior camp at Camp Erdman (some nighttime activities few people knew about). Destiny’s sunrise service at Blowhole(spectacular!) All the fun and crazy stuff.
One question I have been meaning to ask: UICSM (NOT) haha
Beverly Patrick (Weatherill)
Contact Information:
Mail address: Cortez, CO 81321
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th
Siblings who also attended UHS: N/A
Children who attended UHS: N/A
Family Information: Husband - Jim (50th wedding anniversary - February 2014); three children, eight grandchildren
Current Activities: For the present, we enjoy our time in AZ, because we lead an active life. Tennis, golf, hiking, swimming, traveling and sightseeing and lots of sports and activities that the grandchildren are involved in year round. We love being grandparents.
My mother has come back with us for the past three summers in Colorado since both my dad and sister passed away. None of us want to be in 117 degree weather that occurs in AZ during the summer.
What I did after UHS:
When my dad was transferred from Hickam A.F. Base in Honolulu to North Syracuse New York, it was definitely a difficult move for my family. Having to leave the islands, where I had many friends and perfect weather and moving to a new place where I had to start over in new school, where the winters were horrible. It was a real adjustment. I went from bare feet to snow boots overnight! We were there three years till my dad was transferred again. The day after I graduated, we moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
I had wanted to go to college at UH, but the cost of flying back and forth was more than my folks could accept. I went to a Jr. College in Colorado where I met my husband Jim, the very first day that I arrived. We have three married children and 8 grandchildren. We are always telling others that we think that the marriage might work out. Too funny!
I finished my B.A. degree, taught "special needs" children for 14 1/2 years, taught swimming lessons and then got my certification in massage therapy and worked through rehab at Littleton Hospital. Loved my jobs.
Jim retired from Littleton School District shortly after Columbine where he was superintendent of schools. We loved Littleton, but our family was strewn from western Colorado, to Texas to California. We found we were on the road alot to see kids and their activities, so we bought a motorhome and found that we only went home to do yard work and wash clothes. Didn't make any sense to stay in Littleton.
We sold our home and moved to Cortez, Colorado. We built a home near our daughter and her family. Thus, we cut off one leg of the travel triangle. We then sold the RV and bought a lot in an RV Resort in Mesa, AZ. We bought a new park model and had it put on the lot and a year later built an AZ room. An AZ room is similar to a lanai, but it is enclosed. So now, we are officially "trailer trash" during the winter months. No snow to shovel and only 1000 sq. foot to clean. Mo time to play.
Favorite Memory from UHS:
Questions I have been meaning to ask:
Beverly Patrick (Weatherill) Family
Cathy Coulter (Braun)
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Plymouth, CA 95669
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: Preschool 3 yr. olds
Siblings who also attended UHS: Brother –John transferred to Punahou approx. 1958
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Married, no children
Current Activities: I retired in 2000 a few years after we moved to a 40 acre ranch in a rural area east of Sacramento. We have no large animals but are surrounded by cattle and horse ranches. My passion for edible landscaping reflects dozens of fruit trees, blueberry bushes, and vegetable beds, and keeps me busy! I love the peace and quiet, and see wildlife of some sort daily- deer, jack rabbits, cottontail rabbits, owls, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and lots of birds and squirrels. And cute but destructive raccoons and skunks!
I must have inherited my Dad’s green thumb, so it seems natural that 27 years ago I became a Master Gardener – a volunteer with the Univ. of Calif. Extension giving gardening advice. After retirement, my volunteer time has crept up to 20-40 hours per month. For 7 years I have been in charge of the orchard at our 2-acre demonstration garden in Sacramento. My crew of other Master Gardeners and I tend to the 70 or so trees all year –we do it all – prune, fertilize, fix the sprinklers, deal with pests, remove and replace trees, and harvest the fruit! The best part is teaching about fruit trees to the public at our workshops. I have written or revised local publications targeted to our region’s climate relating to fruit trees and berries, and I feed info and photos to our webmaster on what’s happening in the orchard – take a peek here http://ucanr.edu/sites/sacmg/Orchard/
I am still hiking, but gave up backpacking 10 years ago. My current weekly hiking partner is an amazing woman 10 years my senior. We also go on group hiking trips (leaving our respective husbands at home!) to places we can’t safely hike alone, or the access logistics are too complex. With groups we have hiked in a remote area near Moab, Utah where a few years ago a hiker got stuck between rocks and had to cut off his arm (!) to hike out- yes, a movie was made about it!; day hikes on sections of the Appalachian Trail; day hikes on several of the islands in Puget Sound.
My husband Bill is deeply involved in local gold mine and timber history and I occasionally get pulled in to help out with the two non-profit organizations that absorb most of his time. I helped write a grant to fund a state-of-the-art archives building for the Historic Kennedy Gold Mine in Jackson; on the second application we got the grant! For the next 3 years he led the effort to build and equip it. Here is a bit on the type of records in the new archive building: http://www.kennedygoldmine.com/archives.html
I also help him with the Amador Sawmill & Mining Assoc. that runs a steam sawmill at the county fair each year! I volunteer as the bookkeeper and tax preparer. I also created a series of 25 large posters that have been displayed for the last 10 years during the fair next to the sawmill-- my attempt to explain to the public what is going on when the sawmill is running, and to document all the equipment restoration the volunteers have made in 13 years. The sawmill website is still being rebuilt after crashing in Feb. but the recent newsletter is there: http://www.amadorsawmill.org/
What I did after UHS: I graduated from San Francisco State College with a business major and math minor, then completed a 5th year in education and received a teaching credential. The job market for teachers bottomed out so I took a temporary job with the San Francisco IRS office while I tried to find a new direction. Numerous people there encouraged me to apply for technical positions, so I did, and found my business and math skills led me down a path to a job as a field agent (Revenue Agent) and a 33 year career with IRS. Early retirement saved me from the overwhelming stress of the job!
In the 1980’s after my Dad passed away, I travelled each year with my Mom to exotic places. She had already seen Europe, South America, and Australia, so she chose to take me to China/Mongolia/Siberia on my first trip, then in the next few years we travelled to Peru & Ecuador including the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon; Kenya & Tanzania on safari to see the animal migrations; Mexico to see the Mayan sites; lastly to Morocco & Tunisia. To this day, I still have not been to Europe or Australia!!
Favorite Memory from UHS: Weird as it sounds, I looked forward to working in the cafeteria as a break from tedious classes. A favorite class was math with the UICSM texts!! (Yes, I remember what UICSM stands for!)
One question I have been meaning to ask: Why didn’t I know there was a language lab? It would have been helpful for my Spanish classes.
Fred Witt
Contact Information:
Mailing Address: La Mesa, CA 91941
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: It was actually UES when I was in the 5th grade. I was in Aiea Elementary School prior to that.
Siblings who also attended UHS: My brother Jim graduated from UHS in 1959.
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: My wife Kathy and I married in 1988. She has a son and two lovely granddaughters, all of whom keep life interesting.
Current Activities: Kathy and I are both retired (since 2001/2, respectively), enjoying good health, living in La Mesa. We are either planning or taking trips here or there. Trips for the next twelve months include New Zealand (October), China (Spring ’14), and France/Belgium (Fall ’14). When at home, I surf and play tennis a couple times a week, play AT golf occasionally, and we usually hike on weekends in the local mountains, deserts, or coastal areas, depending on the weather and temperatures. We are enjoying the wineries that are proliferating in the area, including those in Mexico. Lots of stuff to do in the San Diego area. We get to Hawaii every year, and stay at the condo my folks lived in at Waikiki Shore. I keep a couple surfboards there, so can hit the warm, clear water of Waikiki and catch a few waves when we visit. We have many favorite local eateries (Irefune, Ono, Helena’s, Kakaako Kitchen, Sidestreet among them), and are always looking for more places to enjoy local kau kau (feel free to share your favorites).
What I did after UHS: I went across the street to UH and majored in business. I stayed in the dorms, at home (while parents traveled), and a year or so in Waikiki where I worked part-time at a small apartment-hotel, the Marine Surf, which is now a giant hotel. Dang near flunked out of college because of all the distractions there, though. I graduated (amazingly) on time in ’67, and went to Navy OCS, graduating in October. I was assigned to a destroyer in San Diego and after 3 ½ years, and two deployments, left active duty. I (fortuitously) stayed in the Navy Reserve, from which I retired in the early 90’s. In the meantime, I joined the San Diego Probation Department (what else do you do with a business degree?) and worked mostly with adult offenders, which was interesting and challenging, but served three “tours” in juvenile hall, which was rarely fun. I retired in 2002 after 28 years, but later went back for four years part-time, doing background investigations of prospective employees.
Kathy and I are lucky in that we have had the opportunity to travel both while employed and since retirement. We’ve been to Europe a number of times and to South American countries 4 times, including a week in the Galapagos, which really made me miss Hawaii because they are so similar in many respects. But no plate lunches there. We each have family reunions on alternative years, which usually take us to Michigan for mine, and Colorado for hers. Amazingly, we both like and enjoy each other’s families.
Favorite Memory from UHS: My memory is that everyone in our class was friends. Some friends were naturally closer than others, but we were all friends, nevertheless. An enviable notion, especially in these days.
One question I have been meaning to ask: How did we get so old? Lucky, I suggest.
