Nanakuli farmer John Yoshikawa dead at 39
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Leeward O'ahu Writer
John Yoshikawa, a well-known Nanakuli farmer and businessman and one-time Golden Gloves champion, is dead at age 39 from injuries received in a work-related accident Nov. 24.
Advertiser library photo • Feb. 3, 2001
Yoshikawa, operator of Eco-Feed Inc., a company that recycles excess hotel and restaurant food for pigfeed, died Nov. 29. He sustained severe head injuries in the Nov. 24 accident, although it is not known exactly what happened because he was alone at the time of the accident, according to relatives. Two workers heard a loud crash and went to investigate. They found his body on the ground between a fork lift and a feed bin.
Nanakuli businessman John Yoshikawa was also a 1984 Golden Gloves state champion.
Yoshikawa never regained consciousness, said his aunt, Loretta Freitas of Kane'ohe.
People who knew Yoshikawa described him as a gentle person who was devoted to his family and friends, and someone who would go out of his way to help just about anyone.
He owned a small ranch in 'Ewa Beach and was fond of throwing get-together feasts, said his longtime friend, Tony Smith of Kane'ohe. On Thanksgivings he would imu a dozen turkeys and deliver them to friends and family on both the Wai'anae Coast and in Windward O'ahu.
Smith said Yoshikawa could walk into nearly any store on O'ahu and someone would recognize and greet him.
"He would give you the shirt off his back," said Smith, who grew up with Yoshikawa in Waimanalo. "He was not at all judgmental. He saw the good in everyone. If you were down, he would do what he could to help."
Yoshikawa's operation to convert food waste into hog feed became controversial after neighbors complained about the smell. Yoshikawa said he had equipment failures and was trying to solve the problem.
Recently the state attorney general's office, which had fined Eco-Feed for various violations, said negotiations to resolve the issue ended last summer with Yoshikawa saying he would get out of the business.
Smith and Freitas said Yoshikawa rarely spoke about his business difficulties.
"He just kept those things to himself," said Freitas. "He never complained or burdened others with his problems."
Wai'anae Coast resident William Aila called Yoshikawa an "innovator who was always trying to improve waste products."
But he said Yoshikawa got caught in the type of clashes that sometimes occur when rural hog operations, which smell bad, come in conflict with people who build homes nearby.
Yoshikawa had worked at and managed other feed businesses before starting his own hog lot and feed concern in Nanakuli.
He graduated from Kailua High School in 1981, and in 1984 he won the state Golden Gloves championship in the 139-pound weight class.
Yoshikawa is survived by his wife, Gina; sons John-Paul, Damon and Cyrus; daughter Angelina; stepchildren Alvin and Shanalle; parents Clarence "Paul" and Elizabeth "Betty;" sister Elisa "Buddy" Repolio, and brothers Matthew and Patrick.
Services for Yoshikawa will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Makakilo. Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. the following day at Mililani Memorial Park.
Arrangements are being handled by Moanalua Mortuary.
