76, of Mililani, passed away on January 26, 2020. "Sachi" grew up in Shimane-ken, Japan, in a small mountain town with her parents, Chieko and Toshiichi, and three younger sisters. She attended Tenri University in Nara, majoring in journalism and Russian. She met her future husband, Harold, at the Table Tennis Club. They tied the knot at the American Embassy and then moved to Honolulu, Harold's hometown. Soon, they had two daughters. Her first job at Dutch Girl Bakery started in the early evening after her husband came home from work and could watch their young children. Sachi also later worked at Nippon Travel Agency, having fun and making new friends while developing new skills. She learned how to drive on the H1 freeway with an instructor in the front passenger seat and Sachi's two daughters in the back.In 1976, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska where she wholeheartedly embraced the Alaskan experience. She grew zucchini the size of a football, caught king salmon and herring, shooed away moose from the backyard and drove on black ice. She started to bowl and as with every pursuit, she threw herself into it with abandon and strove to master it. After Harold's job at Japan Airlines transferred him to Chicago, they moved to Elk Grove, IL where she worked for Kubota for many years. When her doctor advised her to start exercising regularly, on a whim, she took up line dancing and was hooked. After they retired and moved back to Hawaii, line dancing became a way of life and her true passion. She searched for the right song, practiced in her living room for hours, attended workshops and conferences in Las Vegas, and best of all, danced with her friends. Soon she became an instructor and brought her irresistible enthusiasm and sparkle to each class. Teaching line dancing was her oxygen, her purpose, and she excelled at it, sharing her love of dancing and music with her appreciative students, with whom she developed a special bond.
When Sachi was informed she likely had weeks to live after being hospitalized in Boston, it was her wish and determination to return home to Hawaii. Her friends and student dancers had a FUNraiser for her so she could be flown back to Hawaii. Upon her arrival to the Honolulu airport, she was greeted by over 30 friends and students who honored her homecoming with an emotional line dancing performance that she taught and she was overwhelmed with love and gratitude.
Preceded in death by husband, Harold, she is survived by her daughters Iris Morikawa Caslin and Charol Morikawa (Micha); sisters, Kazuko Shimado (Yuso), Tamiko Hidaka, and Toshiko Hayashi (Hitoshi); grandchildren, Tyler, Sophia, Riley, Max and Paige. Due to COVID, burial service has been postponed until December 23, 2021 at 11:00am, Hawaiian Memorial Park.
Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary
