LIHUE — Friends, family and community members turned out to remember the life of the Waimea man who was born to Yenzo and Ruth Iwae Taniguchi. His name was Baker Taniguchi, and he actually was a baker to boot, according
LIHUE — Friends, family and community members turned out to remember the life of the Waimea man who was born to Yenzo and Ruth Iwae Taniguchi.
His name was Baker Taniguchi, and he actually was a baker to boot, according to his son, Chad Taniguchi.
“Like many other families, the Taniguchi family came from Japan to make Hawaii their new home nearly 100 years ago,” Chad said. “The son of a baker! Dad got his childhood nickname which stuck for life. When he found out during roll call at Schofield Barracks that four others in his draft group answered to Takeshi Taniguchi, he legally changed his name to Baker.”
Chad said Baker was a baker for a while, helping in his father’s store which, in addition to being Waimea Bakery, sold shoes, was a drugstore, and the center for a house rental in Honolulu.
“Family lore has it that the Waimea Bakery business was so demanding, the infants and toddlers were put into cardboard boxes on the bakery floor to keep them corralled,” Chad said. “That’s why they have skinny legs, or so the story goes.”
When Baker graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1941 at 21 years old, Yenzo welcomed him home, telling him, “Rest today; tomorrow you start working in the bakery.”
Following World War II when Baker volunteered for the Army, he was not taken because of “his essential work making bread for the military and civilian population.”
Yenzo was president of one of the Japanese schools in Waimea and during the war was sent to an internment cap in Kalaheo. Yenzo’s family had no idea where he had been taken to.
The assets of the Japanese school went into the Waimea Educational and Cultural Foundation which supported churches, community organizations and provided college scholarships to several hundred Waimea High School students.
Baker continued Yenzo’s legacy at the foundation, and Chad said the fund is still going strong.
Surrounded by friends with nicknames like Spooks, Duke, Punchy, Big Muggs, Small Muggs, Bull, Baggie, Meatball, Sheik, Boxa, and others, Baker was a volunteer with others of his generation who shared a sense of commitment to community and took on the task of building the Waimea Swimming Pool.
“Kids are still swimming there, 59 years after it was completed in 1955,” Chad said. “I have a scar from being the first one to gash my head and get a tankobu on the pool deck during the opening day ceremonies — when there were school carnivals, Charlie Kaneyama, and country stores.”
Seven years following the completion of the pool, that same group of people built the bleachers — it was made of wood.
“I remember my dad teaching me how to hammer nails,” Chad said. “I was about 7 years old and he put a hammer in my hands explaining, ‘This is how you pound nails.’”
Chad said it was a pleasant experience to see the people of Baker’s generation come together Friday at the Waimea United Church of Christ to celebrate his life.
“A lot of people have gone, but the ones that are here deserve tribute for their contribution,” Chad said. “Because of the pool example, in my life, I have always believed the community can do anything, and I have encouraged volunteerism wherever I have been involved. The lesson left by Baker and his generation is — can do. Can. Can. No scared. Can!”
