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Minoru Kanda
August 2, 1914 July 26, 2011
Minoru Kanda was born in Pahala, in the Ka'u District on the Island of Hawaii to parents Tsurumatsu and Riso Kanda who immigrated from Yamaguchi Ken, Japan. He was the youngest of eight children.
At the age of fourteen, he attended middle school in Hilo and graduated from Hilo High School, since Pahala did not have any secondary schools then. He then earned his bachelor's degree in business, majoring in accounting at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
In 1940, Minoru married Nobuyo Hirata, sister of his close college friend, Teichiro "Timmy" Hirata and moved back to Pahala to care for his mother and helped run their family grocery store. He worked as an accountant at Hawaiian Agricultural Company, a C. Brewer & Company sugar plantation subsidiary.
He actively served the Pahala community in organizations such
as Lions Club, PTA and Pahala Hongwanji. He was appointed to
the State of Hawaii Social Services Commission by then Governor William Quinn and served the Island of Hawaii for several years.
During the Pahala years, he enjoyed time with family and friends, partying, picnicking and golfing. Singing and playing the ukulele was always a part of his life.
In 1970, they decided to move to Honolulu where he continued to work at C. Brewer's headquarters until his retirement in 1979. Minoru continued to serve community organizations in Honolulu, being active with the Honpa Hongwanji Mission Betsuin and Project Dana, a nonprofit organization serving the elderly.
Minoru is survived by his wife of 71 years, Nobuyo Hirata Kanda, and daughters Lynette "Ko" Miyataki (Glenn), Diane "Didi" Iwaoka (Wayne), and son Neal Kanda (Lynette), all of Honolulu.
Five grandchildren: Linn Reiko Miyataki Pellarin (Federico) of Lyon, France; Sayuri Ann Miyataki Dimitroff (Nicholas) of San Francisco; Jon Takashi Iwaoka (Leiko) of Kaneohe; Allison Yuri Iwaoka Scott (Andrew) of San Francisco, Sean Akio Kanda (Kaori) of Honolulu; step grandchild Jenny Claire Tom of San Jose, California; and six great grandchildren: Julia Harumi Pellarin, Alessandro Akio Pellarin, Mieko Kanda Dimitroff, Kathryn Emiko Iwaoka, Kai Benjamin Scott and Chloe Kokoro Kanda.
Private services were held. Contributions were made in his name to Project Dana, 'O Ka'u Kakou (We Are Ka'u) and the Honpa Hongwanji "Wednesday Volunteer Gang".
Minoru Kanda
August 2, 1914 July 26, 2011
Minoru Kanda was born in Pahala, in the Ka'u District on the Island of Hawaii to parents Tsurumatsu and Riso Kanda who immigrated from Yamaguchi Ken, Japan. He was the youngest of eight children.
At the age of fourteen, he attended middle school in Hilo and graduated from Hilo High School, since Pahala did not have any secondary schools then. He then earned his bachelor's degree in business, majoring in accounting at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
In 1940, Minoru married Nobuyo Hirata, sister of his close college friend, Teichiro "Timmy" Hirata and moved back to Pahala to care for his mother and helped run their family grocery store. He worked as an accountant at Hawaiian Agricultural Company, a C. Brewer & Company sugar plantation subsidiary.
He actively served the Pahala community in organizations such
as Lions Club, PTA and Pahala Hongwanji. He was appointed to
the State of Hawaii Social Services Commission by then Governor William Quinn and served the Island of Hawaii for several years.
During the Pahala years, he enjoyed time with family and friends, partying, picnicking and golfing. Singing and playing the ukulele was always a part of his life.
In 1970, they decided to move to Honolulu where he continued to work at C. Brewer's headquarters until his retirement in 1979. Minoru continued to serve community organizations in Honolulu, being active with the Honpa Hongwanji Mission Betsuin and Project Dana, a nonprofit organization serving the elderly.
Minoru is survived by his wife of 71 years, Nobuyo Hirata Kanda, and daughters Lynette "Ko" Miyataki (Glenn), Diane "Didi" Iwaoka (Wayne), and son Neal Kanda (Lynette), all of Honolulu.
Five grandchildren: Linn Reiko Miyataki Pellarin (Federico) of Lyon, France; Sayuri Ann Miyataki Dimitroff (Nicholas) of San Francisco; Jon Takashi Iwaoka (Leiko) of Kaneohe; Allison Yuri Iwaoka Scott (Andrew) of San Francisco, Sean Akio Kanda (Kaori) of Honolulu; step grandchild Jenny Claire Tom of San Jose, California; and six great grandchildren: Julia Harumi Pellarin, Alessandro Akio Pellarin, Mieko Kanda Dimitroff, Kathryn Emiko Iwaoka, Kai Benjamin Scott and Chloe Kokoro Kanda.
Private services were held. Contributions were made in his name to Project Dana, 'O Ka'u Kakou (We Are Ka'u) and the Honpa Hongwanji "Wednesday Volunteer Gang".Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
