Takae Okamoto's Obituary
Takae Okamoto, 96
Takae Okamoto, a proud American citizen, beloved relative, and longtime Honolulu resident known for her graciousness and resilience, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the age of 96.
Takae was born in June 1929, in Tokyo, Japan. Her heritage was rich, tracing back to a distinguished Samurai family, and her father served in a role associated with the Japan Imperial Palace. Though she would pass away with modest means, Takae enjoyed an opulent upbringing, which included time spent riding horses—an experience that cultivated her lifelong love for all animals.
Her youth was marked by global conflict; her high school education was deferred as she contributed to manufacturing efforts during World War II. After the war, Takae skillfully adapted, utilizing her bilingual abilities as a telephone operator for American Insurance Underwriters (AIU) in Tokyo, where she routinely spoke English.
In 1980, Takae emigrated to the United States and made her permanent home in Honolulu. She worked successfully in retail sales and was driven by a powerful foresight: believing the U.S. government might one day deny benefits to resident aliens, she diligently studied at the McKinley High School Adult Education office and proudly achieved American citizenship. In her earlier years on the island, she was a dedicated attendee of the Nichiren Sect Mission of Hawaii temple.
Though her later five years were relatively reclusive, Takae was renowned throughout her long life for her consistent character traits: always polite, she never failed to express thanks to everyone she met. Despite standing less than five feet tall, she commanded respect through her kindness. Takae was a resident of the senior citizen housing project, Wisteria Vista, for more than 15 years, and spent her final days in a senior foster-care home following a hospitalization at Queen’s Hospital. She left this world peacefully and with grace, noted by her caregivers for having a smile on her face in her final moments.
Takae Okamoto was unmarried. She is survived by her loving step-daughter, Debbie; her grand-daughter, Charlotina; and her great-grandson, Leo.
A private funeral service will be held.
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