Patrick Y. Arakaki, candy entrepreneur
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Patrick Y. Arakaki, who took over a mom-and-pop Menehune Mac operation and turned it into one of the state's most successful macadamia-nut candy businesses, died June 2. He was 75.
Arakaki was born on Dec. 16, 1928, in Honolulu and graduated from Farrington High School in 1946. He joined the Army and served as a sergeant in the Korean War.
ARAKAKI
Arakaki earned his public accountant certificate and worked for several businesses. Hoping to someday be his own boss, Arakaki in 1972 bought Hawaiian Candies & Nuts and the Menehune Mac brand name, which had been founded in 1939.
Susan Morita said her father didn't know anything about chocolate, macadamia nuts or manufacturing.
"He just saw an opportunity, something different, something to own his own business," said Morita, who works for the firm. "He just took it from there and expanded the line. He was the first who exported goods out of Hawai'i, so that was, and still is, our main business."
Morita said her father was a tireless worker and went to the office six days a week, even after breaking a hip a year ago.
"That still didn't stop him. He climbed 15 flights of stairs every day to get to his office," Morita said. She said her father worked as the company's chief executive until June 1, a day before he died in his sleep.
Arakaki also was a founding member of the Hawai'i Food Manufacturers Association and was a lifelong member of Hui Maka'ala, an Okinawan association.
He is survived by his wife, Annie; son, Neal; daughters, Gale Taira and Susan Morita; brothers, David and Eugene; sisters, Shizuko Yamauchi, Nancy Goya and Violet Chena; and one granddaughter.
Memorial service at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Nu'uanu Memorial Park and Mortuary.
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
