Today, January 2, 2017 at 1 p.m., I attended the memorial service for my friend Spencer Ueda who I met back in 1992 when I was 17 years old. We worked at DFS Hawaii’s Flightline delivering goods to customers at the international flight gates. Spencer is one of those pure, innocent, and joyful people that radiates positive energy. He was always smiling and laughing. He laughed at all my weird comments and we joke about anything. I nicknamed Spencer Tora-san because his hair was thick and raised around his head like a tiger. I can’t remember the animal he chose to name me. I was told that he still had my campaign shirts when I was a politician, which I gave him, I believe when he visited me at the Hawaii State Capitol. Spencer went on to work at Japan Airlines and then Department of Transportation Harbors Division, which he held until his passing due to the vehicle accident. We kept in touch by email over the years after I left DFS Hawaii in 1996. Until we meet again, I will do my best to emulate your pure positive outlook on life.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 