Biography
Kenji Yokoyama was a quiet, industrious man. He lived in this house all of his life with his family. His father was the town tailor. Kenji was an avid gardener, shell, rock, and driftwood collector. He was an artist who delighted in making sculptures and plaques from the things he found on the Kohala coast. Kenji grew up during the sugar plantation years in Kohala. People back then were very resourceful and frugal. Things were used again and again and repaired and re-used.
Kenji was born in Kohala on August 25, 1931. He moved into this house with his mother when he was in his twenties. Because his mother, Kimi, was the oldest of seven sisters, Kenji was almost a whole generation older than his fellow cousins. The family thought of Kenji as the caretaker of the Kohala homestead. Later in life, his uncle gave the house to Kenji. Kenji died alone in this house on July 23, 2004 at the age of 75. He is buried in the Waianaia Cemetery in Haluala, next to his parents. His father, Shuji Yokoyama was born in Japan on August 4, 1884. He died in Kohala on September 8, 1953 at the age of 69. Kenji's mother, Kimi Suzuki Yokoyama was born in Kohala on March 17, 1903.
Kimi was one of seven sisters and two brothers born to Oranosuke (Ojiji) and Toku (Obaban) Suzuki, who left Niigata, Japan sailing for Hawai'i via Yokohama and Hong Kong. Toku's entry papers listed him as a "laborer, Hackfield, Co., 22 years old.". Soon Ojiji left plantation work and became a "hack driver", shuttling passengers to Hilo and back. Later, he worked for the Bond Estate, then Kohala Hospital, as a grounds keeper. Oban took in laundry and raised chickens, eggs, and vegetables. The couple enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage. They had 15 children, 10 of whom reached adulthood in Hawai'i. They all lived in a tiny house in back of Nanbu Hotel. Kenji's father, Takeji worked as a mechanic for Kohala Sugar Company. His mother, Kimi, worked for the Nanbu Hotel. Later, several of the first generation of working children bought this old two level house on the hill from James Sakai. Kimi and Kenji moved into the house with other relatives later in life. Kenji took care of his mother until the time of her death on December 14, 1988 at the age of 85.
Videos About Kenji...
I am Kenji's older sister and thank you and the others who are responsible for this effort. My sister, Misoko Lincoln, has spoken to you and shared your correspondence with her and me. I have meant to write to you earlier to thank you for all you've done in keeping Kenji's efforts alive! I want to correct some family history. My mother, Mrs. Kimi Suzuki Yokoyama, was born in Kohala, Hawai'i. Therefore, was not a picture-bride. Her mom, Mrs. Toku Suzuki, did have nine children. My mother, Kimi, has four children: Etsuko, Hew Len, Eiko, and Kenji. My grandfather, Orinsuke Suzuki, bought the house from the Sakai Family and my brother Kenji bought the house from our uncle Tatsuo Suzuki (now deceased).
You might already know that the bulk of Kenji's shells have been donated to the Bishop Museum and they will be displayed in a special room as soon as the Hawaiian section, now being renovated, is done. My daughter, Joy Hew Len Takemoto, and her husband made several trips to Kohala to pack them and deliver them to the Bishop Museum. The room will be dedicated to Kenji.
You can search for Kenji's shells at the PILSBRy Pacific Island Land Snail Biodiversity Repository (of which the Bishop Museum is a contributor). Simply enter "Yokoyama" in the search field).
Here's a direct link to search for Yokoyama in their database (it will take a few minutes to return results): http://pilsbry.org/collections/list.php?searchstring=yokoyama&reset=0&alldatasearch=1&usethes=1&taxontype=2&db=allspec
Acknowledgement
by Eiko Hew Len, Kenji's Sister
I certainly have fond memories of my young days when I lived there. My sister Edna, and brother Stanley, bought the house from James Sakai. He was a very personable person. The house we lived in was the residence of his oldest son's wife. On the second floor, the other siblings lived. (The old house had three seperate levels; three houses build onto the next).
I am proud of your interest and your dedication. Enclosed is a picture of the entire Suzuki girls. I thought you would be interested to see Kenji's mom.
I will be 93 this November 2008.