HARUKO ALICE YOSHINA Haruko Alice Yoshina passed away on April 1, 2016 at the Kuakini Medical Center. Alice was born in Hakalau, Hawaii on March 13, 1921 to Satoru and Satoyo Kurisu. She went to Japan at age thirteen, and graduated from Hiroshima Prefectural High School and Hiroshima City College, where she received her teaching certificate. While in Japan, she took tea ceremony and flower arranging lessons, earning a degree in the Ikenobo School of flower arranging. After returning to Hawaii, she began teaching at the Hilo Hongwanji Gakuen (Japanese language school). In 1942, she married Dr. Takeo Kenneth Yoshina, and they began their family. During this time, she obtained her American high school diploma through the adult education program while raising her family, helping her husband in his dental office, and teaching flower arrangement in her home. She resumed her language school teaching in 1954 until her retirement as director of language programs in 1982. By continuing her flower arranging studies in Kyoto and in Hawaii through visiting professors from Kyoto, Alice attained the highest rank of Sokatoku (Senior Professor, First Grade.) In 1977, she organized the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Hawaii, the first Ikenobo Society in the state of Hawaii. Alice continued teaching flower arrangement in her home as well as through the adult education program, Parks and Recreation program, Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin, and Hilo Meishoin. The Ikenobo Society, under Alice's leadership as sensei and president, held flower arrangement demonstrations, showcasing her students' arrangements, at various venues over the years. In March 2004, her students honored her for fifty years of teaching. in May 2004, she received a "Special Award of Merit," or "Award for Special Distinguished Service to Ikenobo," (Jun Karo-Ho) from Ikenobo Sen'ei, the 45th headmaster of the Ikenobo School of Flower Arranging. It was the first time this award had been presented to a member outside of Japan. Besides her teaching, Alice enjoyed baking and cooking, especially Japanese foods, raising plants and flowers, especially orchids, sewing, and needlework. She became the oral historian for the Yoshina family as she was fluent in Japanese. She was a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother, and cared deeply for her extended family. Survivors include her daughter, Winona Maeda; grand-daughter, Lianne Maeda; sister, Margaret Y. Oda; hanai son, Lloyd Yoshina; and numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband Takeo Yoshina in 1989 and son Claron in 1959. Visitation will be at Dodo Mortuary in Hilo, Hawaii on April 30, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., with Memorial Service to follow at 3:00 p.m. Aloha attire.
HARUKO ALICE YOSHINA Haruko Alice Yoshina passed away on April 1, 2016 at the Kuakini Medical Center. Alice was born in Hakalau, Hawaii on March 13, 1921 to Satoru and Satoyo Kurisu. She went to Japan at age thirteen, and graduated from Hiroshima Prefectural High School and Hiroshima City College, where she received her teaching certificate. While in Japan, she took tea ceremony and flower arranging lessons, earning a degree in the Ikenobo School of flower arranging. After returning to Hawaii, she began teaching at the Hilo Hongwanji Gakuen (Japanese language school). In 1942, she married Dr. Takeo Kenneth Yoshina, and they began their family. During this time, she obtained her American high school diploma through the adult education program while raising her family, helping her husband in his dental office, and teaching flower arrangement in her home. She resumed her language school teaching in 1954 until her retirement as director of language programs in 1982. By continuing her flower arranging studies in Kyoto and in Hawaii through visiting professors from Kyoto, Alice attained the highest rank of Sokatoku (Senior Professor, First Grade.) In 1977, she organized the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Hawaii, the first Ikenobo Society in the state of Hawaii. Alice continued teaching flower arrangement in her home as well as through the adult education program, Parks and Recreation program, Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin, and Hilo Meishoin. The Ikenobo Society, under Alice's leadership as sensei and president, held flower arrangement demonstrations, showcasing her students' arrangements, at various venues over the years. In March 2004, her students honored her for fifty years of teaching. in May 2004, she received a "Special Award of Merit," or "Award for Special Distinguished Service to Ikenobo," (Jun Karo-Ho) from Ikenobo Sen'ei, the 45th headmaster of the Ikenobo School of Flower Arranging. It was the first time this award had been presented to a member outside of Japan. Besides her teaching, Alice enjoyed baking and cooking, especially Japanese foods, raising plants and flowers, especially orchids, sewing, and needlework. She became the oral historian for the Yoshina family as she was fluent in Japanese. She was a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother, and cared deeply for her extended family. Survivors include her daughter, Winona Maeda; grand-daughter, Lianne Maeda; sister, Margaret Y. Oda; hanai son, Lloyd Yoshina; and numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband Takeo Yoshina in 1989 and son Claron in 1959. Visitation will be at Dodo Mortuary in Hilo, Hawaii on April 30, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., with Memorial Service to follow at 3:00 p.m. Aloha attire.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