Diane Yanagisako (Fujikami)
Contact Information:
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: First grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: none
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Spouse: Raymond H. Fujikami
Current Activities: Real estate broker-in-charge for Keller Williams Honolulu
What I did after UHS: Ohio University in Athens, Ohio for bachelor's degree and University of Hawaii, Manoa for Master of Science degree.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Too many to list.
One question I have been meaning to ask: No questions at this time.
Jim Hallstrom
Contact Information:
Mailing Address: Kailua, HI 96734
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: Ninth grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: My younger brother, Donald
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Married Kathleen King (high school sweetheart); six wonderful children - all married; 21 Grandkids so far.
Current Activities: Commercial real estate appraiser and consultant
What I did after UHS: Attended college at BYU, went to Ireland for a two-year mission, at the University of Wisconsin for a Master's Degree in Real Estate Appraisal and Investment Analysis.
Favorite Memory from UHS: It isn't my French class; I would have to say my favorite memory is visiting with friends on the 2nd floor balcony before and between classes.
One question I have been meaning to ask: None
John Lee
Contact Information:
Mailing Address: Aiea, HI 96701
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: My younger brother, Abe Lee - Class of 1966
Children who attended UHS: Youngest son, Rob
Family Information: Married Sandra Mizuno, 3 kids - 2 boys and 1 girl. Four grandchildren (2 in Hawaii and 2 in Japan)
Current Activities: Retired, full time baby sitter for grandkids.
What I did after UHS: Graduated from the University of Hawaii. Worked for 37 years at United Airlines. While working at United, ran four family businesses: Pacific Freight Systems (trucking company); Skyhooks Hawaii (sporting goods manufacturing); Regal Limousines; and Superior Vending Corporation at various times.
Favorite Memory from UHS: My fondest memory of UHS was how students from various soci-economic background were able to co-exist. Will always treasure the closeness and friendship shared by all students. To me the greatest value of UHS education is teaching me to get along with people from various backgrounds. This has prepared me well to face the real world later.
One question I have been meaning to ask:
Tahi Lani Mottl (Reynolds)
Contact Information:
Mailing Address: Makawao, HI 96768
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Pre-school Group1! (2 years old!) Birthday: November 4!
Siblings who also attended UHS: Kamala Joie Mottl (UHS Class of 65), who has lived in New York City for many years, and Joseph (Joe/Pepi) R. Mottl (UHS Class of 67), who lives in Makiki.
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: My father Joe Mottl died after my freshman year at UH Manoa. My mother, Iwalani, died in 2007, which brought be back from living on the Mainland to Maui. My mother and step father (Ernest Sneidman – the Pocketbook Man) retired to Maui, where they lived for many years in Olinda.
Current Activities: Currently, I go back and forth between my home in the Washington DC area and Maui where I teach sociology at UH Maui College (which combines Maui Community College and 4 year UH programs). I teach some face-to-face classes for students who are finishing their undergrad degrees at UH Manoa (my alma mater) while they live on Maui.
What I did after UHS: I graduated from UH Manoa. I was very busy on campus as a student at UH Manoa, which led to my being hired to work for Representative Patsy Mink in Washington DC as my first job after graduation. I went on to work elsewhere in Washington DC and then to Massachusetts for graduate school at Brandeis University. I lived and worked for more than a decade in the Boston area, where I earned my Ph.D. in sociology (which had been my undergraduate major at UH) before I turned 30.
I married shortly before our 25th UHS 63 Reunion! My husband Dennis Reynolds, is originally from Topeka Kansas. He heads a non-profit organization in the Washington DC area. So we have a commuter marriage! Dennis and I have one daughter, Dennell Reynolds, who just turned 24 years old. We raised Dennell in the Washington DC area. She majored in East Asian Studies with Mandarin as her language and now lives in Beijing! We have visited her there. So we have a commuter family!
Favorite Memory from UHS: One fun memory from high school was being part of the UHS group that took the unpopular view at the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council roundtables favoring China’s admission to the United Nations! When I have visited my daughter in China, I get vertigo remembering this! Change happens!
One question I have been meaning to ask: Wouldn’t it have been a lot more fun if the boys had to take home economics with the girls and the girls had to take shop with the boys?
Jade Young
Contact Infomation:
Mailing Address: Honolulu, HI 96815
Email:
Phone:
When did I start UHS? I started University High in the 7th grade having attended Waikiki Elementary School. I remember taking a Summer Session at UHS and being “tested.” Must have passed. I have no siblings or children who attended UHS. However, I have older cousins who did attend: Shirley Tom Lam, Larry Tom, Betso and Freddie, James Tom. Miss Kunioka remembered all of their names! My brothers attended Roosevelt High School; one went to Carleton College in Minnesota; the other went to med school and was an OB/Gyn at Queen’s for 35 years. I have a huge extended ohana – over 200 cousins, aunties, uncles (Pakes love to eat and then reproduce!); two grand nephews, 8 and 10 y.o., and one grandniece, 3 y.o. who is a total delight!
Current Activities (broadly defined): Currently working as a hospice chaplain for several years. This was not part of my chosen career path. However, after the unexpected death of my mother about 25 years ago, around the time that Hospice was beginning to be introduced to the wider community, I realized how ill prepared my family and I were. We were totally in the dark. Medically, we had a great oncology team. But, we had no clue as to how to deal with this transition emotionally or spiritually. Then 10 years ago, dad died, and more recently, the younger of my two brothers – all from pancreatic cancer. Dealing with these significant losses and other life-changing experiences influenced me to redirect my life focus from business consulting & outer successes, to developing transformational spiritual practices that help people find grace and a sense of wholeness after loss, whatever the loss.
Reinventing myself big time…Obama calls this “recalibration.” This led me to study with various teachers from different spiritual / religious traditions, focusing on holistic health and healing. Eventually, I returned to graduate school in midlife. Midlife crisis? Maybe. But to me, more like a fine tuning of my life purpose. At 55 years, I headed for Berkeley, CA, to attend Pacific School of Religion, a progressive seminary. In 2004, I received a Master’s of Divinity – and now I’m “certified divine” with paperwork to prove it.
Last summer, was my first creative attempt at a mini-documentary called, “Healing: An Inside Job.” (This can be viewed on youtube – google Kupuna Lens Program) To round things out, I swim at Kaimana Beach, occasionally teach yoga, go salsa dancing, hike Manoa Falls, and sing karaoke after 2 beers!
What I did after UHS: I headed straight for the University of Hawaii majoring in frat parties! I almost flunked out, so decided to get serious. Eventually graduated on the Dean’s List after several fun “detours in life,” (like a few semesters at Occidental College in LA) -- and got my BA in Eng Lit. In between all the academia, I got married to an outrageous black man who was an Afro-Cuban jazz dancer. We lived in Los Angeles for 4 years learning first hand about racism in America. (Many chapters here…) We returned to the islands, got my Bachelors Degree – and I took off to travel South East Asia on a cultural immersion trip. What I thought would be a 3 month program turned into two years of backpacking – lived in a Balinese villages for 6 months; saw the Ramayana Festival by moonlight in Jogjakarta, Indonesia; trekked through the jungles of Borneo to catch glimpses of the orangutan; camped out with Thai Shan men who were the porters for several archaeological digs in Northern Thailand near the Golden Triangle (the infamous opium fields); enjoyed fromage and homemade pate’ with the French in Vientiane, Laos, while the American military were bombing the heck out of the rice paddies of Vietnam (1970’s). I deliberately wore my hair long to my waist in those days – and looked Malaysian, Thai or Indonesian. Did not want to be viewed as an ‘ugly American.’ But, I did experience for myself why as a country, even back then, the United States is not the most popular or respected in the world.
I returned home in 1974 and did the EST training, a powerful, positive experience. I felt blessed to work with some of the most amazing, creative, committed, visionary folks to this date. After 5 years of working in HNL, San Jose, Wash DC and San Fran, I left the staff position and started my own consulting business teaching professionals how to “Dress to Win.” In my spare time, I fundraised with The Hunger Project, a global non-profit, and coordinated conferences in Honolulu, San Francisco, New York and Paris. Along the way I met and married a senior exec with Theo H. Davies. It turned out to be a “package deal” that came with two high school age surfer boys who were on their best behavior for the first year. Then their hormones woke up. Need I say more? I should have read the small print. Ahhh, those years would make a very funny soap opera!
I moved to SF after we separated and lived a hectic lifestyle still in the ‘fast lane.’ However, due to some health challenges, I needed to simplify my life and gladly shifted into the slow lane. The lush green countryside of the Big Island of Hawaii called to me. Landing in the quiet, verdant hills of North Kohala, I become a recluse for several years. Hard to believe. Yet, it was the best medicine ever. Yoga, meditation, nature walks and an occasional mai tai at the Mauna Kea Hotel topped off my daily to do list. Then a vision quest led me back to “civilization,” and eventually graduate school in Berkeley. Try going back to graduate school at 55 when the brain cells are rusty – a great challenge! Nowadays, I lead retreats, preach at different churches, teach Self Care practices to CareGivers, offer Hospice 101, provide grief counseling to families, coach clients who are ready to soar, and enjoy occasional road trips with friends up to Mendocino, Napa Valley and the San Juan Islands. Life is short, and precious. So bring on that bucket list!
