JAMES KIICHI TSUYA James Kiichi Tsuya passed away peacefully early Monday morning, July 15th, in his home in Honolulu, surrounded by his loving family. He was 89 years old. James was born and raised on Lihu'e Plantation on the Island of Kaua'i, the youngest of four children of Itsuta and Kinu Tsuya. James was among the replacement troops of the 442nd Infantry Regiment after the storied unit sustained heavy losses in the fierce fighting of World War II. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended technical schools on the GI Bill in Chicago, Illinois, and Hartford, Connecticut. In 1950, James married the love of his life, the former Matsue Sakamoto of Honokowai, Maui, a graduate of Lahainaluna high school. The newly-weds initially settled on the Island of Kaua'i, where three of their four daughters were born. In 1957, the family moved to Honokowai and James was sent to the Marshall Islands and Greenland where he worked on government projects for several years. His motivation for leaving Hawaii to work for such long periods of time was to earn and save enough money to buy a home in Honolulu and send each of his four daughters to college. He accomplished these goals, with all four daughters graduating from college and obtaining graduate degrees in their respective fields of study. James was a dreamer and visionary, beloved by all who met him. He is survived by wife Matsue, daughters Avis Tsuya, Liane Magelssen, Deon Rohlfing, and Lois Lloyd, brother Roy Tsuya, 13 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, July 22, at the Kaimuki-Kahala Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a memorial service at 10 a.m. A private burial will be held at a later date.
JAMES KIICHI TSUYA James Kiichi Tsuya passed away peacefully early Monday morning, July 15th, in his home in Honolulu, surrounded by his loving family. He was 89 years old. James was born and raised on Lihu'e Plantation on the Island of Kaua'i, the youngest of four children of Itsuta and Kinu Tsuya. James was among the replacement troops of the 442nd Infantry Regiment after the storied unit sustained heavy losses in the fierce fighting of World War II. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended technical schools on the GI Bill in Chicago, Illinois, and Hartford, Connecticut. In 1950, James married the love of his life, the former Matsue Sakamoto of Honokowai, Maui, a graduate of Lahainaluna high school. The newly-weds initially settled on the Island of Kaua'i, where three of their four daughters were born. In 1957, the family moved to Honokowai and James was sent to the Marshall Islands and Greenland where he worked on government projects for several years. His motivation for leaving Hawaii to work for such long periods of time was to earn and save enough money to buy a home in Honolulu and send each of his four daughters to college. He accomplished these goals, with all four daughters graduating from college and obtaining graduate degrees in their respective fields of study. James was a dreamer and visionary, beloved by all who met him. He is survived by wife Matsue, daughters Avis Tsuya, Liane Magelssen, Deon Rohlfing, and Lois Lloyd, brother Roy Tsuya, 13 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, July 22, at the Kaimuki-Kahala Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a memorial service at 10 a.m. A private burial will be held at a later date.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
