lit a candle 16h agoMy mom texted me this obituary out of nowhere, just a short thing from The Garden Island about a man named Mike Takaezu. 91 years old, swam laps at Lydgate Beach Park every single day, kept a garden, played ukulele, had a weekly poker game with friends. I don't know why it got to me so much, I never knew him, but I read it twice at my desk in Denver. Ninety one years of just showing up for the small good things.
Their story
Michael "Mike" Masato Takaezu was a longtime resident of Wailua Homesteads on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Born in 1934, he lived most of his life on Kauai, apart from a period away from the island before he returned in 1964. Public information about his working life is limited to…
Michael "Mike" Masato Takaezu was a longtime resident of Wailua Homesteads on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Born in 1934, he lived most of his life on Kauai, apart from a period away from the island before he returned in 1964. Public information about his working life is limited to the fact that he retired in 1994, and reputable reports so far have not specified his career or employer.
In retirement, Takaezu became known among family and friends for a steady, contented daily rhythm: he swam laps every day at Lydgate Beach Park, tended his garden, played the ukulele, listened to Hawaiian music, followed sports, and kept up a weekly poker game with friends. These details, drawn from his published obituary, paint the picture of a man rooted in his island community rather than a public figure in the conventional sense. There is no Wikipedia page for Takaezu, and he does not appear to have held public office, led a company, or worked in entertainment or the arts in a way that drew national attention. His life, as recorded publicly, was a private and local one.
Takaezu died on September 20, 2026, at his home in Wailua Homesteads, Kauai, at the age of 91. According to his family's obituary notice, he passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his family. No specific medical cause of death has been made public, and the family's language suggests a peaceful, natural passing rather than a sudden or publicized illness. The family expressed gratitude to the caregiving team at Garden Isle Healthcare for their support in his final period.
His death was announced through a funeral home notice in Lihue and reported in the Kauai newspaper The Garden Island as part of its regular obituary listings. He is survived by his sister, Gwendolyn Tsukayama of Lihue, and her husband Calvin. Public reporting so far has not described a spouse, children, or parents, and it is not known from available sources whether he married or had children; this page will be updated if that information becomes public.
A Celebration of Life for Takaezu was held on October 18, 2026, at the Kauai High School Gym in Lihue. The family asked that attendees dress casually and that flowers be omitted. As a private individual rather than a widely known public figure, there have been no public statements from celebrities, officials, or national media; the tributes that have appeared are those of family and the Kauai community who knew him.
Biography adapted from News reports and the sources cited on this page; death reported by hawaiiobituaries.com.
That's a good way to put it. Showing up.