Favorite memory from UHS: Hiking the bamboo forest atop Tantalus; late night beach parties at Queen’s Surf, watching the stars, playing guitar music with John Takasaki and eating malasadas! No other names to protect the guilty. Crushes on the good looking guys from the Big Island working at the cafeteria; English Comp class with Bud Hauser learning to write pithy epigrams; Y-Teen dances, meeting my first “boyfriend” there and dancing cheek to cheek; loved French class which came in handy years later when I honeymooned in Paris, 1987. Finally, Sr. Camp at Camp Erdman, Mokuleia – the boys vs. girls shaving cream and toothpaste fight – then jumping into the ocean to wash off the gooey stuff! Those were the days my friend, I thought they’d never end…
One question I’ve been meaning to ask: So, what will you / we do with our one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver, poet.
Carolyn Fukunaga (Goss)
Contact Information:
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th
Siblings who also attended UHS: None
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: My hubby Tim and I will celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary this year. We have two married daughters and two delightful grandchildren.
What I do now: As a volunteer mediator with the Center for Dialogue and Resolution (CDR) here in Eugene, Oregon, I co-mediate mostly community, parent-teen and restorative justice cases. I also mentor new mediators to CDR and coach small groups and role plays at the University of Oregon School of Law’s basic mediation trainings twice a year. In addition to this volunteer work, my sweet baboo and I try to spend as much time as we can with our grandchildren who live in the L.A. area by visiting them five to six times a year.
What I did after UHS: I attended the University of Hawaii and graduated with a bachelor’s in education followed by a master’s from Teachers College, Columbia University, and taught in New York, Hawaii and Oregon. After our girls flew da coop, I decided to take a leave from teaching language arts at Willamette High School and started volunteer work at CDR and also at a local hospice. After about six years of doing hospice patient care for Sacred Heart Hospital, I decided to focus on my mediation volunteering at CDR where I have been for the past fifteen years and am still loving it as I continue to learn about what motivates people, how the mediation process can transform lives and how all of this impacts my own thinking and beliefs.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I have many wonderful memories of attending UHS and believe all of you, my classmates, made those days ones I looked forward to and enjoyed. I would also like to thank you for being kind to me and may all of you continue to have much joy and love in your lives.
One question I have been meaning to ask: How did the time go by so quickly?
Sue Ann Lau
Contact Information:
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: 1st grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: younger brother, Ted, up to 6th grade
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: My late husband of over 30 great years of marriage, George, passed away in 2002. I have 2 children. Sheldon who is in real estate and specializing in appraisals. My daughter, Elisa, and her husband, Alvin, gave me two adorable grandchildren Jada Ann (4 yrs) and Max (16 mos). They are the joy in my life.
Current Activities: Since retiring from Aloha Airlines I have kept myself busy getting senior citizen discounts, running errands, shopping and cooking dinner for the family and traveling. I try to go to the YMCA twice a week which is a freebie thanks to Medicare. I also babysit/child care my two grandchildren whenever they are on vacation, sick or holidays. Whenever time permits there is always lunch dates with friends. My family loves to go to the Aulani Resort in Ko Olina. It is a great staycation for us to relax and it is only 45 minute from our home. I love being on retirement.
What I did after UHS: I graduated from UH with a BBA with a major in Travel Industry Management. After graduation I worked for the Hawaii Visitors Bureau for 8 years in the Membership Department in Waikiki. After having two children I decided to work part time so I could participate in their school activities and pick them up after school. Six years later I decided to go back to the travel industry and worked 22 years for Aloha Airlines. I worked in the Aloha Pass frequent flyer department, assisting Executive Club business members, and a ticket office agent all part of the reservations department. To this day life long friendships were made at Aloha Air and the people made working very enjoyable.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I’ll never forget Ricky playing the piano or dancing . It was also fun going to Saturday morning dance classes at Harry Kanada’s dance studio. This is where I also got to know other students our age from different high schools. The best part was when a group of us went down to a television channel hosted by Tom Moffat and actually danced on live TV. I also remember Diane Yanagisako buying records from my father’s store every week.
One question I have been meaning to ask: None
Sandra Aoki (Ohara)
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, HI 96822
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th
Siblings who also attended UHS: none
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: N/A
Current Activities: Still working – “headhunter” for Adecco (my 13th year). Love the job as long as they let me travel around the world – just returned from the Arctic to view the polar bears and before that went on a 3 week cruise from Miami through the Panama Canal to San Francisco. Besides travel, my hobbies are playing in duplicate bridge tournaments on the weekend and reading with my women’s book club. Have plans to do the Yangtze River Cruise in November and Iceland next February for the Northern Lights, Indonesia in the summer and another cruise from Lisbon to Rio next November (after reunion). Other extra curricular activities include Rotary, Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Assoc., Hawaii Information Telecommunications Assoc., Alpha Gamma Delta Hawaii Chapter, Women’s Campus Club, Downtown Exchange Club, etc. (that’s enough to list).
What I did after UHS: See above
Favorite Memory from UHS: Camp Erdman!
One question I have been meaning to ask: Can’t wait for our 50th – please try to make it! (sorry, not a question)
Stephen Murakami
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Kalanianaole Hwy
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th
Siblings who also attended UHS: Linda and Gordon
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Wife and my three sons.
Current Activities: Loving every minutes. Retired...sleeping, eating, fishing, sleeping, eating and fishing. When I have time, fixing the house and patio...wood work, painting, plumbing, lighting and flooring. Love growing plants and flowers.
What I did after UHS: Went to UH to eat lunch and shoot pool. I thought grades were like golf where you strive for a low score. Did well at that, but I don't remember my major. Later my Uncle Sam asked that I join the service. OK, so which service does a feesh join and feel comfortable...Navy of course. Great experience, but don't ask me to do that again. Would love to tell you what I did in the service...but then, I'd have to kill you.
After the service, went back to UH to get an engineering degree. Got married and had my three sons. After graduation, had a job waiting for me at Dillingham Shipyard. Later worked for Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for 36 years and retired last year. Great place to work and I loved my job. Ran the engineering gang for power to the ships, shops and all the cranes and in my "get ready for retirement" years, audited the department.
Growing flowers for florists and various individuals was a lot of work but I enjoyed working with the flowers and the people that ran those businesses.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Cutting out from school to go surfing at Makapuu, Sandy's and Waikiki. Also, going across to the lunch wagon to eat lunch at Gracy's. Senior Camp was great. Beginning part of this year, I started fishing just past Camp Erdman. Then I thought about senior camp...50 years ago was the last time there. Remembered those rowdy guys and gals smoking in our cabin...bad influence.
Questions I have been meaning to ask: Where has all the time gone?
Cheryl Lee Ho
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Lake Oswego, OR. 97035
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 1st, Miss Redding’s class
Siblings who also attended UHS: None
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Married 33 years to Roy Olsen. We have two children and five grandchildren (All under 5 yrs old). Our son, Spike, is in law enforcement, and is married to Mandy. (They have two children: daughter 3 yrs, and son 9 mos). Our daughter, Morgan, is a mom and businesswoman, and is married to Austin. (They have three children: daughters, ages 5 yrs, and 2 ½ years, and a son, 6 mos.) Whole family lives in Oregon.
Current Activities: My time is now spent trying to keep up with the grandchildren; exercising at the gym (so that I can keep up with the grandchildren); running an on-line shop; gardening (was thrilled about 4 years ago with my success at growing potatoes. Turns out anyone can do it and now we can’t get rid of them.); and fishing, crabbing, mushrooming (because I love to eat these). We travel home to Honolulu about twice a year, often with the kids, so that they can see how wonderful Hawaii is.
What I did after UHS: I stayed at home and attended the UH for 5 years (B. Ed 1967, and M. Ed 1968), and hung out with the UH newspaper staff Ka Leo O Hawaii (managing editor and editor) and wanted to pursue a journalism career, but was persuaded to become a teacher instead. Did my student teaching at the lab school and knew that teaching was not going to be my dream job. Then off to Boston to work at Harvard Business School as research assistant. By then, I decided that I wanted to pursue law, so I came to Oregon to go to law school. (Hawaii did not have a law school yet.) Graduated from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College, in Portland, OR. (JD) I have been living in Oregon ever since. Spent the next almost 30 years working for the State of Oregon as an Assistant Attorney General and an Administrative Law Judge. Retired in 2003.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Working on the newspaper Ke Kupina’i junior and senior years; eating saimin at College Inn after school; smelling those fat, wonderful smelling carnation leis at proms; making kim chee and binding books in Mrs. Yang’s 6th grade class.
Questions I have been meaning to ask: No questions, but one comment. I’ve been reading the bios of the classmates. They are awesome. What an extraordinary group of people. Love the humor.
Frank Yap
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu 96811
Email:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th Grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: none
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Married, with children; those children begat 5 children
Current Activities:
Striving to remain gainfully employed – while avoiding reliance upon meager retirement benefits from several sources. Accompanying a directionally-challenged spouse in her wanderings through airport terminals during her thrice yearly treks to visit her grandchildren.
What I did after UHS:
Attended the local university, finally graduating after 10 semesters, in what was then called the College of Business Administration while engaging in 4 years of focused fraternity activity. Completed the ROTC program during the first 8 semesters, and became an officer and gentleman, by virtue of receiving a sheet of parchment. Was one of two officers, the Army decided to avoid ordering to active duty upon receipt of that parchment. (The other classmate eventually retired as a 2-star.) With that education deferment, was able to timely complete law school – in spite of Las Vegas being a 3.5 hrs. drive to the northeast, and other diversions across the border. After that first year of graduate school, I ran out of excuses and married the woman I took to the UHS Jr. and Sr. proms.
After receiving a bar license, commenced active Army duty only to be released after several months as the war was at its end stage. (Served in an Army Reserve unit with Ricky AuHoy and Larry Lim, who was in another Reserve unit, until retirement.) Returned to Hawaii with a slightly pregnant spouse and was hired by the State Attorney General’s office. After less than 5 years, was lured away by visions of better providing for what was now a family of four. Remained in private practice until 1991, when appointed to a state position. Remained in that appointed position until completion of its 10 year term. Returned to private practice in an attempt to stay on the grid. Around 2011, ceased representing clients – Goodbye Stress. Thank goodness my spouse remains gainfully employed! As are the children – one of whom is still paying off her student loans.
During this journey, met a number of fine folks, attended a number of formal courses in such locales as Charlottesville VA and Reno NV, and showed up at seminars and workshops in various locales on the West Coast, East Coast and even the mid-West. It’s debatable by some, whether anything was really “learned” – somewhat similar to that experienced in those UICSM classes, many of us may still hold near and dear.
Favorite Memory from UHS:
Specifics are somewhat of a blur. Being a member of the Destiny’s Hi-Y club, shooting pool with Jim Levine, Jim Oda, Bill Beppu and Dwight Miyauchi come to mind. Another – after picking up or dropping Dwight off at home, and driving up Valley View Dr. – stopping at the traffic light on Likelike Hwy, then attempting to engage the clutch on that 1950 Chevy, was a delight. Adding to Dr. Beppu’s remembrance of Varsity Bowl, I can visualize that pinball machine – with its bowling layout – and how ‘bonus’ games could be indiscriminately added. Many a productive hour was spent refining digital dexterity. The 7th & 8th grade “canteens” in the Barn, which solidified the notion that continued attendance at an all-boys school could be stifling. Having a student teacher in senior study hall wearing an ROTC uniform with the rank of cadet colonel, then years later serving under that same individual who now was a one-star, was another life experience.
One question I have been meaning to ask: When and why were those canteens discontinued? And in their stead, what did adolescents, with developing hormones, do for socialization?
Vincent Lee
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, Hawaii
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Grade 7
Siblings who also attended UHS: Stephen H G Lee graduated in 1964.
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Married with 2 children from 1st wife. First wife, a child psychiatrist, passed away in 1987. Widower for 18 years. Second wife is a wound care nurse with 2 step-daughters. Children live and have their careers on the mainland - son, Matthew lives in New Orleans, daughter, Leilani lives in Philadelphia, and step-daughter, Nicole, lives in Nashville.
What I do now:
- Presently working with Hawaii Health System Corp. as a Regional Chief Executive Officer with responsibilities for 2 Long Term Care / Post Acute care hospitals.
- Volunteer on various community organization boards, such as Maximum Legal Services Corp
- Practicum Instructor for graduate Social Work interns.
- Serve on a couple of national organization boards, such as Asian Health Care Leadership Assoc.
- Member of the State Board of Health
- Preparing for and looking forward to retirement
What I did after UHS:
- Attended University of Hawaii and received a BA and Master’s in Public Health Administration
- Attended George Williams College Graduate School in Downer’s Grove, IL and received a Master’s in Social Work.
- Married in 1973 and attended UH School of Public Health (MPH)
- Began a career in Healthcare and became board certified as a Healthcare Executive and board certified in Clinical Social Work.
- Practiced part time with Spouse until her illness
Favorite Memory from UHS: Senior camp at Camp Erdman. Mudsliding at Tantulus. Doing pushups at Mr. Ed Yee's class.
One question I have been meaning to ask: What happened to Mr. Ed Kawasaki?
Vince will receive the Healthcare Association of Hawaii (hospitals, nursing home, home health agencies & members) 2013 Healthcare Leadership Award on September 7, 2013.
Walter Fong
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Oregon
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Started at the Lab school in 2nd grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: 3 siblings attended: David left before graduation, Pam left before graduation and Jan graduated from UHS.
Children who attended UHS: No children attended the lab school
Family Information: Wife Nora, Maui High school class of '63; Daughter Kim, husband Neil Nakao and grandchildren Cade age 9 and Shaun age 6; Son Ryan, wife Angie and grandchild Alex 9 months.
What I do now: Declining time on the golf course due to ailing arms and rising scores. Walking the dog for exercise both for the dog and the old man. Babysitting as requested. Traveling, just returned from a trip to Central Europe with Clayton Ching and his wife. Get togethers with high school friends... a cadre of classmates form a group called the Hui which include Roy Kanno, Vernon Kajikawa, John Lee, Steve Murakami, Howard Yoshiura and John Chong. Poker a couple times a week to supplement our stagnant fixed income.
What I did after UHS: Graduated from UH with a major in Business Administration (management). A short stint in the Navy which included one WestPac cruise in the Gulf of Tonkin (Viet Nam), returned to Hawaii in 1970 and got married. Left Hawaii one day later and moved to Los Angeles to seek fame and fortune....accomplished neither. Short employment with a computer manufacturer as an Industrial Engineer, 5 years with the City of Los Angeles as a budget analyst, started a food distribution company which lasted about 9 years. Started playing poker for a living in the early 1980's till I retired in 2000. Along the way, I got a divorce and remarried. I came to the conclusion that California was the worst state in the Union to be retired in and selected a move back to Hawaii for a more reasonable cost of living. Imagine that!!! Through the years I lived in Hollywood, Burbank, Torrance, Tehachapi before moving back home.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I enjoyed immensely the High school band classes and also the activities of the Hi-Y Destiny's club. Generally speaking though, I was always impressed with the great classmates at the school. I remember that there were very few, if any, conflicts, and a genuine respect we all had for each other. Later in life I would come to the realization that I never hung out with a more intelligent group. I think the later accomplishments of our classmates is proof of the abilities we all had.
One question I have been meaning to ask: None
Robert Winsor DeForest
What is life if it’s not be to lived? UNIKI 1963
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Austin, Texas 78738
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7
Siblings who also attended UHS: None
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Vicki (Wife), Heather (Daughter - Cedar Park TX), Michael (Son-in-law), Pierce (Grandson), Livia (Granddaughter), and Daniel (Son - Redondo Beach CA)
Current Activities: So far, I’m still able to play golf, tennis, and go to the gym. We love to travel. Our favorite types are bike trips (New Zealand, Alaska, Canadian Rockies, South Africa, Croatia, Slovenia, Ireland, France, Italy), take river cruises (Russia, Egypt, and China) and family vacations (Yellowstone, Costa Rica). I also like to volunteer in National and State Parks (Arkansas, Texas, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona) and do trail creation, maintenance or whatever is needed. I also volunteer in a local food pantry. We just moved to a new house in Austin so my wife’s favorite activity now is spending money.
What I did after UHS: I attended the University of Oregon (GO DUCKS!) from 1963 to 1967 and graduated with a degree in Economics (which I never used). I married Vicki in 1967 so I also got a “Mr.” degree. I joined Shell Oil Company as an Accountant (took 3 accounting classes in school) at its Martinez Refinery in Northern California. I was transferred in 1975 to Shell’s US Headquarters in Houston. I had many assignments in different departments and companies within Shell and retired on April Fools Day, 2003. The most rewarding assignment was to help start Shell’s Electronic Commerce program when EC was just starting and worked to implement it within Shell and the petroleum and chemical industries.
Favorite Memory(s) from UHS: Indoctrinating the new student teachers, Senior Camp, learning journalism from working on Ke Kupina’I, taking French from the teacher from Tahiti, meeting Vernon Kajikawa the first day in school – he was a good friend and helped me get settled in school way out of my comfort zone, and congenial classmates (we had no bullying).
One question I have been meaning to ask: Do they still let students work in the cafeteria? (I can’t imagine this is happening today).
Kaori O'Connor
Contact Info:
email:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th
Any siblings who attended UHS: none
Children who attended UHS: none
Family information: Husband died in 2007, one daughter, aged 21, studying Classics at Oxford
What I did after UHS: Graduation Day was the turning point. After we had been together for so many years, it was strange and sad to see everyone – so dressed up as to be unrecognizable and laden with leis up to the eyes – claimed by relatives and led away. For me, it was the end of the Fellowship. I haven’t seen most of you since that hot afternoon so long ago, and I’m sorry I won’t be at the Reunion because work commitments keep me in London.
You guys are the only people who still call me ‘Lynne’ and this is why. One summer after graduation, in an attempt to save me from the surf, my parents sent me to the cannery. It was a pineapple-flavored nightmare, and made the beach look even better than it had before. After eight or more hours of trimming pine day after day, you become desperate to claw something positive out of the experience. Flash of insight. One thing I could do was dump the name I had always hated, and use my middle name instead. So right there on the trimming table, chop-chop-chop, the first name disappeared. Enter Kaori.
After UHS I went to Reed and became a convert to the cult of anthropology. After the Reed BA, I came to England, to Oxford University, a golden dream of a place, where I got two more degrees in anthropology. Then I decided it was time for a change, especially when I realized that the next anthropological stage would be three years in the wilds of Papua New Guinea. I was fascinated by fashion – London was the most exciting world fashion capital at the time, the ultimate catwalk. I did the Vogue Talent Contest and won a job on Vogue, beginning many heady years at the heart of London fashion. I was the founding editor of the Fashion Guide, and wrote books on fashion and design until I was persuaded to become an editor and publisher, which involved travelling the world looking for interesting authors and projects.
