FAMILY PLACED OBITUARY

SADAMU “SANDY” SUMIDA
SADAMU SADAMU SANDY SUMIDA Sadamu "Sandy" Sumida was born in Hana, Maui, the fifth and youngest son of Chiekichi and Kazu Sumida, both immigrants from Hiroshima, Japan. He had many fond memories of growing up in Hana and a deep appreciation for his family. He was a boarding student at Lahainaluna High School, where, besides attending academic classes and participating with fellow students in doing the school's farm chores, he was the star quarterback for the football team, and student body president. He credited his years at Lahainaluna with helping him learn the importance of human relationships and fair play and applied those lessons to all aspects of his life and career. He graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and a Fifth Year Professional Certificate for teaching vocational agriculture. He then taught at Mountain View School and Kohala High School on the Big Island during the 1940s and early 1950s, and was active in the Boy Scouts organization. He was such an inspiring teacher that many of his former students kept in touch with him, sending him gifts and taking him out to lunch when they came to Honolulu. Because of his work with the vocational agriculture program at Kohala High School, the Kohala Sugar Company's management asked him to join their management team-a first for someone of Japanese ancestry. He became director of training in the Industrial Relations department in 1951, and later assumed responsibility for the company's irrigation and cultivation operations. In 1957, he joined Castle & Cooke Terminals in Honolulu as its industrial relations program coordinator. In 1963, he left to become Training Director for the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Civil Service. He established the City's training policy, which became the basis for all of the City's training and development programs. His work was fully supported by then mayor Frank F. Fasi and his administration and by the United Public Workers union (UPW), as well as endorsed by the UH's Industrial Relations Department and the Division of Continuing Education, the San Francisco Civil Service office, Chaminade University, and the UPW. He also established an apprenticeship program for the trades, working with multiple agencies to ensure relevance of the program. His training work involved federal, state, City agencies as well as private companies and the Hawaii Employers Council. He was named Civil Service Department Employee of the Year in 1966. When he retired in 1967, he was Chief of Personnel Relations and Training. Upon his retirement, the City and the State of Hawai'i Senate and House of Representatives issued resolutions recognizing his contributions and accomplishments in personnel training and development. Thereafter, Mayor Fasi appointed him to the Neighborhood Commission in 1980, where he was elected chair and served until 1995. In 2013, he wrote his autobiography, Just a Little Boy from Hana, a copy of which is in the Hamilton Library at the University of Hawai'i's Manoa campus. His heart was big with the Aloha Spirit, which he spread far and wide. One of his favorite sayings was that "this is a people's world and one's relationship with others is of utmost importance." He always tried to treat others with respect, and in so doing, earned the respect and friendship of many people. He loved and appreciated his family, his many friends, and in his later years, the caregivers who supported him. And they all, in turn, loved and appreciated him. Sandy Sumida passed away peacefully at his home in Aina Haina, two weeks after his 99th birthday His wife, Kimiyo, had predeceased him on November 7, 2015. He is survived by his children, Gerald Sumida, Alicia Sumida and Cynthia Sumida-Scott, and his grandchildren, Gilani Sumida-Moiseff, Arthur Scott IV and Benjamin Scott. A private service was held November 12, 2016.

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased

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