Big-game hunter Watson Yoshimoto
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Watson T. "Yoshi" Yoshimoto, founder of O'ahu Construction Co. and a renowned big-game hunter, died Jan. 6. He was 83.
Yoshimoto was born Nov. 21, 1909, in Punalu'u on O'ahu. In the 1940s he founded O'ahu Construction, which became one of the largest construction companies in the state.
YOSHIMOTO
Yoshimoto sold the company, and it fell victim to the poor economy and filed for bankruptcy in 1999.
In addition to his construction interests, Yoshimoto was the owner and operator of Classic Bowling Center.
Yoshimoto's passion was big-game hunting. He made hunting trips to 43 countries on six continents and hunted in New Zealand, St. Lawrence Island, Kodiak Island, Papua New Guinea and six Hawaiian islands.
In 1978, he created the W.T. Yoshimoto Foundation, a nonprofit agency dedicated to the protection and perpetuation of wildlife resources through education and conservation. It also promotes sport hunting as a wildlife management tool. The foundation was inducted into the Founder's Club of the University of Hawai'i Foundation in 1999.
Yoshimoto received hunting awards from the Shikar Safari Club International, Safari Club International and Weatherby Foundation. In 1991, he was inducted into the Field Trial Hall of Fame.
Yoshimoto served as president of the General Contractors Association and was on the board of Honolulu Iron Works, Honolulu Trust Co. and City Bank of Honolulu.
He is survived by his wife, Katherine; daughters Jeannie Davidson and Maxine Lee; brother Gordon Gau; sisters Florence Ikeda and Gladys Sato; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation begins 9 a.m. Tuesday at Mililani Mortuary Makai Chapel; service at 10 a.m.; burial 11 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park.
Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.