What I do now: Then I did my PhD and now combine popular and academic anthropology – I’m a university Research Fellow and also write books and articles about the anthropology of food and fashion, the most recent being on Lycra - How a Fiber Shaped America (2011) and on The English Breakfast (2013). Also – the irony! - I’ve just done a book on the history of pineapples (2013). I’m finishing a book on feasting in antiquity, and I will be doing a book on the Hawaiian luau for the University of Hawaii Press. I’ve won the Sophie Coe Prize for Food History and the Pasold Prize for Textile History and I do television and radio work on food and fashion – the program we shot last week was on the history of canapés at the Savoy Hotel in London. Yum.
Favorite memories from UHS: Standing on the balcony, looking out towards Waikiki and imagining we could see the surf. Or maybe, back then, we really could. The last day of UICSM, hurrah! The joy has never left me. Seeking refuge in Mr Kyselka’s office, and every second of the wonderful John Spade’s English classes.
Our web site: To all those on the In Memoriam page – you are loved and not forgotten.
Questions I've been meaning to ask: Does anyone have Miss Kunioka’s recipes for Hamburger Stew and Ivory Jelly with Chocolate Sauce?
Carolyn Watanabe (Adler)
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, HI 96822 (Howard Yoshiura’s old house...we bought it from his parents in 1978)
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: I started UHS in the beginning of 9th grade two weeks into the new school year. (I was attending St. Andrews Priory when notified of an opening at the Lab School)
Siblings who also attended UHS: Three younger siblings - Brent ’66, Roger ’69 and Kathy ’76
Children who attended UHS: Two of my three children attended the Lab School. The eldest did not get in but the younger two graduated in ’98 and ’02 respectively.
Family Information: I have three daughters all born and raised in Honolulu. All three went away to mainland colleges but returned home to settle. Presently two are married and the third is engaged. The older two just made us grandparents (Oct.4,2012 & May 6,2013) both having boys. Peter my husband is from Chicago. We met in the Peace Corps.
What I do now: Currently I am chief babysitter and bottle washer for my two girls and loving every minute of this grandparent business.
What I did after UHS: After UHS I went to Butler University in Indianapolis and graduated in '67 then went into the Peace Corps from '67 to '69. Got married in '69. We both went to the U. of Missouri for graduate work and received our Masters in' '70 Returned to Hawaii in ''71 and began working at the Honolulu Zoo and Kodak Hula show before landing a "real" job at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind where I worked for 30 years as a teacher, school counselor and diagnostic team member(respectively). After retiring in 2003 we moved to Colorado (Peter was getting a bit of rock fever and since, the girls were all out of high school felt it was the right time to fly the coop for awhile). We returned home last year and are here to stay (hopefully).
Favorite Memory from UHS: One of my fondest memories of UHS was working in the cafeteria with Ms. Kunioka the high priestess of the joint and her two fun assistants Jean & Doris. What a riot!
One question I have been meaning to ask: None
William J. Beppu
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Olympia, WA 98516
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: John Takasaki and I started at UHS in the 8th grade after being in the same class at Jarrett Intermediate School for 7th grade.
Siblings who also attended UHS: my sister, Anita, graduated in 1967
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Married 37 years to Diana, 3 children. Lori-married, architect in Southampton NY-her first child was born last month(4-2-13). Chrissy-married, Pediatric Critical Care Flight nurse, Sammamish WA, two children, 5 years and 9 months old. William-single, still trying different jobs, living fairly near to Olympia.
What I do now: Still working full time though the horizon is in sight. Active in our church, Bible Study Fellowship, and a transitional living ministry. We babysit Chrissy's children when she flies out of Olympia. More occasional other activities include skiing, steelhead and salmon fishing, and hiking.
What I did after UHS: I left UHS thinking that science was the answer to our problems-judging from other responses I must have been among the few who liked UICSM. I went to Stanford, where I quickly gave up the notion that meaning was to be found in school, and ended up trying meditation, mountaineering, and martial arts. Somehow despite the fuzzy times I also did marine biology then medicine. At the end of my surgical internship Vietnam was winding down, and I almost joined the Navy to do submarine medicine, but was recruited into the anesthesia residency before making that move. I met my wife Diana while I was an intern, and we were married in my last year of residency-we celebrated 37 years this past March. We moved to Olympia in 1977 and raised our 3 children here. Just this past summer we moved across town, downsizing after 25 years in our previous home.
My sister Anita has been retired for a few years and recently decided to take up residence in Hawaii. Our mother is in a care home in Kalihi, and I try to get back a couple of times a year to see her.
I haven't been in close touch with too many of our classmates over the years, with an unfortunate overrepresentation of a number of my better friends from UHS among those who have passed away-John Dobbs, Donald Fox, Dwight Miyauchi, and John Takasaki. I had visited with Will Kyselka a couple of times and met his wife, but am aware that he has passed away as well. A few years ago I reconnected with Glenn Bauer and met Donald Fox's wife at a mutual friend's home. Unfortunately this was after Don had passed away. Last year I ran across an account of someone hiking the entire Koolau crest, and found some references to exploratory hikes that Don and a friend had made, and that led me to connecting with Glen again by email since he had done quite a bit of hiking with Don.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Going on a hike up Wililinui Ridge with Ricky AuHoy when he heard Mickey Mantle hit his 60th home run on his transistor radio. Surfing, diving and playing pinball at Varsity Bowl, sometimes when school was in session. Torching for tako and weke with Keith Tanaka and others from his French class.
One question I have been meaning to ask: How do you eat local food without getting unhealthy or at least gaining too much weight?
Ricky AuHoy
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Honolulu, HI 96826
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Kindergarten
Siblings who also attended UHS: Sisters - Judy (1964) and Brenda (1967)
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Wife - Maria, son - Jeff (1980, Hawaiian musician) and daughter - Cathy (1982, graphic designer)
What I do now: Submarine Program Manager at Pacific Fleet Headquarters (COMPACFLT)
What I did after UHS:
I graduated from UHS as a classic underachiever with nothing better than a B in everything except Concert Band. However, I made the Dean’s List in my freshman year at UH because I wanted to go to the mainland to be near the girl I had a crush on all through high school (feeling wasn’t mutual, by the way). Not getting invited with Dayton and Melvin to join the Chinese fraternity (Peng Hui) left me with not much social life and further helped me focus on studying and getting good grades .
After two years and two summers at UH, I was able to transfer to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where I was given credit for three semesters of their undergraduate requirements. It was a struggle at MIT as I lacked confidence and also was easily distracted by all the major sports activity available in the area. Spending my parents’ hard-earned cash, I went to a Boston Celtic (basketball) game with a date from Wellesley College, had two years of season tickets for the Boston Patriots (football), and attended several Boston Red Sox games (baseball), including three games of the 1967 World Series. I finally graduated in June 1968.
Because I graduated a year later than expected, I was “1-A” in draft status. So immediately after graduating, a friend and I drove across country and stopped in Davis, California for an Army ROTC interview. Would have preferred to return to UH but my grades were not good enough and three former MIT professors on the UC Davis faculty were willing to accept me. After two years at Davis, I had a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering as well as an Army ROTC commission. The latter included a Summer 1969 ROTC Summer Camp at Fort Lewis, Washington. That was one of the most difficult achievements in my life as I was not used to getting up at 3:30am to clean toilets among other things. It was embarrassing to be in the same camp at the UH ROTC cadets and their “gung ho” attitude towards everything Army. I remember leaving out a part from my rifle and being assigned 180 pushups on the first day. Also remember the 26 mile march with full backpack that ended at the top of a hill where the ROTC instructors were watching the first moon landing (“…a giant step for mankind”).
I went on active duty with the Army in January 1971. For the six months between graduation and active duty I was hired by Kelly Girl to be the driver for Chinn Ho. Lots of stories about that too, but the thing I remember most was my fascination with Mr. Ho’s daughter Heather Ho, my first social interaction with a girl from Punahou School. I served two years on active duty, all of it at Aberdeen Proving Grounds as an Electrical Engineer in research and development. My original orders said “For ultimate assignment to unaccompanied short tour area” but by 1972, Signal Corps personnel were being withdrawn so I never had to go to Vietnam.
After returning to Hawaii, I started my Federal career working for the Army Communications-Electronics Installation Command at Schofield Barracks. The economy was bad then so I remember sending out about twenty resumes and getting no responses. The Army civilian job paid well but after they sent me to Okinawa twice, I decided to move to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard where I would be working right next to the pier. I started in the Nuclear Engineering Shift Test Engineer program but was “riffed” a year later and given a job as a non-nuclear Production Test Engineer. Six years later I returned to Nuclear Engineering and worked there until 1985 when I moved to my present job at Pacific Fleet headquarters.
I met Maria in 1974 at a Chinese Jaycees party. Turned out both of us didn’t care for these loud parties (although we both enjoyed the bowling league) and we eventually got married in 1977. Jeff was born in 1980 and Cathy in 1982 so Maria was busy taking care of them while I was busy with my Navy job and Army Reserve. I decided around that time that it was too hard on the family to work every day of the year, usually ten hours a day, except Christmas. I had stayed in the Army Reserve after leaving active duty and sometimes would get off night shift at around 6am then head directly to the Reserve Center for my weekend drill. I needed to spend more time with the family so in late 1983, I resigned from being Operations Officer at the 411th Engineer Battalion, and in early 1985, I left the shipyard for my present job as a Ship Maintenance Program Manager at Pacific Fleet headquarters.
