Age 86, stepped peacefully into eternity on February 22, 2019. He was born on April 19, 1932 at La Pietra, former Dillingham home on Diamond Head where his parents Susumu & Yoshiko Serikawa were employed. Garrett's life would be marked by his passionate service to family, country, company and community. Throughout his life, Garrett was "all-in" in whatever he chose to do. He worked hard and played hard. As a young boy, he honed a strong work ethic while being raised in the family business of cultivating pikake for lei making and produce to sell. Aggressive and a self starter, he independently found employment in the pineapple fields as a young teenager and later at an anthurium nursery and chicken farm in Palolo. He labored with intensity, always wanting to work fast because he wanted time to play! After work and school you could often find him on the basketball court, high school football field and college boxing ring. He loved music and taught himself to play the ukulele well, singing at the top of his lungs. A 1950 graduate of Kaimuki High School, Garrett served as president of his senior class. His studies at the University of Hawaii Manoa were interrupted by 3 years in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952-1955 during the Korean war with duty in Yokosuka, Japan. He re-enrolled at UH- Manoa and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. While at the University he romanced and married Aileen, and together they embarked on an adventurous journey that would last nearly 63 years. In 1960, Garrett joined Alexander Grant & Co., which later became Grant Thornton LLP, an international accounting and consulting firm. Garrett quickly progressed to becoming a manager in 1966 and then Partner in 1971. In 1979, he became President of the Hawaii Society of CPA's and the Managing Partner of Grant Thornton in 1983. He retired in 1996 with 36 years of energetic service. In 2014, he was inducted into the Legacy Hall of Fame of the Hawaii Society of CPA's. Garrett was also an enthusiastic leader in public service. It was highlighted by board position with the Honolulu Japanese of Commerce, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, The Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, The American Red Cross, and The Queen's Health Systems and The Queen's Medical Center among many. Garrett along with many others worked for the great post WWII expansion of trade and cultural exchange between the U.S. and Japan. During the span of his career, business between Japan and Hawaii blossomed. For his efforts in helping nurture this golden age of intercultural understanding and for helping promote Japanese culture and heritage, the government of Japan awarded him the Foreign Ministry Award and the Imperial Award of the Rising Sun. A man of many interests, Garrett was a member of the Urasenke Foundation of Hawaii, sipping tea at traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, and who also travelled regularly to Las Vegas, sipping Chardonnay at the craps tables. His liveliness and rascal smile will be greatly missed! He is survived by wife, Aileen, daughters Garleen (Glenn) Umetsu and Jody Serikawa; sons Jonn (Lori) Serikawa and Ronn Serikawa; 6 grandchildren Kristin, Lauren, Randon, Reanna, Ricky Thomas & Jessica; brothers Kenneth, Richard and Charles; sisters Edna Kano and Elizabeth (Wallace) Kaneshiro. He was preceded in death by sisters Naomi Bissen and Jean Serikawa. Services will be held at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary on Sunday March 17, 2019. Visitation 2:00 p.m. Service 3:30 p.m. Aloha attire No Flowers. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC
Age 86, stepped peacefully into eternity on February 22, 2019. He was born on April 19, 1932 at La Pietra, former Dillingham home on Diamond Head where his parents Susumu & Yoshiko Serikawa were employed. Garrett's life would be marked by his passionate service to family, country, company and community. Throughout his life, Garrett was "all-in" in whatever he chose to do. He worked hard and played hard. As a young boy, he honed a strong work ethic while being raised in the family business of cultivating pikake for lei making and produce to sell. Aggressive and a self starter, he independently found employment in the pineapple fields as a young teenager and later at an anthurium nursery and chicken farm in Palolo. He labored with intensity, always wanting to work fast because he wanted time to play! After work and school you could often find him on the basketball court, high school football field and college boxing ring. He loved music and taught himself to play the ukulele well, singing at the top of his lungs. A 1950 graduate of Kaimuki High School, Garrett served as president of his senior class. His studies at the University of Hawaii Manoa were interrupted by 3 years in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952-1955 during the Korean war with duty in Yokosuka, Japan. He re-enrolled at UH- Manoa and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. While at the University he romanced and married Aileen, and together they embarked on an adventurous journey that would last nearly 63 years. In 1960, Garrett joined Alexander Grant & Co., which later became Grant Thornton LLP, an international accounting and consulting firm. Garrett quickly progressed to becoming a manager in 1966 and then Partner in 1971. In 1979, he became President of the Hawaii Society of CPA's and the Managing Partner of Grant Thornton in 1983. He retired in 1996 with 36 years of energetic service. In 2014, he was inducted into the Legacy Hall of Fame of the Hawaii Society of CPA's. Garrett was also an enthusiastic leader in public service. It was highlighted by board position with the Honolulu Japanese of Commerce, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, The Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, The American Red Cross, and The Queen's Health Systems and The Queen's Medical Center among many. Garrett along with many others worked for the great post WWII expansion of trade and cultural exchange between the U.S. and Japan. During the span of his career, business between Japan and Hawaii blossomed. For his efforts in helping nurture this golden age of intercultural understanding and for helping promote Japanese culture and heritage, the government of Japan awarded him the Foreign Ministry Award and the Imperial Award of the Rising Sun. A man of many interests, Garrett was a member of the Urasenke Foundation of Hawaii, sipping tea at traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, and who also travelled regularly to Las Vegas, sipping Chardonnay at the craps tables. His liveliness and rascal smile will be greatly missed! He is survived by wife, Aileen, daughters Garleen (Glenn) Umetsu and Jody Serikawa; sons Jonn (Lori) Serikawa and Ronn Serikawa; 6 grandchildren Kristin, Lauren, Randon, Reanna, Ricky Thomas & Jessica; brothers Kenneth, Richard and Charles; sisters Edna Kano and Elizabeth (Wallace) Kaneshiro. He was preceded in death by sisters Naomi Bissen and Jean Serikawa. Services will be held at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary on Sunday March 17, 2019. Visitation 2:00 p.m. Service 3:30 p.m. Aloha attire No Flowers. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
