My fondest Waikiki memories as a youngster are the days swimming, boogie boarding and hanging-out. The nights were spent walking along Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues, during college I spent weekends at our famous nightclubs.

I am a former eight year neighborhood board member and Waikiki Residents Association president. For us,
choosing to live in America's tourist destination is more than a nice place, it's our home.

My Grandparents Jean and Albert Ikeda became Waikiki residents in 1971, prior to that they lived on Oahu since the 1950s. Their parents came from Japan to settle in Montana and Chicago where my Grandparents were born.
My great, great Grandfather was on the team of designers who helped developed the car battery for Henry Ford.

After being interned during the war, my Grandfather joined the 442 Regimental Combat Battalion and went to Europe. He was among the first Americans to discover the Dachau concentration camp. After the war my Grandfather worked at Lockheed Martin, then was asked to come to Honolulu by George Fukunaga, founder of Easy Appliance (today Servco Pacific), because of his skill in repairing televisions, which were new to Hawaii. My Grandmother worked at the Japanese Consulate in New York prior to the war.

In Hawaii, Jean became the first woman hired by Japan Airlines and was involved in many cultural activities; including Waikiki's Urasenke Foundation on Saratoga Road. Al was among Hawaii's first to fix televisions, own a betamax recorder and microwave. Today, Jean and Al's ashes are at Punchbowl Veteran's Cemetary - Pacific.

Like many kamaaina, growing up, I spent a lot of time at Ala Moana Beach, Ala Moana Center and Kapiolani Park. My Mom lived next to Ala Moana Park at Piikoi St. and Ala Moana Blvd. close to my gym and work place.

My Uncle's family is a second generation Kakaako auto body shop owner and he is the director of many Hawaii
events, including the Honolulu Festival and Kintetsu parades, and previoulsy the director for the Aloha Day Parade, and Pro Bowl and Hula Bowl halftime shows.

My Mom, who passed away in May 2006, was a retired school teacher, among the Country's first to participate in the Head Start program. Recently, she participated in many activities including the Red Hat Society.

My Dad is a retired police sergeant, former U.S. Marine, volunteer councilmember and very community minded.

My spiritual and empirical home is Waikiki/Ala Moana and I travel on Oahu as much as possible. I appreciate and am energized by Hawaii's people, personality, beauty and history.

5. TOM's childhood pictures

6. TOM's Sister, Ala Moana/Piikoi St. neighbor

7. TOM's Mom, Honolulu raised school teacher

8. TOM's Grandparents, 30 year Waikiki residents

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