Jeff and Cathy both graduated from Punahou School, then went to college on the mainland. Jeff is a local musician. He is well known for his expertise on the steel guitar, and have done recordings with the Cazimero’s, Cyril Pahanui and several other well-known Hawaiian entertainers. Jeff also sings and plays all the Hawaiian string instruments, with regular gigs at The Corner Kitchen in Kapahulu and the Aulani Disney Resort in Kapolei. Cathy is the principal Graphic Designer for Pacific Business News and has also done freelance work for several local businesses. We are very proud of both our kids!
Maria has taught Mandarin Chinese at several local schools, including Punahou, Hawaii Baptist Academy, and Iolani School. She retired a couple of years ago, but was asked to each part-time at Kapiolani Community College. This fall she will “unretired” and resume teaching at Iolani.
I stayed in the Army Reserve for thirty years and having been receiving a nice retirement check since 2005. Assignments in the Reserve took me all over the US, and numerous times to exotic places like Sapporo, Japan and various cities in Korea. I completed the Army War College Strategic Studies Program in 1993. However, I never had command of anything larger than a Company (about 150 soldiers) so was not a good candidate for a General Officer position. Best thing about my experience in the Reserve are the retirement benefits. We make trips to the PX and Commissary at least once a week.
Also should mention that I taught accounting at Kaimuki Community School for about ten years, ending in 2012. Although I am way past my prime in terms of work production, in the past few years I’ve been able to achieve a lifelong goal of being able to speak extemporaneously (teaching)for a couple of hours at a time, also to brief high ranking officers (i.e. Navy Admirals) without a second thought. For most of my life, I was haunted by an experience in a high school English class where I was so intimidated by one of my classmates sitting in the front row that I was unable to begin an oral presentation. That’s all in the past now so I can finally retire “in peace”. When that will actually happen is still uncertain as I continue to earn retirement credits (i.e. increase my Civil Service retirement check) for another year and a half. But going through the furloughs that started a week ago make it very tempting to just get out now…
Favorite Memories from UHS:
- Playing the piano
- UHS Band
- Bamboo pole fishing with classmates at Diamond Head
- Hiking with classmates above Wilhemina Rise
One question I have been meaning to ask: Why do people you considered to be close friends in high school sever all ties after graduation?
Jeff and Cathy AuHoy
Linda Mae Onomoto
aka Moor
Contact Information:
Mail Address:
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 2nd Grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: N/A
Children who attended UHS: N/A
Family Information: N/A
Current Activities: Tennis, Hula, working in the yard, keep up the maintenance on the house, still working at Aloha Tax Service (bookkeeping & tax preparation) and 1 day/week doing bookkeeping for an audio-video installer.
What I did after UHS: Hooboy! Do you really want to know? To begin with, you know it was the 60's - and I jumped in wholeheartedly, feet first. Always wanted to just "get off this rock" and did so, but then I get ahead of myself. I did try to do my stint at the UH Manoa for a semester, and maybe a half. Made the mistake of sitting next to Tommy Byrnes in Science Class (Varsity Theater). I don't remember what happened after the test that Thos signed "Peter Pan". Then I moved out from under the "Warden"s roof, into an apartment right across the UH, on Seaview. Since it was so close to the UH, I always felt I could sleep in a little longer. Pretty soon, I was missing most of my classes, so decided to "do something else". Got into a lot of "stuff". Always wanted to know why I couldn't do this or that, and had more restrictions than the guys. I found out (and the guys really do have more fun). Went to Japan (after finally going back to the UH to get a BA in English Lit) as a graduation present from my dad. Still wasn't through. Went to Europe (youth hostels and hitchhiking, and working as a waitress). Spent a summer on the Big Island doing archaeological field work (base camp secretary); camped and traveled along the East Coast and into Canada with a roommate and her boyfriend; visited a friend in Curacao; lived in Cambridge, MA for about 9 months, working in an office in Harvard (Development Advisory Service); tried a bunch of jobs-usually dealing with numbers and bookkeeping, sometimes waitressing. All that was NOT in chronological order, but that was the state of my mind back then too. Am now, a bit more settled down. Have not traveled in I don't know how long. Had the same job for some 25 years.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Skipping class to go to the beach. Days at Makapuu, Canoes. Surfing with Lynne O'Connor and Jade(?) Senior camp, of course. Hearing Tommy Byrnes shuffling down the hallways. Bad memories - being locked in the boy's bathroom, with I think Jerry Park? smoking a cigarette, and then being let out in a cloud of smoke just as Cheong-Lum walked by.
One question I have been meaning to ask: The usual - whatever happened to our class banner? Also, how did those guys from class know where to find Winona and I after the first showing of our senior class play?
Vernon Kajikawa
Contact Information:
Mail Address:
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: Randy (’59); Susan (’66)
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Wife: Lorri (married 41+ years); son Reid (Michelle, Miranda (6), & Evan (3); Bend, OR); and daughter Shannon (Keith Asato, Audrey (2+), & Bradley (1); Honolulu, HI).
Current Activities: Enjoy golfing with the gang (aka: “dorobos” - Clay Ching, John Chong, Walter Fong, Brian Shimabukuro, Howard Yoshiura, Dennis Sugihara, and Roy Kanno whenever he’s in town) as long as my dimes and quarters hold out. I do some baby sitting & stay out of trouble by doing yard work & my share of stuff around the house. I also serve on a financial institution education Board and occasionally conduct classes on soft skills and leadership. Since Lorri and I are retired, we take a couple of trips a year. Last year we took a Viking cruise to China (it was a great trip) and will continue to visit National Parks and other key sites in the “lower 48”.
What I did after UHS: Graduated from UH with a BBA and an Army ROTC commission. I spent the next 32 years with the US Army serving on active duty for two years and working as a Federal employee for 30 years doing human resources work for the Army civilian employees. As an Army lieutenant and civilian employee, I had tours in Detroit, MI; Republic of Vietnam; Okinawa, Japan; Camp Zama, Japan; & Los Angeles, CA. I returned to HI in 1981 and have lived here ever since. After retiring in August 2001, I worked for a credit union for over six years as a trainer. I’ve been “totally” retired since January 2008.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I have three: 8th grade camp and our commando raids with Mr. Choo; senior camp; and the Destiny’s doing the “Hukilau” hula for entertainment at the UHS’s Aloha Week Dance in 1962. Carolyn (Holu) Smith was our hula instructor and Keith Racuya stole the show (although our antics are not politically correct these days)!
One question I have been meaning to ask: and will continue to ask, “who has our class banner?”
Tom Byrnes
Contact Information:
Mail Address: La Habra, CA 90631
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 9th
Siblings who also attended UHS: None
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Divorced, Four Children, Six Grandchildren
What I do now: Got my own contractor license in the early 90’s and have my own General Contracting Business that was never anything very elaborate - has contracted to more resemble a one-man glorified Handyman business. I have managed to stay in the good graces of a Fast Food Chain in Southern California, El Pollo Loco. They keep me from manning a Freeway off ramp with a cardboard sign.
What I did after UHS: One year at UH. I was not eligible for a second. I worked a couple of jobs, MDS and George’s Union Station for a year and applied for re-admission. I almost made it through the first Semester, but I decided to leave after Christmas Vacation. The U.S. Army was salivating. I was off to Pittsburgh PA to seek refuge in the loving arms of the U.S. Air Force. Fewer rice paddies and live ammo.
I ended up stationed at Travis Air Force Base, about an hours drive north of San Francisco, for the balance of my tour of duty…..after basic training and Tech School. I was one of four guys that manned an office, 24/7. Twelve hours on, twelve off, for three days, then three days off. That’s a three-day pass every three days, an hours drive from the City, from mid 1966 to late 1969. Gee, whatever was I to do with a 3-day pass every three days…….that close to the City……at that particular time? Fortunately I didn’t need to get too creative to come up with something. Opportunities seemed rather prevalent and I embraced them with the gusto and vigor of a hound dog in heat.
Upon my discharge, I returned home to find I had sorta missed the boat for the responsible career track most of my peers had chosen. I’d been seduced by the counter-culture movement. I toyed with New College at UH, an alternative to the regular curriculum; but, even that seemed too structured and demanding for me at the time. I think I was just motivated to qualify for my VA benefits.
I met a young lady with two small children. Instant family. A couple of years later we had one of our own. And about 10 years after that, now living in the greater Los Angeles area, we had another. I had done a variety of Construction related work, off and on, in the islands after the Air Force, and was able to find work here with a General Contractor.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I remember Camp Erdman our senior year. Our Cabin had a live electrical wire hanging out of the wall. If you were touching the metal bed frame when someone touched the wire to said frame, you got a little zing. We created a line of people from the bed frame out our Cabin door and began soliciting various passers-by to shake hands. Once we had a firm hold of some naïve fish….we touched the wire to the frame. Everyone got shocked; but WE all new it was coming. I remember Mr. Will was especially suspicious of our attempt to get him to shake hands.
One question I have been meaning to ask: Why didn’t I get to take UICSM? Noooooooo, not really. (UICSM seems to be the predominant theme for these questions……and that’s as close as I could get and remain in compliance.)
