<Begin Segment 23>

TI: Okay, so let's talk about some of the other jobs you did. So earlier you talked about, because of your Japanese language, you did radio and TV announcing, a Japanese language teacher, what were some other jobs you did?

PY: Well, I got one time liquor salesman job, I did one year of that.

TI: Now, how did you get a liquor salesman job?

PY: Well, like I said, I don't drink. But I found out from the newspaper advertising that Hawaiian Oak, the company was Hawaiian Oak, and Hawaiian Oak was looking for a liquor salesman. So I applied that and they hired me. I enjoyed that job, but you know, liquor salesman, you have to drink. Because you drink, and whatever you drink, they give you a bar allowance. So you have a bar account, and you try to sell the liquor at the bar, but if you don't drink, the buyer don't buy your liquor. So after one year I said, "Hey, this is not my line." So I gave up. And then I went into the carpenter helper job, because one of my friend's uncle was a contractor. So I applied for that job and I was a carpenter helper for a while, about, about one year, I think.

TI: And then after that... or why did you quit doing that?

PY: Oh, that was a, that was so hot one summer I couldn't stand the heat. And then I asked my friend that used to work at the Hawaii Hochi whether there is a job or not, and they said, yeah, they're looking for one guy for advertising salesman. So I said, "Okay, I'll apply for the job," and they hired me.

TI: And about what year was that when you started at the Hawaii Hochi?

PY: Hawaii Hochi, Hawaii Hochi, let's see now. Hawaii Hochi was '59. I started '59, that's the year that Hawaii became a state.

TI: And so that also means that it's almost your fiftieth anniversary here.

PY: Yeah, yeah.

TI: That was fifty years ago.

PY: Yeah, this year, this year around October I celebrate my fifty years in Hawaii Hochi.

TI: Wow. Is there anyone else here that's worked here longer than you?

PY: No. [Laughs]

TI: Fifty years.

<End Segment 23> - Copyright © 2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.