HANAE MAEDA

Hanae Maeda, originally Hanae Sagawa, was born on May 18, 1929, in Ola’a, Hawai’i. She was the youngest child of father Chikatada and mother Mume Sagawa’s seven children. At age four, the family moved to Hilo where Hanae was raised through high school, finishing her last year at McKinley High School in Honolulu in 1947. She then spent three years at the University of Hawai’i before transferring to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where she graduated with a degree in education. While in Michigan, she met her future husband Takayuki Maeda at the University of Michigan’s Aloha Club. After graduation, she moved back to Hawai’i and obtained a teaching certificate from the University of Hawai’i. She went on to teach at La’ie, ‘Aiea, and Ma’ema’e elementary schools on O’ahu.
Hanae and Takayuki were married on July 7, 1953, in Honolulu, Hawai’i. In 1954, the two moved to Detroit, Ml, where Takayuki worked as a mechanical engineer and Hanae taught at an elementary school. They had three children, Chris, Gary, and Wendy, who they raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They moved back to Hawai’i in 1992 after retirement, settling down in Kailua, O’ahu in their dream home. Hanae and Takayuki were devoted to their family and spent the rest of their lives with their children and grandchildren. They had six grandchildren: Lisa from their first son Chris and wife Jayne; Amber and Matthew from their second son Gary; and Nicholas, Adam and Emma from their daughter Wendy and husband Steve. Hanae (referred to as "Oma" by the grandkids) loved to cook for her family, and is remembered for her classic ribs recipe, her jello desserts, and loving smile.

Hanae died on October 17, 2022, in Saline, Michigan,
surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Her legacy is carried on by her family, who love and miss her dearly.