Clayton Ching
Contact Information:
Mail Address: Mililani, HI 96789
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: 7th Grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: Sister - Louneille
Children who attended UHS: None
Family Information: Wife - Gayle, Stepdaughters - Judy Kern and Patricia Johnson, Stepson - Robert Johnson
What I do now: I fully retired from the Navy in 2008 and made a concerted effort to place greater priority on traveling the world and playing golf on a regular basis. However, I discovered that I didn’t have as much discretionary time as I expected! I spend a good part of my time being a caregiver for my mom who turns 102 this August. Nonetheless, I usually manage to get in a couple rounds of golf each week and my wife and I have completed 3 trips to Europe. We are taking a river cruise on the Danube this spring with Walter Fong and his wife.
What I did after UHS: I attended USC for 5 years, receiving a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Then I joined the Navy to avoid being drafted. I went to Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, followed by Civil Engineer Corps Officer School at Port Hueneme, California before being assigned to my first duty station --- Orlando, Florida! Back then, Orlando wasn’t on the map and Disney World was just being built on the other side of town. That was the start of some memorable tours of duty! I spent two tours in Japan, one in the Bay Area and two more in Hawaii at various stages of my career.
In mid-career, I spent 16 months at UW in Seattle getting a Master’s degree in Urban Planning. It was part of an effort to get the Navy’s professional staff credentials that are comparable to their counterparts in private industry. The chance to be a “civilian” while getting schooling and a full paycheck was a treat --- sort of like a sabbatical.
Toward the end of my career, I got assigned to the Pentagon and that was a real eye-opener --- looong days and a hectic pace! The gulf war with Iraq --- Operations Desert Shield/Storm --- made that building a beehive 24/7. However, I was more heavily involved in the Base Closure initiatives. As the Navy’s “Action Officer” for Base Closures, I chaired most of the meetings and workshops leading up to the Navy’s closure nominations in 1991, referred to as BRAC II. An independently appointed Commission subsequently made the final closure decisions.
After retiring from active duty in 1994, I worked briefly for Hawaii State Civil Defense in Diamond Head Crater and for the City and County in Design and Construction. While with the City, I enjoyed being project manager for the Waipio Soccer Park and the Central Oahu Regional Park. Eventually, though, I went back to working for the Navy as a supervisor in 2001 and stayed until I fully retired in 2008.
Favorite Memory from UHS: As those in our UHS golf gang know, my recollection of details about our high school experience is very faint. But, I distinctly recall how nice it was to be part of such a close knit group! We all knew each other --- which I later found out isn’t the case at larger schools --- and in many cases knew where each one lived. I remember one of our student teachers revealing to us that our best friends in life would be our high school friends. It wasn’t apparent back then, but has proven to be so true!
One question I have been meaning to ask: Did UICSM ever get “adopted” as a method for teaching math in schools? Or were we part of a failed experiment?
Miles Nakashima
Contact Information:
Mail Address: West Dundee, IL 60118
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: Seventh - 1958
Siblings who also attended UHS: none
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Linda (spouse); sons - Michael, Jeremy; daughter-in-laws - Angela, Katy; granddaughter - Emma; grandson - Ethan James born 9/23/13
What I do now: I retired from the Army after 22 years in 1990 and started working in the financial services industry for banks and insurance companies as a leadership development consultant. I decided to move the beat of my own drum in 2010 because I wanted to spend time with my grandchildren and doing what I wanted to do - read, travel, learn how to golf, play 16-inch softball in a 65-year and older league, go fishing, cook and grill, and keep the “honey do” jar at a decent level.
What I did after UHS: I attended the University of Missouri, Columbia and had such a great time that I took five years to complete a four year program. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry at graduation, I started active duty in November 1968 and spent the next 22 years in various command and staff positions. Linda and I were married in 1969 (44 years and still going) and she was the atypical military wife. Earned my Master's degree by going to night classes over a two-year period. Offered a position in the Pentagon in 1990, I decided to retire from the Army and entered the corporate world and worked for various regional banks and international property and casualty insurance companies until 2010.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I commuted from Kaneohe when I attended UHS and it was considered “country” in those days so I expected to be treated like a “country bumpkin” but found my classmates to be the best people one could ever hope to meet. The closeness and spirit of cooperation in everything we did always stands out in my memory.
One question I have been meaning to ask: How many of you really understood UICSM?
John Chong
Contact Information:
Mail Address:
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: University Preschool
Siblings who also attended UHS: James and Joseph
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: wife: Carol; daughter Cynthia works for a Health Care Group and son, Byron is with Love's Bakery.
5 grandchildren: Kacie: 14, Cyndi: 11 and Aaron Yoshida: 9; Nikki: 7 and Colby Chong: 4 and a little dog, Doree.
What I do now: Vernon Kajikawa and Walter Fong started me golfing after I retired and we have had a few UHS classmates golfing together ever since. My wife and I travel, on occasion, mostly to check out this wonderful country of ours. We run the Temple Valley Day Care and Transport Service providing such services as pick up and drop off, 24 hour housing and meals etc. It is non-profit and our clients are basically the children listed above. We have been known to frequent the children's sporting events, recitals, performances etc.
What I did after UHS: After high school, I attended UH and graduated with a business degree in 1967. Married Caroline Yamashita shortly thereafter. We have lived in Kaneohe since the 70's and in our current home, in Kahaluu since 1972. Retired after 32 years with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1999. After a year off, worked for 7 years with the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services, retiring for good in March of 2008.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I don't have any single memory that I can call my favorite. The best thing about attending the University school system is that I got to make lifetime friends from people I met there. UHS prepared me well for UH and I have a wealth of memories from my years there.
One question I have been meaning to ask: Whatever happened to our teachers like Ed Liu and Harold Hauser? How come no one has this fabulous beach house where we could just hang out? How come Sharon Soper didn't recognize me when I was on one of her flights?
Dayton Auyong
Contact Information:
Mail Address:
Email:
Telephone:
What grade did you start UHS: First Grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: Jared and Gerard
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Married to Ann Marie Ada. One daughter, Marie Cynthia Auyong.
What I do now: Volunteer counselor for California State Health Insurance Program providing Medicare information to Seniors. Continue to travel while physically (and mentally) able. Amateur ball room dancer...gave gift certificate for six lessons to wife for Christmas...and it was the "slippery slope" from then on. Visit and spend more time with family and friends in HI and Guam.
What I did after UHS: Graduated from UH then entered the USAF where I spent a 21-year career and retired in 1989. Worked at the University of California - Riverside in the Material Department and retired.
Favorite Memory from UHS: These are not necessary favorites but: Fay, Tahi and Darcy outracing all the boys in elementary school; working for Miss Kunioka in the Cafeteria; all the new classmates that invaded us in 7th grade...they were so "big," "athletic," and "smart;" Destiny's Hi Y...I sold a lot of sweet bread; I felt that I was a member of a large family.
One question I have been meaning to ask: If I angered you while at UHS, I hope you would forgive me and have a drink with me at the reunion.
Dennis Sugihara
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What grade did you start UHS: Preschool
Siblings who also attended UHS: none
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Wife: Diane (Tashima - UHS ’64); Children: daughter - Dawn, an attorney, son - David, business partner; Grandchildren: Carson Beard - 6; Cooper Beard - 3; and Maya Sugihara - 5; dog - Zoe.
What I do now: Still working - been selling insurance for over 42 years. I’m currently partnered with my son, who will probably take the reins in a couple of years. Golf for fun; watch the grandkids play sports; travel when we find some $$; big UH fans (football, women’s volleyball & men’s basketball).
What I did after UHS: Squeezed my four years of college into five years and finally ended up with a BBA from UH. Joined the Hawaii Air National Guard to get my military requirement before being drafted.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Too many to pick one, but a few great lifetime friends; Destiny’s; Miss Kunioka; Senior Camp.
One question I have been meaning to ask: Why is it that Miles Nakashima, who could throw a softball over 200 feet, in physical fitness testing, could throw his curveball only 57 feet in baseball?
Ken "Bongo" Chun
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What grade did you start UHS: Preschool
Siblings who also attended UHS: Lori Chun Otsu, Class of '61
Children who attended UHS: n/a
Family Information: wife - Monica Wrenn Chun, Punahou '78 (put away your calculators 78-63 = 15)
What I do now: I retired from United Technologies as a Project Manager in March 2010 in the Seattle area. After going thru my "honey do" projects and "wish-I-had-time-to-do" projects I took golf lessons with Kirkland Senior Center and I've been hooked ever since. Between golfing, gardening, and grinding, Monica and I have traveled around the USA and Europe. My personal bucket lists of places to see are down to zero and this coming summer we will repeat a trip to Willamsburg, VA by way of Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. We have been to Gettysburg twice and if some of you need a future travel destination, we strongly recommend Gettysburg and plan on at least 2 full days there. This was a surprise destination for both of us.
What I did after UHS: After graduation I attended the Virginia Military Institute and graduated in '67 with a BSEE and received an MBA from Central Michigan University in '78. I spent one tour in Vietnam attached to Naval Intelligence in Saigon. I was next assigned as a Rocket Propulsion Test Engineer at Edwards AFB, CA. There I took up the "sport" of motorcycle racing and motocross. I separated from the Air Force in 1968 and returned to Hawaii and worked at Pearl Harbor for 2 years before landing an engineering job with Honeywell. In 1999 we moved to Kirkland, WA and I transferred to Simplex Seattle as a Project Engineer. In 2002 I was hired by United Technologies as a Project Manager and retired in 2010.
