[Mervyn Ishihara > (grandson of 1 & 2, granddaughter of 3 & 4)]
Shigeo Ishihara
BIRTH: 28 Dec 1899, Honokaa,, Hawaii
DEATH: 06 Feb 1955
Rose Kealohapauole Manaku
BIRTH: 27 Aug 1904, Paia, Maui, Hawaii
DEATH: 20 Mar 1998, Pearl City, Honolulu, Hawaii
Shigeo Ishihara
The evidence of Shigeo's life under the name that we know him by seems to begin after he is married to Rose. This has been a mystery for many years, and we have been uncertain why there seems to be missing birth information and other details for Shigeo. However, recent connections between the documentation and the recollections of Shigeo's sons have been used to reconstruct a likely timeline for his and his parents life.
Shigeo was born to Senzo and Haru Ishihara on 28 Dec 1899 at Honokaa,, Hawaii. His parents had arrived from Japan in December 1898 from Niigata, Japan. He is listed as 7 months old at the time of the June 1900 U.S. Census. He was one of three children. Shigeo was the oldest, most likely named Toshinoshin or Yosinosiu as his original Japanese name.
He had a younger sister, Minori and younger brother, William Nobuo Ishihara. The death record for that Minori Ishihara Planas, lists birth on 5 August 1902, died January 1985. Sometimes she is referred to as "Nora" in other documents. The birth certificate for William Nobu Ishihara, b 5 May 1907, is from Kona, Oahu to Senzo and Haru Ishihara.
1. Shigeo Ishihara (1899-1955) m. 1926 Rose Kealoahapauole Manaku (1904-1998)
2. Minori Ishihara (1902-1985) m. 1920 Mageen Planas (1896-??)
3. William Nobu Ishihara Sr (1907-1988) m. Mabel Kahele (1914-2002)
On the 1910 Census with for Senzo {Shinto} and Haru Ishihara, we see them now living in Honolulu with Tsuhinashi (male, 9), Minoji (female, 8), and Noboge (male, 3). Shinto is a laborer doing odd jobs. The family lived in an unnumbered house on Webb Lane in Honolulu. Webb lane no longer exists, but is reported to be near King/Kukui Street.
There was major disruption in the family when Shigeo's parents Senzo (age 38, farm laborer) left in steerage for Yokohama Nov 29 1913 with Haru (age 36, listed as "prostitute") aboard the USS China, without their children listed on the manifest. This appears to be a deportation based upon the raids on the prostitution (married and single) affecting Iwilei in the first decade of the 20th century among Japanese women. (source 1, source 2). This undoubtedly affected Shigeo significantly, as he was 14 years old at the time. He told very little about his upbringing to his posterity, and knowledge of his parents was a mystery.
As a result, a possible relative, Kanji Kiriake (a 56 year old widower, perhaps also just an interested party or family friend), took in the children and was caring for them as of the 1920 Census. Kanji Kiriake is a carpenter who immigrated from Japan in 1899 (about the same time as the Ishiharas.) The kids are listed as neices and nephews, which would possibly mean that Haru was his sister. (Unless Senzou's sister was the wife who passed away.) However, it is also highly possible that Kanji was not a relative at all. We also note that "Kanji" is likely a nickname, because it is also a generic term for Japanese writing characters.
Sometime between 1920 and 1925, Shigeo changed his name prior to getting married to Rose.
His sister Minori ("Nora") was listed as married in 1940 to Mageen Planas (Philipino), working as a household servant (cook) at 1909 Awapuhi Street for the Philip Silves family, making $600 a year. Nora had gone back and forth to the Philippines with her husband. Mageen worked on the Pineapple farm (1930 census), at Lahaina, Maui.
(As of the 1940 Census, he was a helper in an electric shop (age 31 in 1940, lived on 67 N Kukui Street, Honolulu), and in that same census William N Ishihara was married to Mabel (pineapple canner)). He later lived at 370 N Kukui, which is now in the middle of an apartment complex.
In the 1933 town directory lists 67 N. Kukui street for Uncle Noble. On the same page, Shige is a clerk at Am-Hawn Motors Co. living at 978 Akepo Lane. (The 1951 directory lists 370a N Kukui.)
