Mitsuko Kaneshiro's Obituary
Mitsuko Kaneshiro ,93, passed away peacefully in the on August 5, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. Mitsuko was known as Mom, Mama, Michan, Big Aunty, Grandma, and Aunty Grandma.
She was born in Aza Yonabaru, Ozato son, Okinawa on February 10, 1931 to Denjiro and Yone Uehara, Eldest of 8 children. She came to Hawaii on December of 1961. She worked at several local restaurants including Blue Ocean Inn in Waikiki, Columbia Inn, Flamingos, Flamingo Chuckwagon, and Like Like drive inn. She also had many businesses including Mitsu’s luncheonette, Michan’s Musubi, and Jamie’s snack shop in Pauoa Valley. She was known to all the neighborhood kids as “Grandma” because she was like everyone’s favorite Grandma who cooked delicious meals for them . Mitsuko was also known for her “original” Spam Musubi which she made for her children growing up. It also had that familiar shape different from the traditional circle or triangle because she said it was shaped like the spam. She first tried selling her Spam musubis in the ‘70s but didn’t take popularity until she sold it at City Pharmacy in the early ‘80’s. At the peak she was selling to various small local businesses including the blind vendors in the state and municipal buildings. She was making up to 500 Musubis a day by hand, without the use of wooden or acrylic mold when it was still steaming hot.
Mitsuko instilled in her children to work hard, to do your best, and the importance of family. She was a member of Yonabaru Chojin Kai and Deigo Club. She was also affiliated with her church, Hawaii Iyesuno Mitama Kyokai. She loved to sing and dance to Okinawan music and made us all appreciate our Okinawan heritage and all of its traditions.
Mitsuko is predeceased by her parents Denjiro and Yone Uehara, brothers Yoshihide, Yoshiteru , and Yoshio Uehara of Okinawa, and sisters Toshiko of Honolulu, and Yoneko Bounds of Arizona. She is survived by brother Yoshimitsu (Junko) Uehara of Honolulu, and sister Kimiko Uehara of Okinawa, sons Danny Nakamoto, Wayne (Sharon) Nakamoto, Ted (Lisa) Kaneshiro and daughters Jean Hayase, Lilly (Steve) Noschese, Mitzi (Lee) Kaneko, 17 grand children, 8 great grand children and numerous nephews and nieces.
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