Favorite Memory from UHS: Getting a mosquito bite above my eye at Camp Erdman...not sure if it was 8th grade or senior camp. Amazing how well Nair can work on Mel Choy. Making kim chee in Mrs. Yang's. Miss Kunioka's mac salad. Tommy Burns snoring behind the curtains. Freddy Witt with rubber-cement boogers dangling out of his nostrils. And Cathy Coulter still has no idea who I am...I knew I should have sat next to Karen Smith. Mrs. Disney couldn't get me discount tickets. I had Mr. Wagner believing I was a Korean War orphan for a little while. Linda Mae Onomoto getting locked in the Boys restroom...with the boys. And hooking my first Papio with the Feesh himself. Busted speeding thru Kahala late one night with the Feesh and Waller on board in a borrowed '61 Plymouth Fury Golden Commando. Feesh's dad was an HPD Chief and Waller's dad was a lawyer. They booked us as juvvies downtown...wasn't too funny at the time. No wonder Waller picks me up to this day. I take lots of quarters with me to Hawaii when we visit.
One question I have been meaning to ask: What does UICSM stand for? And why me? It's a good thing Clay Ching keeps our golf score card.
Glenn Bauer
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Mail Address: Kailua, HI 96734
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What grade did you start UHS: 1st grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: none
Children who attended UHS: Son, Matthew Bauer, Class of 1997
Family Information: Married and divorced with one son, Ian, who is married and lives in San Jose. Married again in 1978 to Marilyn McMeekin Bauer. We have one son, Matt. He married Jen Severson on December 15, 2012. We have no grandchildren as of this writing. Hoping for some in the future. Our African grey parrot is like a child.
What I do now: After retirement, I worked as a consultant in hydrogeology for Mink and Yuen, Inc., and am presently working for myself as a consultant. However, as I am somewhat retired I am making jewelry in my spare time. Marilyn and I like to do birding, and travel to the mainland a couple of times per year. I still like to hike, and do a 4.5 mile walk most mornings. We have traveled to New Zealand and I have been to Nepal and Tibet twice. We are also keeping up with our seven year old African grey parrot, Shiloh (actually he’s Matt’s pet….we’re merely the “grand parrots”).
What I did after UHS: I attended the University of Redlands (class of 1967), majored in geology, and received my BS degree. I attended grad school at the University of Hawaii and majored in volcanic geology. Professor Gordon Macdonald was my advisor. My thesis area was Tofua Island in Tonga, though in the summer of 1968 spent a lot of time in Fiji and the Lau Islands as well. I received my MS in 1969 and joined the U. S. Navy for a short period of time. I received an honorable discharge in 1970. I started at the Honolulu BWS in 1970. I moved to DLNR in 1990. I retired from the State DLNR in 2005 after 35.5 years as a geologist and hydrologist at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (20 years) and at the Commission on Water Resource Management (DLNR) for 15.5 years. The last five I was Hawaii State Geologist. I have also been to Micronesia (Pohnpei, Guam, Korsae) numerous times for work and pleasure. Marilyn and I have lived in Kailua since 1979.
Favorite Memory from UHS: I guess it was being on the track team, and hiking with Don Fox, Tahi Mottl, Susan Vaught, Clayton Ching, Bill Beppu, and others. I remember climbing Puu Konahuanui, the summit of the Koolau Mts. with them. And I suppose, Camp Erdman ranked up there as fun. I also enjoyed hanging around with Will Kyselka. I found out later that he was a geologist by training, and had many stories to tell.
One question I have been meaning to ask: If there were any questions, it’s been so long now, I’ve forgotten.
Ann Reid (Slaby)
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What grade did you start UHS: 7th
Siblings who also attended UHS: brother went to Roosevelt.
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: Once, but no longer married to David Slaby. No children.
What I do now: I am currently helping conduct a meta-analysis about bias in research examining whether drinking alcohol helps a person avoid specific diseases or whether drinking makes getting the disease more likely. It is funded by a grant from NIH. Because “government is the problem” my current work is ending one year early due to sequestration. I also spend a lot of time with my neighbors on continual struggles with the city of Berkeley and the University of California.
I am staff for a rescue cat, a handsome Balinese kitty. I do not know if a breeder dumped him or if he ran away, but he most definitely thinks, sorry, knows, he is in charge.
I have a Facebook page but only because it was required to be a New York Times verified commenter.
What I did after UHS: Immediately after graduation, I went to work in the food science microbiology lab where I had worked the summer between junior and senior year. I also took a philosophy course at UH.
Then one day, a phone call informed me that I would be flown to Travis AF Base in California. The next day, with rivers of tears streaming from my eyes, I flew out of Hickam via military transport. Soon I was living on the top floor of a high rise dorm at UC Berkeley, hardly the cozy apartment in an old house with a shaded garden I had once imagined years before when studying at UC was a far away dream. I began as pre-med, but was seduced into European history by professor Brentano who included art and literature as a means of understanding the people who lived in the past. I survived the Free Speech Movement and the gender ratio of 2 men for each woman.
My life has included earning many different degrees. Doesn’t the UNIKI say “A progeny of learning” under my photo? Who dreamed up those short descriptions anyway? The education progression was exceedingly rational going forward, but most potential employers, indeed, most people, have absolutely no understanding. In back of my name I can list MS, MSc, MSc, Ph.D. and JD.
I’ve conducted research on a variety of diseases. But the journal article most requested is the study about circumcision in the United States. We did it only because we had the national data and I liked the idea of having my female name as the senior author.
As a lawyer, I've worked in various areas of litigation and mediation. I am still an active member of the California Bar and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
I’ve lived in Honolulu, Oakland, Baltimore, Washington DC, Germany, and London. Now I live in Berkeley, the city of my birth and until 3rd grade childhood. It is also the city where my mother grew up and the city where many on my father’s side migrated, leaving Kentucky after the Civil War.
I’ve traveled in Japan, Mexico, Canada. In Europe, I’ve traveled in England, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy. Austria, Switzerland, Luxemborg, Germany, Czech Republic, and Denmark. I adore the opera and subscribe to the San Francisco Opera.
I visited with Kaori when she was working at Vogue in London, and Tahi when she taught at Harvard. I also visited with Susan Vaught when she lived in New York City. And I’ve met Jade both in Hawaii and here in Berkeley.
It saddens me that we have lost so many of our classmates.
Favorite Memory from UHS:
One of my favorite memories is from Mr. Haehnlen’s 7-208 class on “Global Understanding”. We "visited" 30 different countries. One of the student teachers built various displays in the corner of the class. I clearly remember the Taj Mahal version. A photo of the Japanese tea house is in the '58 UNIKI. I suspect it opened my curiosity about the world. The residence I felt most at home in while an undergraduate at UCB was the International House where half the residents were foreign students. (I am still in touch with many of them) I suspect my comfort there had a lot to do with the cultural diversity in Hawaii, reflected in our class. Another one of the very fond memories was the JFK campaign work some of us did with the Jr Democrats. I heard Ted Kennedy at a talk at UH. He was the so very handsome, this then teenaged girl was literally blown away. We raised money by baking and selling various treats at UHS. We worked downtown in a campaign office and marched in at least one parade. I still have the JFK and Johnson poster plus some of the campaign pins. I was horrified when JFK was assassinated.
Also, I thoroughly enjoyed French classes and being able to take a French class at UH. I spent hours in the language lab, to perfect my pronunciation. I remember going to a dance downtown for sailors from a French ship to give us an opportunity to speak French. I still have the red pompom from one of the sailor’s hat.
And despite the bad press, I was very happy I took UICSM. I recall many evening telephone conversations with other girls about how to solve homework problems. What I learned became useful when I studied statistics.
Plus, we had such fun breaking in student teachers.
But most of all, I enjoyed all the others in our class.
One question I have been meaning to ask: When did UHS become the "lab school"? And why?
Ann's Pictures: Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic; Yosemite National Park (Tuolumne Meadows), San Francisco Opera House
Lambert Thom
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What grade did you start UHS: 7th Grade
Siblings who also attended UHS: Alston ’67, Debbie ‘73
Children who attended UHS: none
Family Information: none
What I do now: I am still working. Thank god for computers, tablets, smartphones and the internet, as well as 4th graders who can teach me how to use them. I am confined to a wheelchair as my body slowly atrophies which makes it a challenge to travel and even live independently.
I’m fortunate to have friends and assistants who help with travel and daily chores as I spend at least a week each month in southern California on business.
What I did after UHS: I went to Claremont Men’s College (now known as Claremont McKenna College after it went co-ed) for 2-1/2 years and got a BA in Economics. I transferred to Stanford and got a BS in Mechanical Engineering. After that I worked on the Saturn/Apollo project to the moon (remember Apollo 13). After nine months of working, I went to Columbia University and got a JD and an MBA. After graduation I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I have live for the past 42 years.
Upon arriving in the Bay Area I was unable to find a company to hire me. I became a consultant in order to pay bills and put food in front of me. After 15-20 years advising clients on how to do leveraged buyouts, I decided to take my own advice and began acquiring businesses for myself. I’ve had some successes and failures which accounts for, in part, why I’m still working.
For fun, I have had several sailboats, which I have used for racing and cruising both in the bay and offshore, including two TransPac races from LA to Honolulu. Also, skiing using a sit down monoski with hand outriggers.
Favorite Memory from UHS:
Skipping class; snacking at College Inn and the YMCA.
One question I have been meaning to ask:
How has the school evolved in terms of facilities, curriculum, objectives, etc. since we left? They are probably teaching topology to 9th graders instead of UICSM.