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Kenji Kawaguchi, 94

Our dad, grandpa and great grandpa, Kenji Kawaguchi, 94, passed away peacefully on the evening of April 2, 2022. He was born on Dec 25, 1927, in Makawao, to Rikiichi and Shizuko Kawaguchi, the third oldest of ten children.

After the family moved to Lahaina, he attended Kamehameha III Elementary and Lahainaluna High School. Upon graduating from high school, he worked at the pineapple cannery for about a year before de-ciding to attend the University of Hawaii Manoa, on Oahu.

He was a star football player at UH and was one of a few players selected to play in the 1951 Hula Bowl. Dad graduated from UH in 1951, with a degree in Recreation.

Dad returned to Maui and started working for the West Maui Com-munity Association for two years (1951-1953). After he left that position, he was selected as the Catholic Youth Organiztion (CYO) Director (1953-1972). In 1972, he decided to leave the CYO and worked for the County of Maui, Parks and Recreation Depart-ment, as the County Organized Sports Coordinator. Later he became the Lahaina District Supervisor, where he held that position for ten years. In 1986, then Mayor Hannibal Tavares, appointed Kenji as the Deputy Director of Parks and Recrea-tion, a position he held until his retirement on June 1, 1989.

Dad was well known in the sports community and was also the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Executive Secretary which involved all of the Maui County high school sporting events. He also organized the Maui Officials Association and also participated in officiating, refereeing, umpiring and as a timer at every MIL sporting event on Maui.

He also had his hand in pop warner football, Little League, Pony League and AJA baseball. He was an avid golfer, softball and tennis player in his minimal spare time.

Dad was married to our mom, Mildred Yamada (Feb 9, 1952) who passed away on Dec 12, 2019.

He is survived by his daughters, Liane (Val) Ogata, Susan (Wayne) Sakagawa and son, Eric (Stacie) Kawaguchi, grandchildren Jodie (Jacy) Lau, Sean (Katrina) Ogata, Christopher and Nicholas Kawaguchi and three great grandchildren, brothers

Robert (Sakae), Kenneth (Frances) and Alan (Geraldine) Kawaguchi and sisters Shizue Suzuki and Mildred (Paul) Yasuhara and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rikiichi & Shizuko Kawaguchi, brother, Masaichi Kawaguchi, sisters, Miyoko Kubo, Yaeko Matsuda and Geraldine Matsui.

Online condolences may be made at: Nakamuramortuary.com