YUKIO YUKI TAKEYA Businessman, community leader, Army and Vietnam War veteran, proud father and grandfather Yukio "Yuki" Takeya, 87, of Hilo passed away on November 12 in Kobe, Japan. Born April 24, 1926 in Wailea, the eldest son of plantation workers Masao and Hatsumi Takeya, he worked hard to build his businesses and up until the time of his passing, enjoyed going into the office. Not one to slow down, he had a zest for life, loved to meet people, and travel, especially to Japan. Yukio romanced and married his high school sweetheart Ruth Kimata and they were married for 58 years until her death in 2006. In 1946 Yukio was drafted into the Army and rose up the ranks in the Hawaii Army National Guard and Reserves, serving as Adjutant General for the 29th Infantry Brigade Hawaii Army National Guard from 1965 to 1968. He served in the Vietnam War in 1968 and retired as a major in the Army Reserve. Yukio worked for the U.S. Postal Service for over 20 years and during that time was active in the education of his children, Edmund and Leona, serving as President and leader in various PTA organizations and elected to the Big Island School Advisory Council. In 1964 Yukio began a second career in real estate, and started Ala Kai Realty in 1970. He remained active in the community and real estate industry, serving as president of the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors from 1979 to 1990, president of the Hawaii Association of Realtors in 1998, and president of the Big Island Housing Foundation. He is also a past director of the National Association of Realtors and a former member and vice chair of the Hawaii Real Estate Commission from 1986 to 1994. Yukio loved to promote Hilo in Japan, serving as a director and past president of the Japanese Community Association of Hawaii, Destination Hilo, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii and was a member of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. He participated in several trade missions and promoted sister city relations between Hawaii County and cities in Japan, where he developed many friendships. Yukio also served as a member and former chairman of the County of Hawaii Water Board and the Liquor Commission. Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2013, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo; memorial service at 4 p.m. Family requests casual attire, no monetary gifts (koden) and no flowers. He is survived by son, Edmund (Sun) Takeya of Honolulu; daughter, Leona (Herbert) Chock of Honolulu; brothers, Toshio (Gladys) Takeya of Paauilo, Teruo (Misako) Takeya of San Francisco, Calif., Tom (Sandra) Takeya of Hilo, Herbert (Janet) Takeya of Kalaheo, Kauai, Kenneth (Judy) Takeya of Honolulu, Alan (Donna) Takeya of Hilo; sisters, Gale Takeya of Hilo, Myrtle (Arnold) Hara of Hilo; brother-in-law, Alfred Gima of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Jessie Arita of Honolulu, Elaine Nishimoto of Los Angeles, Calif., Yoshiko Nabara of Hilo; two grandsons, Don (Xiao) and Scott (Jimin), one great-grandson, four step-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
YUKIO YUKI TAKEYA Businessman, community leader, Army and Vietnam War veteran, proud father and grandfather Yukio "Yuki" Takeya, 87, of Hilo passed away on November 12 in Kobe, Japan. Born April 24, 1926 in Wailea, the eldest son of plantation workers Masao and Hatsumi Takeya, he worked hard to build his businesses and up until the time of his passing, enjoyed going into the office. Not one to slow down, he had a zest for life, loved to meet people, and travel, especially to Japan. Yukio romanced and married his high school sweetheart Ruth Kimata and they were married for 58 years until her death in 2006. In 1946 Yukio was drafted into the Army and rose up the ranks in the Hawaii Army National Guard and Reserves, serving as Adjutant General for the 29th Infantry Brigade Hawaii Army National Guard from 1965 to 1968. He served in the Vietnam War in 1968 and retired as a major in the Army Reserve. Yukio worked for the U.S. Postal Service for over 20 years and during that time was active in the education of his children, Edmund and Leona, serving as President and leader in various PTA organizations and elected to the Big Island School Advisory Council. In 1964 Yukio began a second career in real estate, and started Ala Kai Realty in 1970. He remained active in the community and real estate industry, serving as president of the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors from 1979 to 1990, president of the Hawaii Association of Realtors in 1998, and president of the Big Island Housing Foundation. He is also a past director of the National Association of Realtors and a former member and vice chair of the Hawaii Real Estate Commission from 1986 to 1994. Yukio loved to promote Hilo in Japan, serving as a director and past president of the Japanese Community Association of Hawaii, Destination Hilo, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii and was a member of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. He participated in several trade missions and promoted sister city relations between Hawaii County and cities in Japan, where he developed many friendships. Yukio also served as a member and former chairman of the County of Hawaii Water Board and the Liquor Commission. Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2013, at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo; memorial service at 4 p.m. Family requests casual attire, no monetary gifts (koden) and no flowers. He is survived by son, Edmund (Sun) Takeya of Honolulu; daughter, Leona (Herbert) Chock of Honolulu; brothers, Toshio (Gladys) Takeya of Paauilo, Teruo (Misako) Takeya of San Francisco, Calif., Tom (Sandra) Takeya of Hilo, Herbert (Janet) Takeya of Kalaheo, Kauai, Kenneth (Judy) Takeya of Honolulu, Alan (Donna) Takeya of Hilo; sisters, Gale Takeya of Hilo, Myrtle (Arnold) Hara of Hilo; brother-in-law, Alfred Gima of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Jessie Arita of Honolulu, Elaine Nishimoto of Los Angeles, Calif., Yoshiko Nabara of Hilo; two grandsons, Don (Xiao) and Scott (Jimin), one great-grandson, four step-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
