MID-PACIFIC BONSAI FOUNDATION

          An IRS tax-exempt non-profit foundation to exhibit, research, educate, promote, and perpetuate the art and culture of bonsai; to be the custodian of memorial bonsai in the Hawaii State Bonsai Repository, to serve as the liaison with the community, and to create international friendships through bonsai.

     c/o Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center & Hawaii State Bonsai Repository

            PO Box 6000, Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760

     Hiroshi at his last major lecture-demonstration at the 2003 All-Big Island Bonsai Show sponsored by the Big Island Bonsai Association.

     He passed away on August 13, 2006 at the age of 79.

        In modern times, on the Big Island of Hawaii,  Hiroshi Ikeda was "The Spirit of Big Island Bonsai Aloha."  More than anyone else, he reflected the history, generosity and the goodness of an idealized bonsai community. He took over his dad's bonsai collection and became a founding member of the Bonsai Kenkyu Club of Hilo. Although his interest in bonsai grew over the years, he was stuck in the restrictive "sensei" system that then dominated Big Island bonsai.

             In defiance of his sensei, he attended the International Bonsai Convention in 1980 in Honolulu co-sponsored by the Hawaii Bonsai Association (HBA), Bonsai Clubs International, with first official participation by the Nippon (Japan) Bonsai Association.  He was overwhelmed with the openness of the Honolulu bonsai community that made possible the first "Three-Ring Bonsai Demonstration" utilizing ten HBA members. With the ability to write and speak Japanese, he met Japan grandmaster Saburo Kato and returned to the Big Island committed to be a part of a greater Hawaiian and international bonsai!

             But, when he returned to Hilo, his enthusiasm was interpreted as traitorous and the club's sensei angrily resigned!  Big Island bonsai was then like that.  It was much more extreme than Honolulu in the 1960's where bonsai was a secretive cult of old Japanese men whose bonsai knowledge was their claim to fame.  With Ted Tsukiyama, Mike Uyeno, Dr. Horace Clay, and others, I was a co-founder of the non-profit Hawaii Bonsai Association. In 1973 I moved to the Big Island to found Fuku-Bonsai.  Shortly after we moved, I had met Hiroo Sakai, the father of a Honolulu bonsai friend who knew of my HBA role and urged me to form a similar organization rather that join any Hilo bonsai group. But in starting Fuku-Bonsai, I had more immediate priorities. 

            After IBC 80 Hawaii,  Hiroshi looked me up,  related the turmoil in the Hilo club, and committed to help build  the Big Island Bonsai Association (BIBA).  He recruited Yoshiyuki and Sandra Ota and Bob and Merle Dendinger and we began.  That was 25 years ago and he's been a very special friend since. 

            Forming BIBA was much more difficult than HBA!  The Big Island is larger than all the other Hawaiian Islands combined and it was necessary to establish activities and classes in Hilo, Waimea, and Kona.  We were fortunate to have the support of Isami Ishihara and Yutaka Kimura in Waimea and Janice and Charles Biltoft and Bob and Lu Lindley in Kona.  We were supported by Mary Matayoshi, director of the University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Continuing Education and Community Service,  Milton Hakoda, director of Hawaii County Parks and Recreation and a broad range of support throughout the community.

            With Yoshi as president, Hiroshi as vice-president, and me as secretary and head of education, we pulled together a series of classes taught in Hilo (Friday night), Waimea (Saturday afternoon) and Kona (Saturday night) for 10 weeks in which we had a Honolulu HBA primary instructor and two BIBA assistant instructors.  We had "Bonsai Days" in different locations and began All-Big Island Bonsai Shows in which we honored outstanding members.

            The 1991 All-Big Island Bonsai Show was dedicated to Hiroshi Ikeda and I submitted the following article for statewide publication.

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    This photo was taken in 1981 as part of the promotion of the "Revitalization of Bonsai on the Big Island."  Hiroshi grew a full range of bonsai including larger old collected bonsai, traditional Japanese bonsai, miniature tray landscapes, rock plantings and even micro-mini mame bonsai!   

HIROSHI IKEDA

The Spirit of Big Island Aloha!

        At the 11th All-Big Island Bonsai Show held July 4 through 7, at the Wailoa Center in Hilo, the Big Island Bonsai Association honored Hiroshi Ikeda for his outstanding leadership, skills, and sharing of the art and culture of bonsai.  Ikeda's record of accomplishments is like a vast mosaic that few are privileged to see in its entirety.

