LARRY ISEMOTO Obituary

LARRY (JUICE) SHUNJI ISEMOTO LARRY (JUICE) SHUNJI ISEMOTO, 97, passed away peacefully at home on September 22, 2025. Larry was born on January 5, 1928 in Villa Franca, Hilo to Hisato and Chiyono Isemoto and grew up in the Houselots area of town among lifelong friends. At Waiakea Kai elementary school, two things happened that had a lasting impact on his life - one was getting the nickname 'Juice' from his classmates, and the other was seeing photographs of Egyptian pyramids and vowing to see them in person one day. Larry graduated from Hilo High School in 1946 and joined the US Army two weeks later. After basic training at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, he was stationed in Tokyo, Japan working in the Public Safety Division. He was discharged in October 1947 and used his GI Bill to study civil and structural engineering at Chicago Technical College in Chicago, Illinois. While in Chicago, he met his future wife Beatrice Fujikawa, also from Hilo, and they were married in 1955. Larry returned to Hawaii to work in the family business and was named President of Isemoto Contracting Co. in 1967 where he remained at the helm for 25 years before transitioning to Chairman of the Board. Throughout his career, Larry was a true leader in Hawaii's construction industry. He served two terms as President of the Hawaii Island Contractors Association and became the first non-Honolulu member to serve statewide as President of the General Contractors Association of Hawaii. He also served as President of the Construction Industry Legislative Organization, based in Honolulu. Larry was an active member of the community and continued his father's tradition of getting things done and helping others in need. He was a long-time member of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, serving as President in 1986 and 1987. He also served as President for the Japanese Community Association of Hawaii in 1988 and the East Hawaii Shima Hiroshima Kenjin Kai in 1997, 2006, and 2007. In 2003 he received the Korosha Meritorious Service Award from Hiroshima Kenjin Kai and in 2009, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, 5th Class by the Emperor of Japan. In 2013 he received an Outstanding HHS Viking Recognition. He also started the Isemoto Contracting Co. Scholarship Fund which awards four scholarships to big island high school graduates each year. In his spare time, he enjoyed golf, barbecuing, and traveling the world with his wife. It was a long journey from Hawaii to Egypt, but he finally got to see the pyramids in 1981, fulfilling his childhood dream. Larry is survived by his wife of 70 years, Beatrice, daughter Janice (Jason) Waterlow and son David (Jean) Isemoto, two sisters, Yoshie Araki of California and Sachie (Masa) Kaneshiro of Oahu, sister-in-law Kay Isemoto of Hilo, and many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was the patriarch of his large extended family, and will be remembered for his big heart, generous spirit, and his warm smile. Visitation will be held at Dodo Mortuary Chapel in Hilo, Hawaii on October 26, 2025 (Sunday) from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; memorial service will begin at 4:00 p.m. Casual attire. No Koden (monetary offerings) or flowers. Live streaming option available on Dodo Mortuary website.