Sayoko "Helen" Noborikawa was born on Dec. 28, 1926 to Isakichi Hashimoto and Motoko Yamasaki Hashimoto on the island of Hawaii. She was the couple's third of seven children. Sayoko grew up in the sugar cane plantation town of Pahala where she graduated from Pahala High School on June 7, 1945, after which she moved to Honolulu to seek employment. Shortly after World War II ended, she met Richard Noborikawa, a WW II veteran from Kipapa Gulch, Oahu, fell in love and they married In the summer of 1949. Three sons, Robert, Ronald and Roy, and two daughters, Iris and Amy were born to the couple. Sayoko was a stay at home mom for most of her early married life, busy raising the five children. She was an active member of Pali View Baptist Church, singing in the choir and bringing her children to many of its family functions throughout the years. She eventually served as its part-time bookkeeper after retiring from the Chamber of Commerce. Helen, as she was more commonly known to her friends and coworkers, was a hard core saver, once saving enough Foodland green stamps to redeem for six airline tickets for a family vacation to the Big Island for herself and all five children. She was also a hard core crafts person, making dozens and dozens of leis, table center pieces, party favors. etc. out of miscellaneous, every day objects. Sayoko enjoyed traveling, often visiting her children and grandchild in California and the Pacific Northwest. Her enthusiasm for traveling diminished quickly upon the death of her husband and travel partner of 50 years in 1999. She is survived by her sisters, Eiko Imaino of Hilo, Hawaii, and Clara Furukawa of Monrovia, California; Her children, Robert Noborikawa of California, Ronald Noborikawa of Bonney Lake, Washington, Iris Mestemacher of Turlock, California, Amy Noborikawa of Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Roy Noborikawa of Hawaii Kai, Hawaii; Grandchildren Jennifer and Jacqueline Noborikawa of California, Megan and Ryan Noborikawa of Seattle, Washington and Forest Grove, Oregon, respectively, Aiko, Cavan, and Terumi of Turlock, California, and Brandi and Jordan Liu of Hawaii. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 8 at 10am at Pali View Baptist Church, 45-510 Halekou Rd., Kaneohe.
Sayoko "Helen" Noborikawa was born on Dec. 28, 1926 to Isakichi Hashimoto and Motoko Yamasaki Hashimoto on the island of Hawaii. She was the couple's third of seven children. Sayoko grew up in the sugar cane plantation town of Pahala where she graduated from Pahala High School on June 7, 1945, after which she moved to Honolulu to seek employment. Shortly after World War II ended, she met Richard Noborikawa, a WW II veteran from Kipapa Gulch, Oahu, fell in love and they married In the summer of 1949. Three sons, Robert, Ronald and Roy, and two daughters, Iris and Amy were born to the couple. Sayoko was a stay at home mom for most of her early married life, busy raising the five children. She was an active member of Pali View Baptist Church, singing in the choir and bringing her children to many of its family functions throughout the years. She eventually served as its part-time bookkeeper after retiring from the Chamber of Commerce. Helen, as she was more commonly known to her friends and coworkers, was a hard core saver, once saving enough Foodland green stamps to redeem for six airline tickets for a family vacation to the Big Island for herself and all five children. She was also a hard core crafts person, making dozens and dozens of leis, table center pieces, party favors. etc. out of miscellaneous, every day objects. Sayoko enjoyed traveling, often visiting her children and grandchild in California and the Pacific Northwest. Her enthusiasm for traveling diminished quickly upon the death of her husband and travel partner of 50 years in 1999. She is survived by her sisters, Eiko Imaino of Hilo, Hawaii, and Clara Furukawa of Monrovia, California; Her children, Robert Noborikawa of California, Ronald Noborikawa of Bonney Lake, Washington, Iris Mestemacher of Turlock, California, Amy Noborikawa of Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Roy Noborikawa of Hawaii Kai, Hawaii; Grandchildren Jennifer and Jacqueline Noborikawa of California, Megan and Ryan Noborikawa of Seattle, Washington and Forest Grove, Oregon, respectively, Aiko, Cavan, and Terumi of Turlock, California, and Brandi and Jordan Liu of Hawaii. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 8 at 10am at Pali View Baptist Church, 45-510 Halekou Rd., Kaneohe.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
