Timmy Hirata, former schools superintendent, dead at 86
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Timmy Teichiro Hirata, former Hawai'i schools superintendent, died Monday at age 86.
Hirata, a 1933 McKinley High School graduate, retired as superintendent in 1975. He had served as assistant state superintendent as well as Honolulu district superintendent and assistant superintendent. He was the first principal of 'Aiea High School, and also was principal of McKinley High School, Aliamanu Intermediate School, Pahoa High and Elementary schools, Honomu Elementary School and John M. Ross School.
Timmy Hirata was a teacher, a war veteran and a principal.
Hirata was a graduate of the University of Hawai'i and received his master's degree in education from Columbia University in 1946. He started his career in education as a teacher at Kona-waena School.
He was a World War II veteran who served in military intelligence for four years in the India-Burma-China theater. He was field-commissioned as a second lieutenant.
After the war, Hirata resumed his teaching career at Laupahoehoe High School, then stepped into the administrative area as a cooperative education program coordinator at Hilo High School.
Hirata is survived by his wife, Yukie; son, Gregg; daughter, Roslyn; and sister, Nobuyo Kanda.
Services will be 6 p.m. Thursday at Nu'uanu Congregational Church.
