<Begin Segment 19>

KN: And how long did you stay there?

EK: The second time was two years.

KN: Then you came back.

EK: Uh-huh.

KN: And you were with his parents.

EK: His parents, and we told them, I said, "Until his work thing is settled or become more stable, please stay with the daughter." And I guess they didn't feel quite... so within a few months they said, "We want to come to Hawaii." [Laughs] So then we had this other problem, but it worked out okay.

KN: So his family was with you.

EK: Yes.

KN: And interesting, your family started to come to Hawaii, too.

EK: Well, actually, it was my father and mother first.

KN: Can you explain that story?

EK: Oh, well, my brother had served in Germany for a few years, and he said, "Well, I'm a bachelor, I could go anywhere." And he had just finished his college in Chicago, so he came to Hawaii. And he told my parents who were thinking of retiring, he said, "Why don't you come to Hawaii and see? You stay with me, my little condo." And so they did. And my dad was not exactly convinced because he really wanted to live in Japan, the Izu peninsula, which is very lovely. An then the yen and dollar exchange was in his favor. So he thought, "Yeah, that would be good." But while he was walking on Waikiki he met some haole people and the gentleman had traveled everywhere in this world, everywhere, and knew so many things. And he said, "If I were you, with your background, Hawaii is the better place for you. Because it's still the United States, but it's still very Japanese in many ways. And if you went back, if you go to Japan, you'll be separated from your whole family. Yes, they come and visit, but it would be foreign to your wife." All those kind of stories. So he thought about it and he decided, "Yeah, I guess Hawaii is the place," so he stayed.

KN: So it's very interesting that you're with your husband's family and your family comes to Hawaii.

EK: Yeah.

KN: And then your brothers and sisters start to join you.

EK: Yes, yes.

KN: So how many... so you have an extended family here.

EK: Not anymore. Yeah. Well, then my sisters wanted to come, two sisters and their families, so they came. And then my brother, my bachelor brother came then, but then he left later, someplace else. And then my, let's see, my other brother who had first come here, Arthur, who is in that picture, he married a local girl, but he died, gee, how long ago? Almost ten years ago. So he was the first one to go. So now we only have... oh, and then my second sister who's in that picture, came after their retirement. So they've been here about ten years.

KN: Are your children here?

EK: No. I wish they were, I miss them so much. I have two daughters, but one is in New Jersey and the other in California. So I'm always flying.

KN: Just like my family. My brother lives in New Jersey and my other brother's in California.

EK: Oh, my gosh.

KN: So it's very different.

EK: Yes. So we have to fly, because they have their children and they're going to school, so it's hard for them. But this December we met in Lima because my daughter Eimi, who's a registered nurse in New Jersey said, "You know, we really need Papa to explain his roots," because he's from Lima. And so we did. We went to the Bunka Kaikan, the cultural center where Grandpa Rokuchi Kudo's picture hangs, 'cause he was one of the leaders. And went to see the Manco Capac, Inca ruler, the first Inca ruler, which the Japanese donated to the city, yes. And few people know this, and it's not a dinky little statue, it's a huge statue which we couldn't go in, but there was an opening, because they're fixing the whole area. So some of my children, grandchildren went and took pictures and was chased out by the guards saying, "You can't come in here." And so, but we did do those kind of things. Went to see the house where he was born, but everything is already gone. 1995 it was still there so we thought it might still be there, but it's all gone. The store is gone, but we were able to, he was able to show them the location.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.