Violet Wong Sakata

Violet Wong Sakata was born on July 18, 1915 in Honolulu. She died on March 13, 2012 at Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Honolulu at the age of 96.

Her parents, Kim Look and Farm Shee Lau emigrated from China.

She was pre-deceased by her brothers:

Charles S. F. Lau

Lawrence H. Lau

Edward L. Lau

George C. Lau

Violet grew up on Oahu and attended Washington Intermediate and McKinley High Schools. She married her high school sweetheart, Samuel C. Wong, and moved to Kalihi Kai. She and Sam raised their five children, Barbara, Cynthia, Melvin, Janice, and Kevin in Kalihi Kai. Daughter Cynthia died at the young age of 2 1/2 in 1944 and will be reinterred with Violet at Hawaiian Memorial Park on March 30, 2012.

During her marriage to Sam, Violet worked at the family grocery store, WONG YAU STORE, located at the corner of Mokauea St. and Dillingham Blvd. in Kalihi-Kai. Besides being a cashier, she was a stock clerk and butcher. She and Sam processed and cut up sides of beef for steaks, hamburger, roasts, stews; and sliced luncheon meat and bologna to supply a variety of fresh meat products to their customers.

Violet was a talented seamstress who drafted her own patterns and enjoyed sewing clothes for her children. She was an excellent cook and talented baker, who delighted family and friends with such favorite desserts as blueberry cream cheese pie, banana cream pie, prune cake, fruit cake, energy bars, chocolate chip and butter cookies.

When Sam passed away in 1969, Violet continued working to support her family. In the early to mid-1970s, she was employed at Fantasy, a business that specialized in making wedding centerpieces, floral decorations, and other party memorabilia.

As a widow, she took up ballroom dancing. It was through her dance outings that she met her second husband, Robert (Bob) Sakata. In 1977, Violet married Bob and moved to Kaneohe. Bob was a daily swimmer at Ala Moana Beach Park and helped Violet to conquer her fear of the water. She became an avid swimmer and on one occasion, swam a thousand meters (half the length of Ala Moana). Bob was a lifetime golfer and taught Violet to golf. They became regulars at Pali Golf Course, often playing an 18-hole round of golf up to three times a week.

As a United Airline employee, Bob’s flight privileges allowed them to travel frequently to destinations such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Vancouver, Las Vegas, Reno, Los Angeles (to visit her son Kevin and grandson Alan), and Hilo (to visit her daughter Jan and family).

Bob and Violet were frequent, oftentimes daily weekday visitors to the Windward Mall, where they spent hours socializing and enjoying life with other Mall “groupies.” These visits were not only enjoyable to them but also resulted in lifelong, loyal friendships.

Bob passed away in 1998.

Violet enjoyed gardening, often spending hours at a time meticulously tending to her yard, eliminating all traces of dried, brown leaves.

Violet was a devoted wife, loving and caring mother, and loyal friend. We will miss her presence, but she will live on in our hearts forever.

She is survived by daughters Barbara Jean W. Ho (Wallace K. Y. Ho), Janice Yoshiyama of Hilo (Gary N. Yoshiyama), Sons Melvin K. K. Wong (Elaine C. Wong), and Kevin K. O. Wong.

Ten grandchildren: Alan Ho (Sheryl), Cheryl Anne Gee (Dennis F. Gee), Kathy Lynn Ho, Mason Yoshiyama, Liane Yoshiyama, Traci Yoshiyama (Chaning Jang), Marc Wong (Natalie), Nathan Wong, Kendall Wong, Melia Cruz.

Six great-grandchildren: Mitchell Ho, Matthew Ho, Katherine Gee, Jason Gee, Madison Wong and Siena Wong.

Visitation and services will be held on March 30, 2012 at Borthwick Mortuary, Mauka Chapel, 1330 Maunakea Street at the following times:

Visitation: 11:00 a.m.

Service: Noon

Lunch: 1:00 p.m.

Depart for Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery: 2:30 p.m.

45-425 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe

Burial: 3:00 p.m. (Garden of Love)