Judy was the 6th of 7 children, born to Tokuo and Tome(Oyama) Miyamoto. She grew up in Kalihi on Sing Loy St, behind Palama Settlement, along with her 3 brothers and 3 older sisters. [Josh speaking - My grandfather Yoshiaki, was Judy’s oldest brother].
Judy attended Likelike Elementary, and during upper elementary she began going to Palama Settlement on Saturdays with her friends, Karen Awazu, Lynette Hee and Mae (Kiyabu) Shimabukuro. They used to swim, play volleyball, and go to canteen night on Friday nights. There Judy could dance, swim, play volleyball, etc. Judy was also a JPO sergeant during her 5th & 6th grade years.
Then Judy attended Kawananakoa Intermediate, where in 8th grade she and her 366 classmates had interesting elective classes: typing, band, newswriting, gardening, and arts and crafts. I wonder which one Aunty selected?
She served on the Student Council with about 50 members. They were an active group, meeting every other week during the school year and sponsoring the community chest drive, sale of Christmas seals, Christmas post office, March of Dimes, Spelling Bee, Easter seal drive, Public School Week displays, American Legion poppy sale, collection of lei for Memorial Day, Junior Symphony tickets sales, selling book covers, selecting May Day King and Queen, lei and flower arrangement contest, revision of handbook, the Marine Bugle and Drum Corps program, purchase of 120 lockers, and finally elections and installation of officers. She sure was involved and kept busy!!
Judy would typically spend recess with Karen Awazu. Judy and Karen were lifelong friends, sharing a love for small dogs. Even after Karen relocated to Kauai, they kept in close touch. Aunty Judy and her long succession of shih tzus, were inseparable. She’d take each one with her everywhere as all who had been to her shop can attest.
By 9th grade, the class diminished by 20% and their electives were more academic: math, science, newswriting, and arts and crafts. Judy’s photo in the annual included this descriptor: “A lass who’s always smiling.” That was Aunty
In her first year at Farrington High School as a 10th grader, Judy was joined the Biology Club that was organized to promote interest in all phases of living sciences. Activities included sponsoring a dance with an orchestra to raise scholarship funds, hiking to Tantalus, and an excursion to Foster Gardens. Judy was also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America throughout her years at Farrington. They provided clerical support to the school by running stencils, printing programs, and preparing pamphlets.
During Senior year, Judy again returned to Student Government in the Representative Assembly, as well as joined the Jolli Coeds Y-Teens service club, and became a member of Beginning Greggites who met monthly to study English grammar and style and also plan social activities.
After graduating from Farrington High School Class of 1958, Judy attended beauty school in Honolulu and attained her cosmetology license. She worked at several places. But Judy had a very entrepreneurial spirit and settled at Fashion Beauty Salon at the Pagoda Terrace on Rycroft Street where she established herself as a self-employed business person.
She later decided to continue beauty training at Yamano Akiko Beauty School in Tokyo for 10 months. Judy then moved her Beauty Salon to King Street near to Washington Intermediate School where she continued to faithfully serve her clients until she retired in 2018.
Aunty Judy’s hands had a special touch. When I was very little, she would bring out a special bench seat that fit on top of the armrests of the chair so that I would be high enough for her to cut my hair. With her gentle touch and her fingers stroking my head, I’d would relax completely and fall asleep every time! (So says my mom).
Aunty was open to trying new things. When her niece Cordia wanted highlighted tips, Judy gave it a shot. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the directions from Cordia quite right. She did not foil the ends so the top half of Cordia’s head ended up looking like a pumpkin head. Cordia went to the store around midnight to buy black hair coloring to start over.
Aunty Judy loved her Japanese heritage. She performed Japanese dance with Yoshiko Onoda of Saitama - Shochiku Dance Company and she enjoyed popular Japanese music as well. Judy travelled to Singapore, Korea, and all over Japan, particularly Kyushu with Yoshiko’s uncle and aunty, Seiichiro & Akiko Sakasai, Professor of Art at a university in Tokyo. More recently, Cordia wanted to take Aunty Judy to Japan but was unable to do so since the physical demands of walking in Japan would have been too much for her.
Childhood friend Mae Kiyabu Shimabukuro and Judy lost touch with each other in high school and didn’t see each other until 50 years later in 2008 when they bumped into each other and discovered they were living in the same Kapahulu neighborhood.
Mae invited Judy to join the Farrington Class of 58 classmates `Ohana Fellowship group in August 2008, when it first started, and Judy gladly did. This Group then organized many social gatherings for local classmates in between formal reunions. Mae would pick up Judy for the meetings and describes Judy as very generous and sweet, not aggressive, always willing to help on the side, but not take the lead.
Mae recalls that Judy would bring pastries to the beauty supply company where she purchased her beauty shop’s essentials. On those visits, she then got small toiletry items like shampoo and conditioner that were packaged for favors for these classmate gatherings.
When Farrington Class of 1958’s Reunion Planning Committee disbanded after the 60th reunion, the `Ohana Fellowship group took on the planning of their 65th reunion which will be held on Friday November 10. Aunty Judy was looking forward to attending with her niece Cordia.
Some of the committee ladies who met this past week described Judy as always very generous, friendly, and quiet. She was always very polite, never wanted to take a lead in the committee but was willing to help wherever she was needed. Mae said Judy never made trouble with anyone as long as she knew her.
After closing her shop in 2018, Judy had to have knee surgery to address the wear and tear of being a beautician. When she felt better, niece Cordia took Aunty Judy to Las Vegas for some R and R and FUN together! Unfortunately, when Judy’s health declined in 2020, her Kapahulu home had to be sold and she moved in with a caregiver.
In 2018 another classmate, Fred Belen, joined the `Ohana Fellowship. Judy never knew Fred or his wife Jeanette during high school but she quickly became friends with them. She felt comfortable enough to ask Fred to help remove and transport the large equipment from her shop that year and also to assist two years later when her house was sold. Fred describes Judy as a very giving and generous individual. She must have made a big impact for him to be so kind to devote his time and energy to helping her, and most recently, to make his Intermediate School and High School annuals available and tabbing the relevant pages as well.
Some fond memories niece Cordia will forever hold in her heart are their regular 2 times a month lunch dates, taking Aunty Judy to dinner to celebrate her birthdays, their pedicure and manicure dates, and so much more. Cordia’s son, Matt wanted to share his memory that when he was 13 years old, Aunty Judy was driving to their house and saw him down the street smoking. She told his mother which put him in the hot seat. Although he was initially upset, he realized she did it because she cared about him and didn’t want to see him smoke like his parents did at that time.
Judy was a very special woman, sister, aunt, and friend to so many and she leaves a lasting impression in the lives of all whom she touched. We are so much better thanks to having had the privilege of knowing her.
Mahalo Mae and Fred for providing valuable insight into Judy’s childhood years.
Eulogy written by Jan Morinaga Miyamoto and presented by Joshua Miyamoto (Grand nephew)
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