Am-Hawn is short for American-Hawaiian Motors Company.
| From, "The Mid-Pacific Magazine", July 1919, available here. |
 |
| Just for fun, from a 1904 "The Garden Island" newspaper (Kauai), available here. |
Rose Kealohapauole Manaku
Rose was born in 1904 to John Manaku and Rose Kealohapauole Iopa. Her dad was a painter in 1900, and a Board of Health inspector in 1910. They lived on Buckle Lane. Buckle lane no longer exists, but was formerly located in Chinatown where Beretania now exists (N. Kukui area, adjacent to Akepo Lane). He later would work at the wharf as a laborer to support his wife and five kids as of 1920, living on Dowsett Lane (which intersected King St one street south of Liliha St). She was from a large family: her parents had 8 children, though 2 of them died in infancy.
Life Together
The first record for "Shigeo Ishihara" seems to be the 1930 Census, which includes details such as Japanese race by birth, born around 1901, as head of the household, married to Rose, who was Hawaiian by birth, around 1904. The dates are not perfect, but as the Census is self-reported and prone to the interpretation of the census taker census information is used loosely as a guide. The household in 1930 was a full house, and Shige, listed as the head of the house with his wife and first two children Elloise and Wilbert, also hosted his in-laws. Thus, the Ishihara family of 4 and John and Rose Manaku's family of 6, and Kealoha Iopa (Rose's Grandfather) all lived under one roof. That's 11 people at the residence on Akepo Lane (Pearl City).
Unfortunately Rose's mother died soon after, passing away in 1931. Her father, John Manaku passed away in 1936. Thus, Shigeo was somewhat thrust into the position of being the provider for his young brothers- and sisters-in-law. By 1940, Emily (30), David (22), and Daniel (16) Manaku were still living with the Ishiharas.
With the 1940 Census, we read that Shigeo is Hawaiian by birth, born in 1899, married to Rose, who was Hawaiian by birth, around 1907. Shige and Rose had 6 kids under one roof, as well as the three of the Rose's siblings living there, mentioned above. At the time, Shige worked as a shipping clerk, employed at a motor garage. This is quite impressive, given that he only completed the 7th grade. Rose had completed the 8th grade. Shige recorded earnings of $1041 for the previous year.
1. Elloise Ishihara (1927-living) "Auntie Ella"
2. Wilbert Ishihara (1928-2009) "Uncle Brother"
3. Gabriel Ishihara (1930-1986) "Uncle Mona"
4. Mervyn Manaku Ishihara (1937-living) m Mary Lou Holt (living)
5. Rose Ishihara (1938-living)
6. Pualani Ishihara (1939-living) "Uncle Buddha" or "Uncle Pua"
The Manaku's were truckers working for the pineapple cannery. I presume that their work was somewhat seasonal, perhaps working at harvest time. (Emily worked 13 weeks for $125, David worked 13 weeks for $150, Daniel at age 16 worked 38 weeks for $270)
According to historians, "by 1930 Hawaii led the world in the production of canned pineapple and had the world’s largest canneries." With world labor costs changing, things have shifted over the century, though "Dole Food Co. and Maui Gold Pineapple Co. continue to produce fresh pineapples in Hawaii, mostly for the local market. All of the canneries eventually closed, the last one on Maui in 2007." Apparently, the seasonal job served as important right of passage for young adults.
There are several town directories published in the 1930s and 40s which confirm Shige's address, and give him an occupation. For example:
1947: Shigeo: clerk at VHY, h945 Akepo Lane
(Eloise employed at HECo r954h Akepo Lane)
(Wilbert employed at CACo, 954 Akepo La)
(Nobuo at Waipahu)
VHY was Von Hamm-Young, Honolulu. One manifestation is the Von Hamm-Young Textiles company. Vintage Hawaiian shirt fabrics! Another is the Von Hamm-Young Buick dealers.
1949: Shigeo: Warehouseman, 954 Akepo Lane
(Eloise K: addressograph operator HECo r John Rodgers Veterans Homes)
(Gabriel M listed as a mailer "Hon S-B" at the same address.)
(Wilbert S listed at r954h Akepo lane)
(Eloise K listed as member of the household)
(Gabriel M listed as a mailer "Hon S-B" at the same address.)
(Wilbert S listed at r954h Akepo lane)
(Nobuo at Waipahu)
Obituary for Rose indicates she went by "Loke", perhaps.
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