SEICHI TABATA Seichi Tabata, age 87, of Honolulu, Hawaii passed away November 18, 2013 while visiting Japan. He was born on July 31, 1926 in Lahaina, Maui. Seichi was a devoted husband, beloved brother, caring father, and proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He served in the U.S. Army and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Sergeant. While serving in the Army in Japan, he met his wife Emiko in Osaka. He was a dedicated and devoted student and instructor of Shinshin Toitsu Aikido, who taught for many decades in Hawaii, the Mainland, and in Canada. He taught thousands of students from all over the world and dedicated his life to teaching others. This past summer he received his 9th degree black belt while celebrating 60 years of teaching in Hawaii. He was the retired Chief Instructor of the Hawaii Ki Society, founded the Honolulu Ki Society and was the Chief Instructor of Seishinkan Dojo. Seichi also had a successful business career, ending as an agent for Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii, where he earned Million Dollar Round Table recognition and faithfully served his clients before retiring at age 80. He is survived by his son Calvin (Karen) Tabata, daughters, Lynn Yokomizo, Elsie Tabata, and Betty (Nicholas) Dykstra, brothers Katsutoshi Tabata, Shogo Tabata, Takashi Tabata, sisters, Nobuko Abe, Shirley Ponomareff, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Honpa Hongwangji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway, Honolulu, on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation begins 10 a.m.
SEICHI TABATA Seichi Tabata, age 87, of Honolulu, Hawaii passed away November 18, 2013 while visiting Japan. He was born on July 31, 1926 in Lahaina, Maui. Seichi was a devoted husband, beloved brother, caring father, and proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He served in the U.S. Army and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Sergeant. While serving in the Army in Japan, he met his wife Emiko in Osaka. He was a dedicated and devoted student and instructor of Shinshin Toitsu Aikido, who taught for many decades in Hawaii, the Mainland, and in Canada. He taught thousands of students from all over the world and dedicated his life to teaching others. This past summer he received his 9th degree black belt while celebrating 60 years of teaching in Hawaii. He was the retired Chief Instructor of the Hawaii Ki Society, founded the Honolulu Ki Society and was the Chief Instructor of Seishinkan Dojo. Seichi also had a successful business career, ending as an agent for Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii, where he earned Million Dollar Round Table recognition and faithfully served his clients before retiring at age 80. He is survived by his son Calvin (Karen) Tabata, daughters, Lynn Yokomizo, Elsie Tabata, and Betty (Nicholas) Dykstra, brothers Katsutoshi Tabata, Shogo Tabata, Takashi Tabata, sisters, Nobuko Abe, Shirley Ponomareff, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Honpa Hongwangji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway, Honolulu, on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation begins 10 a.m.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
