WALLACE RYOICHI SUGAI

Age 99, of Pearl City, passed away peacefully at home on January 31, 2018. Born June 3, 1918 in Waialua, Oahu, the Sugai family moved to Ewa when Wallace was a young boy.

As the eldest son in a family of 10 children, many responsibilities fell on his young shoulders. So, when Wallace completed the 8th grade and graduated from Ewa School, he immediately applied for a job with the Ewa Plantation Company to help out with household expenses. He started cutting grass for $1 a day and later worked in the mill before training to become a journeyman carpenter. Those skills came in handy as he made furniture for the home, wooden toys for his children and sharpened saws for fellow plantation co-workers. After nearly 50 years, he retired from the plantation.

Always a hard worker, Wallace made time to tend to his 10-bed vegetable garden, fruit trees, flowers and orchids. He also cared for pet dogs, yellow finches, carp and kingyo, but, his lifelong passion was fishing – a pastime he shared with his father. He spent many weekends shoreline fishing, throwing his fish net and hunting for octopus.

Wallace is survived by daughter Sandra “Sandi” Yara and grand- son Colin “Co” Yara. Yaeko, his wife of 75 years, and son Scott, pre-deceased him.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 21 at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel. Visitation 10 am; memorial service 11 am; refreshments and lunch to follow. Casual attire.