On Thursday, January 2, 2020, Mitsuru "Mits" Kaneshige, loving husband, proud father of three children & respected building general contractor in Hawaii, passed away at age 90. Mitsuru was born on June 6, 1929 in Wahiawa, Hawaii, to Juichi & Owari (Hosaka) Kaneshige. Upon his graduation from Leilehua High School in 1947, Mits enrolled at the University of Hawaii & received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1951. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force (1952-55) where he served at Hickam Air Force Base on Oahu & achieved the rank of staff sergeant. Upon his honorable discharge from the USAF, Mits was hired by E.E. Black in 1955 where he rose to become vice president in 1965. In 1954, he married Aiko Ogawa. They raised two sons, Alan & Glen, & one daughter, Joan. In 1972, Mits left E.E. Black to become a vice president at Nordic Construction, Ltd. He became president of Nordic in 1978 & held that position until his retirement in 1996 but continued as chairman of the board of directors until 2008. While he was president in 1995, Nordic joint-ventured with PCL Construction Services from Denver, CO to build the Hawaii Convention Center. Mits remained active in the construction industry after retirement by serving on the board of directors for the General Contractors Association of Hawaii & on the General Contractors Labor Association collective bargaining agreement negotiating committee. He also served as a management trustee on the Hawaii Masons' & Plasterers' Trust Funds for a period that spanned over thirty years. In 1990, Mitsuru married Judy Choi. They enjoyed almost thirty years together graced by Judy's daughter, Lisa, & her husband, Rob Mauracher. Mits & Judy passed within six weeks of one another. Mits was a member at Honolulu Country Club & was passionate about golf. He loved betting while golfing & often said he supplemented his retirement income with his winnings from golf. He also enjoyed trips to Las Vegas to play craps & blackjack. Mits was preceded in death by his oldest sister Fumio & brother Isamu. He is survived by his three children, Alan Kaneshige, Tulsa, OK., Glen Kaneshige & Joan Ching, Seattle, WA., & Judy's daughter, Lisa Mauracher-Rives, his sisters, Ethel Yanagida & Katherine Matsuda, six grandchildren & two great grandchildren. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 5th at 4:30 p.m. Borthwick Mortuary Chapel, 1330 Maunakea St., Honolulu.
On Thursday, January 2, 2020, Mitsuru "Mits" Kaneshige, loving husband, proud father of three children & respected building general contractor in Hawaii, passed away at age 90. Mitsuru was born on June 6, 1929 in Wahiawa, Hawaii, to Juichi & Owari (Hosaka) Kaneshige. Upon his graduation from Leilehua High School in 1947, Mits enrolled at the University of Hawaii & received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1951. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force (1952-55) where he served at Hickam Air Force Base on Oahu & achieved the rank of staff sergeant. Upon his honorable discharge from the USAF, Mits was hired by E.E. Black in 1955 where he rose to become vice president in 1965. In 1954, he married Aiko Ogawa. They raised two sons, Alan & Glen, & one daughter, Joan. In 1972, Mits left E.E. Black to become a vice president at Nordic Construction, Ltd. He became president of Nordic in 1978 & held that position until his retirement in 1996 but continued as chairman of the board of directors until 2008. While he was president in 1995, Nordic joint-ventured with PCL Construction Services from Denver, CO to build the Hawaii Convention Center. Mits remained active in the construction industry after retirement by serving on the board of directors for the General Contractors Association of Hawaii & on the General Contractors Labor Association collective bargaining agreement negotiating committee. He also served as a management trustee on the Hawaii Masons' & Plasterers' Trust Funds for a period that spanned over thirty years. In 1990, Mitsuru married Judy Choi. They enjoyed almost thirty years together graced by Judy's daughter, Lisa, & her husband, Rob Mauracher. Mits & Judy passed within six weeks of one another. Mits was a member at Honolulu Country Club & was passionate about golf. He loved betting while golfing & often said he supplemented his retirement income with his winnings from golf. He also enjoyed trips to Las Vegas to play craps & blackjack. Mits was preceded in death by his oldest sister Fumio & brother Isamu. He is survived by his three children, Alan Kaneshige, Tulsa, OK., Glen Kaneshige & Joan Ching, Seattle, WA., & Judy's daughter, Lisa Mauracher-Rives, his sisters, Ethel Yanagida & Katherine Matsuda, six grandchildren & two great grandchildren. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, March 5th at 4:30 p.m. Borthwick Mortuary Chapel, 1330 Maunakea St., Honolulu.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
