Gladys Hashisaka Obituary

GLADYS KAZUE HASHISAKA Gladys Kazue Hashisaka passed away peacefully on June 20, 2023 at the age of 100 with her family by her side. She was the eldest of five children born to Shima and Mataro Nishikawa. She attended Farrington High School. As a sophomore, she was hospitalized for three months after contracting a life-threatening case of sepsis from a ruptured appendix. She often spoke of how her mother never left her side, praying over her and encouraging her to hold on. Despite that rough start to her high school career, she succeeded in graduating. She also graduated from Japanese Language School as an Honor Student, with the ability to speak Japanese fluently and write letters to relatives in Shizuoka. As the eldest child, Gladys was always helping her mother and seldom had free time; however, her father often took the children to the beach after work or on weekends when she could practice what she loved most- swimming. During summers she honed her swimming and diving skills at the Olympic-sized pool at Palama Settlement and the Natatorium in Waikiki. She was eventually able to dive from the highest platform, an accomplishment she was especially proud of. After the birth of her two children, Gladys became a homemaker. She still enjoyed swimming, but fishing became her new hobby. She and her son often spent Saturdays on her brother's boat, fishing in Kaneohe Bay. She was known for her ability to clean and filet large aku in less than 20 minutes! People often joked that she would have been a valued employee at Tamashiro Market. In 1967, Gladys and her best friend Jane Maeda joined a start-up clothing company called Pomare Tahiti. That small shop at the entrance to Waikiki grew into Hilo Hattie, the largest Hawaiian-wear store in the state. At her retirement party, Jim Romig, President of Hilo Hattie, commended her for "twenty-five years of loyal and dedicated service." Gladys was very happy that she could attend her grandsons Brent and Eric's graduations from Iolani School and Santa Clara University, as well as Brent's wedding. Unfortunately, the spinal stenosis she had suffered from for many years worsened and she became wheelchair-bound and was eventually bedridden. Her family would like to thank Pauline Young, her friend and companion, for the warmth and laughter she brought to Gladys's life, as well as the fifth and third floor staffs of Hale Pulama Mau for the care they provided for Gladys. Special thanks to Bristol Hospice for the compassionate support and exceptional care provided by her nurse Sun and Chaplain Les's comforting spiritual guidance during the last two years of her life. We will always remember Gladys's strength of character, adventurous spirit, beautiful smile and how she touched people with her kindness and generosity. Gladys was predeceased by her husband Sadao and her siblings Henry, Yoshito and Violet. She is survived by her sister Ethel Nishikawa, son Edwin Hashisaka, daughter Ellen Manago (Merwyn), grandsons Eric and Brent (Jennifer), and greatgrandsons Tyler, Colin, Dylan and Nolan. Private services have been held. Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC