Posted on: Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Harold Tanouye Sr., Big Isle flower exporter, dead at 87

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island entrepreneur and pioneering flower exporter Harold Sadao Tanouye Sr., 87, died at his Hilo home Monday.

Tanouye was born May 23, 1914, in the Waiakea-uka neighborhood of Hilo and spent his entire life on the Big Island. He never went to college, but he made certain all five of his children did.

Tanouye and the late Robert Yamada, a former County Council chairman, led the development of large tracts of land in Puna after statehood that today are known as Eden Roc, Fern Acres and Hawaiian Acres.

When his son, Harold Jr., returned to Hilo from college on the Mainland, they launched Hawaiian Heart, a business that helped establish anthuriums as a major Big Island export.

Another son, Raymond, is an independent flower grower and exporter. Tanouye also is survived by his wife, Jessie Yoshie; a third son, Kenneth of Hilo; daughters Kay Sakai of Hilo and Lei Tanouye of Honolulu; brothers Shigaru Tanoue and Herbert Tanouye, both of Honolulu; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at 4 p.m. Friday at Dodo Mortuary, with services over ashes at 5 p.m. The family requests casual attire.