Ethan Aaron Tokuichi Ogata's Obituary
Ethan Ogata Obituary
Ethan Aaron Tokuichi Ogata
9/16/1994 - 12/11/2023
Please come and celebrate the life of Ethan Ogata on 4/6/23 at 5:30 pm at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel. Please NO flowers and dress casually.
Ethan was born on 9/16/1994 at Kaiser Hospital. Ethan grew up in Mililani, attended Hanalani Schools Early Childhood program. His elementary years were spent at Mililani Mauka Elementary School, eventually moving on to Mililani Middle School and then Mililani High School. Ethan was part of the MHS Judo team from 2009-2012. In his freshman year he received the Most Improved Male Award. He had never played the sport but took a liking to it and was willing to put the time and effort into excelling at it. Judo was especially important to Ethan, as it made him feel part of a team. Prior to his last season of Judo, he trained with Taylor Takata at Hawaii Judo Academy in Aiea and earned a chance to play for the state title. Though he fell short and placed 2nd in states at the HHSAA Judo Championships, he was proud of this accomplishment as he started with absolutely no experience and found himself in position to win it all.
After graduating from high school, Ethan enrolled in LCC for a year, then transferred to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He also had the privilege to attend Queen’s college in NYC for a semester, with the Student Exchange program. While at Queen’s he met a lot of lifelong friends, was able to explore the city and expanded his horizons. Upon his return he continued his studies and eventually graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2021.
He had various jobs working in the food industry and case management. He was very resourceful and even though he had no experience in building and construction, watched a lot of YouTube videos to construct a garden at his family home in Mililani. While living at his grandparents’ house he was able to accomplish several projects ranging from constructing an outdoor closet, making a wheelchair ramp for Grandpa Ogata, doing yard maintenance and several other home projects. He assisted with grocery shopping and caregiving and was always finding new vegetarian food items and would exclaim “I find good things for you, yeah?.” to his grandma.
One day, while he and his grandfather were doing yardwork, he heard his grandfather fall and hit his head on the pavement. Although Papa was insistent that he was all right and did not require any medical attention, Ethan recognized that he needed to be seen and called 9-11. In fact, Papa had sustained a brain fracture and had bleeding in the brain and Ethan’s quick thinking saved his life.
Ethan was very health conscious and always read food labels, especially if there was any meat or fish products. He loved Poke in general but started eating more salmon poke because of the higher mercury content in predatory fish. He was also deeply knowledgeable on trivia questions as well as almost any subject. He was a very well-read individual and his idea of fun was watching the History Channel, anything about aliens, and all kinds of different sports. He loved Praline Pecans from Costco, Salmon, and any kind of dessert and candies, as he did have a sweet tooth.
Ethan had many life challenges that he overcame, which made him a stronger and more resourceful individual. Along with sustaining several concussions while training for judo, he also survived a major head on car collision while in San Francisco after which he was never the same individual. We noticed many behavioral changes over the years, which Ethan noticed himself. He had an inclination that he was suffering from early signs of CTE. After speaking with the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office and with his history of multiple concussions/traumatic brain injuries(TBI’s) he experienced throughout his lifetime, as well as his internal drive to help find medications and supplements that would help him navigate life and be successful, they thought it would be particularly important to send his brain to Boston University’s CTE Center to be examined neuropathologically for evidence of CTE and incorporate the results of this study as part of his cause of death. Boston University agreed to accept his brain to test for CTE. This comprehensive study of his brain will take 8-10 months to complete. Because the Concussion Foundation works closely with BU, Ethan’s Picture and biography will be part of their community and you can read about his life legacy very soon. www.concussionfoundation.org
Ethan experienced life to the fullest, from his many traveling adventures to Cancun, Russia, Japan, Korea, and many states throughout the USA. As a child he enjoyed visiting Gettysburg and got to do Pickett’s Charge with his dad and brother, while his mother and sister met him at Cemetery Ridge. He loved traveling and would always purchase several magnets from all the places he visited for himself and as gifts. He also loved purchasing mini snow globes from around the world, as well as any blue colored bottles from diverse types of drinks he had, because he knew his Grandma Ogata loved blue and collecting bottles was fun for him. He also loved going to open markets while in Russia and purchasing one-of-a-kind gifts for his family. He also was able to experience Skydiving with his friend Jordan.
Ethan was always thinking about ways to better his life. He was highly creative and wanted to have his own business one day. Prior to his death, he was working on his business plan and market analysis for his meal prep and delivery service that he created called Aloha Express Meals. He had big plans and big dreams, until his life was cut short. His other dream was to live on a farm and live off the land sustaining himself. Ethan was a Chrisitan and was not afraid to die, when that time would come, because he knew that he would be going to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are so happy that in 6th grade at Vacation Bible School, he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart as his personal Savior.
Ethan is survived by his parents Garret and Michelle, brother Jacob, sister Kaitlin, paternal grandparents Masayoshi and Frances Ogata, maternal Grandmother Toshii Foss, and his cat Charlie, who misses him dearly. He is pre-deceased by Ronald G. Foss (2019). We all miss his smile, his unique sense of humor, his generosity and willingness to help his family and friends. His spirit lives on in all of us.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 06, 2024 at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel. Visitation begins at 5:30 pm; and service 6:30 pm
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