(83) of Mililani, Hawaii, passed away December 30, 2022, at the Pali Momi Medical Center. She was born in 1939, in Lima, Peru. In 1942, she and other members of her family were included in a Pact between the U.S. and Peru which exchanged Japanese citizens in Peru for American citizens in Japan. The family was then deported to Texas where they spent the next year in a prisoner of war camp. This was followed by a 3-month long boat trip to Okinawa, arriving prior to the "Battle of Okinawa."In 1964, Mariko married John Almarez, a U.S. civilian employee with the U.S. Army in Okinawa. Never complaining, and supporting her husband's career, she packed and moved the family from Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Arizona and Germany before settling in Hawaii in 1981.
She is survived by her husband John; sons: James (Cheryl), and Jack (Cassie); daughter Janet (Dennis) Maele; grandsons: Jonathan, Kaaha and Jason; granddaughters: Kaiwa, Cadie, Cloie and Kaitlyn; great granddaughters: Naiah, Riley, Harli and great grandson Jayden.
Private Services were held.
