Dearest Goro, I just found out that you have gone and I wish I had been able to see you one more time. I had already started tracking you down. So, are you camped with the night marchers in Kipapa Gulch? Remember driving me to work in Mililani all those Saturdays and the summer of 1968? Remember when I didn't come out and you had to come inside the house and wake me up? What a great trick you, Mom, and Ritchie played on me to get me working as a laborer! Great reverse psychology, all of you conversing about how you didn't think I could handle it, and then I bit! Well, it turned out to be one of my favorite jobs and after a few years at Mills, I went back to work for a commercial nursery in Waimanalo. I walked up to the boss and he asked if I had experience. When I said yes, he asked me who I worked for. As soon as I said "Goro Nakamura" he turned and said, "Follow me." I got the job. (And since my boss handed me a horticulture book to read on my first day, I'm certain I would have ended up in the business if Mike hadn't wanted to move to Alaska!) Remember the poem I wrote about you? I'm sure I told you when you came to Mills that The Nursery Man made it through to West Coast Poetry Review's final cut. It got all the way to one step away from being published and, at age 17, what a thrilling rejection letter that was! The last time I saw you, we had a very good time visiting at Sharon's in Las Vegas. I enjoyed hearing about fruit industry corruption on Oahu in the 1950s and 60s (you told a story about bananas). I hope your family is well; I remember your two daughters, but only Paulette's name. I would love to have a picture of you if they have one to spare. Forever I will hold you in my heart, and the spirit of aloha you taught us—your spirit. I hope Roberta is okay. It's got to be hard without you. I hope you get a chance to visit Mom. She's got a condo in heaven and she'd love to see you, and feed you shoyu chicken. You were her ohana, too. Aloha nui loa. xo Hattie

I only just learned of Goro's death.  I have many fond childhood memories of him and his interactions with my father, Dick Moore, and all of my siblings and step-siblings.  He taught us all to play cribbage and traveled with us to Washington DC in an hot, uncomfortable station wagon filled with grumpy kids.  I was very happy to reconnect for a brief time as an adult, but he will always be Mr. Nakamura to me.  I hope he and my dad are making mischief somewhere out there. 

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Goro Nakamura

April 12, 1927 – June 28, 2018

Borthwick Mortuary

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