A private graveside service was held at Nuuanu Memorial Park. A public memorial service will be held when circumstances permit.
Ethel was born on August 20, 1925, in Lahaina, Maui to Mitsugu and Tojiu Nishino, immigrants from Kumamoto, Japan. She was the 6th of 7 children. Her family owned and operated a fish market in downtown Lahaina. Ethel attended Lahainaluna High School. She was the first in her family to attend college. Ethel earned a Bachelor's of Education, 5th year professional teaching certificate, and a Master's of Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Ethel taught grades 4-6 gifted and talented curriculum from 1947-1978 at Kaumakani School on Kauai and Puuhale Elementary School, Aina Haina Elementary School and Mayor John H. Wilson School in Honolulu. After 31 years in the classroom, she retired from full time teaching but continued to work as a language arts consultant to Hahaione, Koko Head, Kamiloiki, Liholiho, Waikiki, and Wilson Elementary Schools.
Ethel was a charter member from 1960 until her death in the Alpha Delta Kappa (ADK) International Honorary Society for Women Educators, a Kansas City based organization dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding through fellowship. She was the first Hawaii ADK State President in 1970 and elected as an International Officer during the 1980's. In her later years, Ethel faithfully served at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii where she volunteered as a greeter, docent and gift shop helper. Her lifelong interests included reading, traveling, crocheting, needlepoint, and playing mah jong.
Ethel married George Hasegawa, a high school classmate, in 1948. He predeceased her in 1994. She is survived by 3 children and their spouses, Kay Hirasuna (Stephen), David Hasegawa (Kay), Tracy Kimura (David); and 6 grandchildren (Ryan, Neil, Brooke, Brett, John, Sophia); and 4 great-grandchildren (Cooper, Emma, Liam, Luke).
Arrangements Provided By:
Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC
