Yoshiaki "Ike" Ikeda, born and raised in North Kona on the Big Island, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2022 in Honolulu at the age of 96. After graduating from Konawaena, Ike followed the footsteps of his two older brothers and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was commissioned with the 442 Regimental Combat Division. Ike was deployed to France and Italy and received a Bronze Star at the completion of WWII.
At the end of the war, he returned to Kona and worked as a commercial fisherman. He eventually started his own business and would go out in his canoe to catch akule and opelu which he would dry and sell and often times give to his family and friends.
Realizing he wanted more, he left Kona and attended the New York Institute of Technology on Oahu and earned a certificate as an electrical mechanic for aircraft maintenance. Hired by United Airlines, he worked at Midway & O'Hare Airports in Chicago & the Honolulu International Airport.
After retiring from UAL, Ike continued to pursue his love of deep-sea & shoreline fishing. With special friends he shared his "secret" fishing locations for onaga and mahimahi.
After the passing of his wife Asako, he lived independently and did his own shopping and cooking. On a daily basis, he worked on crossword or sudoku puzzles, enjoyed watching baseball, Japanese movies and fishing shows.
As the last of his brothers and sisters, he leaves a legacy of hard work, examples of how to live and make the most of life, to be fair with everyone and to keep your eyes & nose clean, to not complain and to be humble, to have a goal in mind and to always do your best.
He is dearly missed by his family which includes his daughter, Jocelyn (Gary) Kaneshiro and son, Arthur (Jessie) Ikeda along with grandchildren, Kerensa (Carlos) Jimenez, Christopher (Mayumi) Iraha, Scott Kaneshiro & Brooke Kaneshiro, Asa (Sharon) Ikeda, Adam Ikeda and Keola (Kim) Saffery, plus 7 great-grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Private Services were held for the inurnment of ashes at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl along with military honors and the blessings by Reverend Yoshida from Soto Mission.
Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC
