August "Augie" Lahaina Kuroda's Obituary
August Lahaina Kuroda
A MAN who had a love for UH sports. An OTS BUS DRIVER who had the charisma to brighten everyones day. A DAD who always put family first. A GRANDPA who was so strong and stubborn at times. A GREAT-GRANDPA who loved each and every one of his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. That’s the man I will ALWAYS be BLESSED to have called my GRANDPA.
August Lahaina Kuroda, was my grandpa who I cherished and loved so very much. He was born on September 4, 1926 in Honolulu, HI to parents Herman Lahaina Kuroda and Abbie Leilani Smith. In his younger years, Grandpa was drafted into the military and served time in two wars in the Army. He was a firefighter for a short time and also worked for Hawaiian Dredging and Guam Dredging Contractors. In 1958, Grandpa started working as a bus driver for what we know today as Oahu Transit Services (The Bus). Grandpa enjoyed his job and was adored by many of his passengers for his friendly character. There was an article written in the MidWeek by Pamela Young that described Grandpa as “the most courteous, polite driver .” I can recall Grandpa in his bus shirt waiting to pick me up after school. He always had a newspaper in his hands while he waited and always had his hair nicely slicked back and napkins in his front pocket. I miss those days and wish I could be a little girl again with Grandpa waiting for me outside of my school. Grandpa retired from Oahu Transit Services in 2000.
Because Papa could never relax and enjoy retirement, he continued to work as a parking attendant for Standard Parking. He always liked to be kept busy with work and household duties. He would come home and wash clothes every day even when we grumbled to him that he was wasting water to wash just three towels and a handful of clothes, and get lint all over our clothes. Papa was such a hard-working man who loved and always took care of his family. As I got older, Papa always reminded me to work, work, work and never take my job for granted. He would say “You know, its hard to get a job nowadays. Make sure you go to work.”
Grandpa’s love and outpouring generosity, especially for his family is one thing that I admire and hold dear to my heart. Papa would always take care of his family, from the littlest things like buying 20 Kleenex boxes for grandma because it was on sale to making sure his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids had Christmas and birthday gifts. Grandpa’s love for his family was unconditional, kind of like his love for UH sport. Grandpa had been a UH football season ticket holder since I could remember. Win or lose, Papa would watch the game and blame any losing game on us saying “See you guys when watch the game, that’s why we lost.” When Papa couldn’t go to the games anymore he still bought us season tickets and he watched it at home, win or lose, and even read about the game the next day in the newspaper.
My memories is all I have left here to remind me of the man I miss each and every day. The Lord now has my Papa and he is my guardian angel who will always and forever be kept in my heart, mind, and spirit. Grandpa, may you soar like wings on eagles and enjoy everlasting life. I love you always and forever. May you always be in our hearts. Love, Ona
Grandpa is survived by his wife Helen Kuroda and 5 children (August Kuroda, Jr., Judy Leslie, Anna Rodrigues, Wayne Kuroda, Karen Kuroda). He is survived by his 6 siblings (Frances Chang, Abigail Chong, Ana Young, Clinton Leong, Sr., Anthony Kuroda, Homer Kuroda), 15 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: 9:30-10:30a.m., Wednesday December 24, 2014 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary; service at 10:30a.m.; with burial to follow 1:00p.m. at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
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