Posted on: Thursday, October 30, 2003

1934-2003
Businessman supported Kalihi youths

Advertiser Staff

Ted Norinobu Kimura, former president of Island Termite and well-known contributor to underprivileged Kalihi youths, died Oct. 6. He was 69.

For more than 25 years, Kimura served thousands of Kalihi-Palama-Kalakaua youngsters through his Island Termite basketball leagues and tournaments, and later through the Aikane Foundation, a children's charity that he co-founded in 1977.

Kimura's sponsored teams were easily identified with players wearing jerseys emblazoned with Island Termite's slogan: "Why Bugs Leave Home."

Kimura was a generous donor to Farrington High School athletics and was one of its most well-known and successful alumni, according to former Farrington football coach Skippa Diaz.

"He offered any kind of help that we needed," said Diaz, who added that Kimura's donations were used to buy equipment and cover athletic expenses. "He had a soft part in his heart for the kids in Kalihi."

Diaz said Kimura was also active in the Honolulu Police Department's "No Hope in Dope" and "Sports Yes, Drugs No" anti-drug programs, and played prominent roles in youth sports programs at Palama Settlement, Kalihi YMCA and Kuhio Park Terrace.

"The community in Kalihi and this whole island lost a great one," Diaz said. "We seem to be losing good guys faster than bad guys. He was an exemplary community person."

Kimura played high school football in the early 1950s under Don Coryell at Farrington before Coryell went to coach in college and the NFL. Kimura graduated from Farrington in 1953.

Kimura is survived by mother, Yoshie; and brothers, Stanley, Henry and James. Services were held Oct. 14.