Family History

I finally did some research on my family and was able to get some information.  My family is not exactly sure when my paternal great-grandfathers made the journey from Japan to Hawaii.  However we do know that my great-grandmothers came from Japan to Hawaii as picture brides.  My grandmother's mother, Moto Taniguchi, came to Hawaii in 1917 set to marry my great-grandfather, Gonzo Kobayashi, who was a black smith.  They settled in Waipahu and had ten children.  Six years later, in 1923, my grandfather's mother, Kazuko Katekaru came as a picture bride to marry my great-grandfather, Kame Arakawa.  My great-grandparents also settled in Waipahu and opened up a laundromat.  My grandfather is one of five children.

I do not know a whole lot about my mother's side due to some domestic conflict that occurred.  Although my mom's maiden name was Young (Chinese), her real father left her and my grandmother within the first couple years of my mother's life.  For that reason, my mother's side does not talk about him or the situation.  The farthest back I can go back to is my mother's maternal grandmother.  She is a Nissei (second generation), and was born on the island of Hawaii (Big Island) in 1920.  In 1942, my great-grandmother, great-grandfather, aunty, and grandmother were interned at Tule Lake in California.  While interned, my great-grandmother gave birth to my uncle in January of 1945.  I was not able to get any information on my great-grandfather because although not divorced, my great-grandmother and he were separated for the last twenty to twenty five years of their lives.  I may have met my great-grandfather once when I was really young but did not have any relationship with him.