Nu'uanu hiker died from fall, medical examiner says
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By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
George Y. "Cowboy" Morishima died 36 to 48 hours before his body was found Saturday off the Judd Trail above Nu'uanu Pali Road from injuries suffered in a fall, according to autopsy findings.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Honolulu chief medical examiner Dr. Kanthi Von Guenthner told family members that Morishima, who had been missing for six days, died instantly, one of the man's four sons said yesterday.
George Morishima's family thank the Honolulu Fire Department members for their efforts. Services for Morishima, who died while hiking, will be on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Nuuanu Mortuary.
"My father was a strong-willed person," said Gary Morishima, who will give the eulogy at his father's 6:30 p.m. funeral Sunday at Nuuanu Mortuary's East Chapel. "There's speculation that he might have broken his back but still tried to get out and then fell again and broke his neck. We'll remember him as a soft-spoken, strong-willed man who never gave up."
Von Guenthner said of the autopsy found that cervical spine and chest injuries injuries caused Morishima's death.
The 78-year-old 'Aiea man was reported missing by his family on Dec. 29. He had gone to Nu'uanu Valley to collect bamboo shoots and pepeiao. His body was discovered by a hiker Saturday morning, on the sixth day of intensive searching.
"He may have probably slipped and hyperextended his neck as he was falling and fractured the midpoint of the cervicle spine," Von Guenthner said. "It was a short fall. It wasn't like he fell from height.
"Either during the fall or before that, he also sustained a chest injury."
Von Guenthner concluded that Morishima died 36 to 48 hours before his body was found, which would mean the fatal injuries occurred sometime Thursday.
Throughout the week, the determined search effort was fueled by the belief that Morishima was alive but disoriented. He was described by family as being in "terrific shape."
"My father loved the ocean and mountains," Gary Morishima said. "He had a lot of friends. He was a good man who provided for his family and was always there for my mom."
Morishima enjoyed playing softball and was active in the Sunday Meiji Makule League at Kawananakoa Middle School field in Nu'uanu. He gave up playing after being struck in the mouth by a batted ball.
"My mother said he came home, couldn't eat but never complained," Gary Morishima said. "The next day he went to the doctor. The X-rays showed he had a broken jaw."
Born in Olowalu, Maui, "Cowboy" Morishima served in World War II with the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, which was originally attached to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
A retired construction superintendent, he was an active outdoorsman.
Morishima is survived by wife, Patricia; sons Arnold, Greg, Gary and Guy; daughter Annette Lum; brothers Edward and Richard; sisters Jane Kusuno and Norma Jean Fujise; and seven grandchildren.
The family requests no flowers and casual attire for the funeral service. There will be a private inurnment at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.
Correction: Funeral services for George Morishima will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Nuuanu Mortuary. Information in the photo caption in a previous version of this story was incorrect.
