My grandfather was born in Honaunau on the Big Island on Dec. 29, 1914.
His name was Torao Yoshimura, the third of five children born to coffee farmers who had immigrated to Hawaii from Kumamoto, Japan. His kindergarten teacher gave him the English name Ted.
His birth was registered with the Japanese consulate. Back then, families had plans to move back to Japan. Few did.
He was born in a year of global change.
The Ford Motor Co. raised the minimum wage for an eight-hour workday from $2.34 an hour to an unheard-of $5 an hour. Baseball legend Babe Ruth made his major league debut. The Honolulu Zoo opened. The first taxicabs in Hawaii appeared. The first cargo ship through the Panama Canal carried Hawaiian sugar. The 35mm camera made photography more accessible. And World War I erupted.
My grandfather grew up in the coffee fields of Honaunau in south Kona. He met my grandma there, too; they crashed the prom. He fished, built cars and played baseball. He even played the taiko drum at bon dances.
During his life he worked a lot of odd jobs. He made and sold dried opelu at the fish market. He picked strawberries and grapes in California. He sold bread and Shasta soda. He ran restaurants in Honaunau and Waipahu. He ran a lunch wagon. He was a fry cook at the restaurant in Bowling City, famous for his tripe stew. He was a bartender in Waikiki. And he delivered milk just before the war.
But this wasn’t the grandpa I knew.
My memories are different. He humored me as a kid when I would take him and my grandma on “tours” of our house (and ask for a tip after it was over). He would pick me up from school with either a chocolate-covered cake donut or Japanese chewing gum from Shirokiya. He loved lemon meringue pie; he wouldn’t eat custard pie.
I didn’t know the man who made tripe stew or played the shamisen. I never knew his temper. My grandpa was the one who took me to league games at bowling alleys and introduced me to Happy Meals at McDonald’s.
He bought my parents a pendulum wall clock that’s hung in our Kalihi home since 1972.
The other day it finally stopped ticking.
And so did my grandpa.
He died on Monday morning at St. Francis Hospice, in the same bed and room where my grandmother, his wife, died a few years earlier.
At 97, he lived a long, vibrant life. He had three children, all of whom had kids, too. They all lived close by, once right in the same building complex. We were lucky to know our grandparents, to get picked up from school or taken to Shirokiya for lunch with them. They fed us, scolded us, hugged us, told us we were getting fat or too skinny.
All four of my grandparents are now gone. And it’s a little strange to think I won’t have that relationship anymore.
They’re not like your parents, who you respect but would never admit it. They’re the fun version of your parents, the ones who slid you extra money at your graduation and bought you cookies when you’re supposed to be on a diet.
I’m lucky I got to know my grandparents, heard their stories and learned their secrets.
I hope you are all that lucky, too.
19 Comments
great post! so sorry for your loss.
This is a nice story of your grandpa; what a full life he must have led. I only knew my grandparents on my mother’s side. My dad’s parents lived in the Philippines and passed away in the 60’s. Like your grandfather, my grandad had numerous jobs; I suppose that’s what they did to survive and provide for their family during hard economic times.
The last “job” he had was a pig farm in Ewa he owned when he was in his 70’s. I’d help out as best I could and it was during those times I got to know the grandfather I never knew while growing up. My grandmother would help out there too but mostly she liked to “boss” my grandad around. It was such a love/hate realtionship between those two it was almost comical.
I miss my grandparents but like you, I have such sweet memories of their full productive lives.
So sorry for your loss. It was a really nice story. I miss my grandparents too
My condolences to you and your family for your loss.
What a nice story. Treasure those memories put them in writing to pass on to your and your sister’s kids. Celebrate his passing, he’s earned it.
CAT: I’m fortunate to remember all of my grandparents who are long gone. But my memories are similar to yours. I’m glad my kids got to know theirs…now they have only 2 left. Grandparents are special, they teach us so much in very subtle ways. May your memories of them be vibrant and their lessons live through you.
Hey Cat … thank you for your memories! … it allowed me to think back to some of the best times of my life … we all shared such similar memories … mine wasn’t with grandparents … but my uncles, aunties and others who did the same things for me that your grandparents did for you …
… you gave him a nice tribute today … he must be so proud of you!!! …
Cat, you are fortunate that you were able to spend time with your grandparents and have great memories. As for me, 3 of my grandparents pass on before I was born and my grandma passed on when I was very young so I really don’t remember to much.
So sorry to hear. I’m all choked up and holding back my tears. It’s so profound that the clock stopped too.
I am so sorry to hear about your grandfather. He sounds like a remarkable person. He won’t truly be gone until all memories of him are gone too.
sorry for your loss.
So sorry for the passing of your grandpa, but he sounded like a terrific grandpa … dried opelu and chocolate covered donuts. What restaurant in Waipahu did he work at? Thanks for sharing your story – had to cry.
So sorry to hear about your loss but am glad that you have such great memories and something that you can pass along from your grandparents!
Very thoughtful and beautifully written post. Sorry for your loss.
My condolences for your loss. What a great story you wrote and I love that he had such a long, good life and that you have your memories of him. How interesting that he died in the same room and bed.
Sorry for your loss.
I only knew my grandfather on my mothers side. Have some good memories of him.
You brought a tear to my eyes…I was fortunate to enjoy ONE grandma and she was a winner!! Trips to USA and Japan, shopping dates to Ala Moana and eating at the Continental Restaurant (dating myself…), even going with me to a Monkees concert here in Honolulu. She would do anything for me — I was a very lucky granddaughter!
Sorry for your loss, Cat! I didn’t see this post earlier.
I’m sorry for your loss. Reading your blog made me cry. I recently loss my last grandparent…my papa. He was a very strict man, but also a funny one too. My grandma and him, took care of us grandchildren while our parents went to work. I’ll never forget all the memories I have of him.