JANICE TANIYAMA

Janice Harue Nakasone Taniyama passed away unexpectedly on April 17, 2024, a day before her 71 st birthday.
She will be remembered and deeply missed by many loved ones, friends, students, and colleagues, whose lives were enriched by her passionate commitment and dedication to everything she did, with and for them.
Jan was a person of diverse skills and talents – an entertainer, a business owner, a mentor and advocate. She won many song contests locally, leading to a recording contract in Tokyo at age 17 and becoming a professional entertainer upon returning to Hawaii.
Although she had a medical technician degree, Jan was drawn to the business world and opened Shima Sales, a successful award-winning electronic equipment distribution company.
Years later, Jan renewed her friendship with Les Taniyama, whom she had known since age 8. Jan and Les married in 2007, and began an unbreakable bond as life and business partners.
As owners of Power & System Inspection Group (PSIG-HI), an electrical, mechanical and energy engineering consultancy, Jan took care of the company’s business matters, but also earned course certificates in air-conditioning and electrical disciplines to understand the technical aspects of their industry as well.
With her trademark perseverance and passion, in 2015 Jan was instrumental in gaining approval of a 4-year degree program at the University of Hawaii – West Oahu with a concentration in Facilities Management, offering a comprehensive executive-level education for candidates who would otherwise learn most of this important skillset through on-the-job training or trade schools.
To nurture young peoples’ interest in STEAM careers, Jan and Les started mentoring the Robotics Team at Kamehameha Schools 10+ years ago, becoming devoted volunteer “kumu” and advocates for members of the RoboWarriors to this day.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)-Hawaii Chapter created the Janice Harue Nakasone Taniyama Scholarship Foundation upon her passing, “to honor and remember Jan, for her dedication and support to ASHRAE, to our construction industry, to many Robotics kids, and to many of us, her friends”.
Jan was born on April 18, 1953 in Honolulu, one of four children of Minoru and Haruko Nakasone. She was preceded in death by her brother Glenn (Anne) Nakasone, and infant sister Miyuki Nakasone. Sadly, her beloved older sister Diane (Calvin) Ito passed away approximately 7 weeks after Jan.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00pm (visitation at 3:00pm) Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary.