Benjamin passed away peacefully under hospice care on May 25, 2022 with his wife, children and grandchildren by his side in the comfort of his home. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April 2021 and made a valiant effort to overcome the disease but succumbed after months of care by family members.Born in Honolulu to Edward Kiyoshi and Tsuruko Fukumoto, Ben grew up on Waiola Street in the McCully area and attended Lunalilo Elementary, Washington Intermediate and McKinley High Schools. He received his BA degree from the University of Hawai'i Manoa, earning is ROTC commission in 1961 as an officer in the U.S. Army.
Ben served in the Hawaii Army Reserve for 12 years and as captain in the U.S. Army for 5 and a half years with assignments at Fort Lee, VA, Camp Drake Japan, and Vietnam. He received several awards and citations to include the Bronze Star, for his military service.
After serving in the Army, Ben was employed by IBM Corporation for 15 years as a marketing representative in Hawaii, was promoted to a staff assignment with IBM Japan for two years and returned to Hawaii to serve as the Pacific Area Marketing Manager for all public sector accounts in Hawaii and the Pacific.
In 1981 Ben was appointed by Mayor Eileen Anderson to serve on her cabinet as the Deputy Director of Data Systems. He was responsible for all applications and systems development for the department and helped to update the public safety system and install the new computerized financial management system to support the City and County of Honolulu.
He joined GTE Hawaiian Telephone in 1983 as a Sales Director in charge of marketing and coordination of the company's resources to service and support all Federal, State and County government customers in Hawaii and the Pacific Basin. Having joined GTE shortly after deregulation of the telecommunications industry, he played a key role in formulating and executing marketing strategies and programs that resulted in many contract awards. Ben also worked for Tandem Computers as the General Manager for Hawaii, and for Servco Pacific.
Although Ben took early retirement from the private sector, he returned to public service in 1994, serving on Governor Ben Cayetano's cabinet as Deputy Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and thereafter as a Special Assistant to the Hawaii State Airports Administrator. He retired from this state position in December 2000.
While working in the private and public sectors, Ben became a member of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce and the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. After his retirement, he focused on the Japanese community, volunteering his time to various organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce (HJCC) and became president in 1992. He was Chairman of the Pan Pacific Festival/Matsuri in Hawaii, Past President of the United Japanese Society of Hawaii, Vice Chairman of the Hiroshima-Hawaii Sister-State/Prefecture Committee, and Past President of the Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, a position he held for five years. Ben was also a member of the KonnichiKai, Urasenke Tea Foundation, a past president of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association-Hawaii Chapter, past officer and director of the Air Cargo Association of Hawaii, and a 25 year charter member of the Honolulu Club.
In November 2006, Ben received the prestigious Imperial decoration, "Order of the Rising Sun" with Gold and Silver Rays, from the government of Japan, conferred for his contribution to the promotion of U.S.-Japan economic relations and for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.
Ben is survived by his wife Elmira and his four children, Reid (Carrie), Teri (Ron) Yanagi, Lori (Kris) Fukumoto Eiserloh and Eric; six grandchildren, Kylie, Kirra Fukumoto, Alyssa Yanagi, Kainoa, Koa and Kiana Eserloh. Ben is also survived by his sister Karen (Leonard) Chun and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Alvin & wife Gail, and Stanley (elaine) and sisters Barbara (Stan) Fujimoto and Mae and William Tomita.
A "Celebration of Life thru Music, Movement and Memories" will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, 2454 Beretania Street. Visitation: 10:30 am Service at 11:30 am with lunch to follow. Burial with military honors will be at a later date at The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. For those who can attend Ben's service, masks are required with adherence to all Covid protocols.
Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary
