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Momoe Elizabeth Guillermo, was a happy, bubbly, spirited, smiling, 97 years young woman who loved life and people. She was born in Tokyo, Japan on February 27, 1929. She passed serenely at Hale Makua, Kahului's Pikake Wing care home on September 28, 2026.
A survivor of WWII at the young age of 15, she met and fell in love with the handsome G.I., Gorgonio "Gonio" Guillermo from Paia, Maui, HI. They were married in Yokohama, Japan on October 10, 1947. They arrived on ship with their son, Jackie Kunio on October 13, 1947, and she became the first Japanese war bride with her picture taken in the Hawai'i Herald Newspaper.
Her family grew to include five more children, three boys (Patrick, Timothy, and Dennis) and two girls (CarmeLynne and Grace). They resided in Lower Paia.
She enjoyed music, was a harmonica player, loved to sing and had a keen sense of knowing the names of classical pieces and their composers such as Mozart, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky.
A lover of art and sports: she was a water colorist, a knitter, and a good seamstress, a bowler, enjoyed sumo, and was an avid UH Manoa sports fan for volleyball, football and baseball.
She was the greatest supporter of her family and enjoyed meeting people of all ages.
She loved to cook and was always looking through her Japanese magazines or watching the Japanese cooking shows. Her family in Osaka, Japan owned a restaurant and her dream was to open one of her own on Maui. Her special creation of vegetable-seafood tempura was her family's favorite!
She worked as a waitress at the original Maui Kahului Airport and the Maui Palms Hotel, was a sales clerk at Shirokiya's toy department, and lastly, a Japanese interpreter with Do Maui until COVID-19 shut their doors.
Momoe always radiated with POSITIVITY and being HAPPY with a kawaii SMILE. She appreciated and lived life to the fullest!!
Momoe is preceded by her parents: Goro Uehara and Rin (Miyata) Ikeda along with brothers: Riyohei and Kunihiko Ikeda, and Yoshiro Uehara; her beloved husband Gorgonio Guillermo, son Jackie (Naomi) Guillermo and grandson Shannon Guillermo.
Momoe is survived by her children, Sons: Patrick (Eileen) Guillermo, Timothy (Joyce) Guillermo, and Dennis (Alvin) Guillermo; Daughters: CarmeLynne (Nelson) Tan and Grace (Lew-deceased) Shimabuku. Momoe is also survived by her ten grandchildren: Jennifer Guillermo, Jayna Guillermo, Kimberly (Nina) Guillermo-Davis, Lee (Kristie) Guillermo, Kris (Eassie) Miller, Ian Shimabuku, Shawntell (Kainoa) Ladines, Melissa (Shane) Borger, Nicholas Tan, and Dain (Dale) Shimabuku; her 18 great-grandchildren: Isaiah Perkins, Grey Enneract, Imani & Aziza Butler, Psalm Moriwake, Tyler & Tyna Guillermo Davis, Kade & Chase Guillermo, Kayli & Kaiehu Miller, Jhorden & Jaelen Shimabuku, Zaryn Ladines, Cyleste Hashimoto-Tan, Taylor & Leia Shimabuku, and Kaitlyn Guillermo; and four great great-grandchildren: Honesty & Harlei Perkins, Nazeli Perez and Jhourney Shimabuku.
Memorial Service will be held on Monday, October 19, 2026 at Ballard Family Mortuary in Kahului. Family 8:00-9:00 a.m. Public visitation 9:00-10:00 a.m. Service at 10:00 a.m.
Private family inurnment will be Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Makawao Veterans Cemetery.
Momoe Guillermo, 97