         Some know of his early days with the U.S. Postal Service when he cheerfully delivered mail along the sprawling Hamakua Coast.  It was there that he met, courted and married Helene Saruwatari. Their marriage brought three children:  son Miles, an electrical engineer;  daughter Renee Wolfgang, a CPA in Oak Harbor, Washington, and daughter Pat Tamashiro, whose valiant fight against leukemia captured the hearts and prayers of people throughout the state.

          Ikeda's military interpreter-translator assignment in occupied Japan brought him close up to the tragedies of nuclear holocaust. Having to interview victims and repatriates instilled in him a sense of wonder and richness of life as well as a positive attitude and personality. In spite of his burdens, he considers himself a fortunate person and shares freely of his time, skills and knowledge.

          Ikeda's friends involve him in an endless series of exhibits, celebrations, trips and meetings. His lifetime commitment to Hilo Hongwanji and Boy Scouts of America activities have helped to enrich his life. He has been awarded the Silver Beaver, the Scout's highest adult leadership award.

          But in spite of these many fruitful endeavors, even Ikeda's family will tell you he seems happiest when sharing bonsai. His father raised bonsai, and in 1962 Ikeda began to maintain and enlarge his father's collection.  He became a founding member of the Bonsai Kenkyu Club of Hilo, and co-founded the Big Island Bonsai Association in 1981, serving as its first vice-president. He played a key role in the revitalization of bonsai on the Big Island and was BIBA's second president.  He enthusiastically created exhibits, gave promotional demonstrations, participated in team-teaching classes and assisted bonsai clubs. 

           In 1985 Ikeda led a Big Island group on a bonsai tour of Japan. Then in 1989 he served as one of the official translators for the demonstrations held by the Japanese bonsai masters at the World Bonsai Convention in Omiya, Japan.  In 1990 he was part of two demonstration teams at the International Bonsai Convention held at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

          As the co-founder and current president of the non-profit Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation,  Ikeda guides the development of the Hawaii State Bonsai Repository.  The foundation serves as the public guardian of donated memorial bonsai by the families of past bonsai hobbyists.  By agreement, these are publicly exhibited and maintained at the Fuku-Bonsai Center in Keauhou-Kona.  The foundation's liaison role requires international correspondence and Ikeda's Japanese language skills have proven invaluable.

          Hiroshi Ikeda embodies the spirit of Big Island bonsai aloha.  He has contributed his enthusiasm, energy and leadership to help focus international attention on Big Island bonsai.

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         UPDATE:  In the December 1, 2005 issue of THE HAWAII HERALD,  the above article was reprinted as a "Herald 25th Retrospective" to compliment a three-page Lead Story:  "THANK YOU, MR. IKEDA; former explorer scouts honor their scoutmaster!" by Patsy V. Nakayama which told of Hiroshi's 55-year service to the scouting program.  The reunion to honor Hiroshi included many of those in the scouting program and his family members who flew home to participate.  Amongst the "alumni" are many prominent community leaders.

       Hiroshi attended the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation and visited the old Japanese Black Pine started by his father that he donated to the Hawaii State Bonsai Repository.

        Hiroshi was named "MPBF President Emeritus" in recognition of his exemplary role.  He was one of current president Michael Imaino's mentors in an effort to share the values of the past to be carried forward into the future. 

In Memory:  HIROSHI IKEDA

(Continued from top of the page)

         It's difficult to write about a person that seems to represent another era.  In today's aggressive world,  Hiroshi's gentle manner shines brightly as a beacon of civility and community.  His many unheralded acts of pure kindness stands out in a world that seems to be addicted to hype and self-promotion.  When he learned that my son Tad was getting interested in fishing, several trips aboard his boat bottom fishing off Hilo Bay produced memories to last a lifetime.

         He kept in touch with friends and; while I often brought him news of Papa Kaneshiro, Ted Tsukiyama, and the Honolulu bonsai gang, as often he was updating me with news from all of the other Hawaiian Islands and what's happening in Japan bonsai.  When Fuku-Bonsai was forced into Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to prevent foreclosure of the Kurtistown nursery, he helped to close the Kona Fuku-Bonsai Center and was with us through the darkest days.  He stayed on as president of the Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation until our recovery was assured enough so he could pass the torch to current foundation president Michael Imaino. 

         Hiroshi has left an impressive legacy in the people that he influenced and the organizations that benefited from his leadership and participation.  I was fortunate to share his life and his love of bonsai.  I learned from him and it is only fitting that I close this memorial piece with his own words that he wrote in 1985 as part of the community celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the arrival of the Japanese contract immigrants to Hawaii.