Birth date: Sep 4, 1958 Death date: May 19, 2025
Keith Kawamoto Obituary Keith Shige Kawamoto, 66, of Mililani, Hawaii passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025 after a 9 month battle with esophageal cancer. Keith was born on September 4, 1958 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Shuichi and Ja Read Obituary
The most fond memories I ( Sylvia Wagner) have of Keith and John Wagner is when they are together they play like children. Their last two visits to Albuquerque New Mexico, the boys played sword fights, jokes and laughed with the joy that only children have. That kinship will forever be the definition of brotherhood in my heart.
The kinship that Keith Kawamoto and John Wagner had goes beyond earthly boundaries. They often referred to each other as brothers from other mothers. They shared many memories of good times and laughter. Keith and his family will always be in our thoughts and prayers and forever be part of our family. John, Sylvia, and Molly Wagner
Keith was a wonderful instructor and colleague. He was often sarcastic, cynical, and was an overall fun guy. We would have long talks about warfare and reminisce about time gone by. There was always a pep in his step and a wise comeback for any conversation. He will be remembered by many!
I was the last EA to work with Keith at Nānākuli High and intermediate school from 2013 - 2020. He inspired me to fulfill my potential as a person and an educator.His phrases such as “sucks to be you” is used when a student lends out their notes to a friend and don’t get it back. Thus, creating a new book with new notes. “Sucks to be you!”Or my other favorite, “Evil is good”. This phrase is only used when it comes to Senior assembly. Students come in the last week figuring they just do worksheets and pass the class. Keith would have them come in to make up work while others are practicing for graduation. Sure he would encourage them to pray to whatever great being they believe in for a miracle to pass his class. Oh how I miss those days.Don’t get me wrong, we have had a lot of great students who have moved on from and became successes in their own right. Many have come back to thank Keith especially for those who needed to take psychology in college and still had their book they created with Keith’s lesson.In all of his teaching, he brought a little bit of his life into the classroom. From when his first experience in a Hawai’i classroom where the teacher spoke pigeon English. Him not knowing what “You Pau” meant. He then responded, My name not Pau. It’s Keith. Hilarious!!!I will miss his humor, his wittiness and his teaching. Yes I still have my book I have created for myself and will treasure it as the bonding friendship we had!Gonna miss you friend. Aloha Oe!!
First of all, I’d like to send my condolences to Mr. Kawamoto and his entire family. I remember having his class during my sophomore year in high school. E Building right next to the stage. It was probably one of my hardest years as a high school student, but he didn’t know it at the time, I was being bullied and I wasn’t showing up to most of my classes during the 2nd quarter of that year. What he did for me was make it feel like a safe space. He would always smile and greet me. Then talk stories with me before and a little after class. He made me want to push through all the issues I had throughout that year that made me want to just quit school. I’m glad I didn’t because you kept me in school Mr. Kawamoto. You’re one of my favorite teachers of all time, Thank you for looking out for me when you unknowingly did and it counted the most. Because of you, I have a history background as well as my Liberals and Associate Arts in Teaching, and I’m about to wrap up my BFA program. I always appreciated you. Rest in Paradise Mr. Kawamoto
Ist day of class senior year all you gotta do is SHOWUP TAKE THE NOTES DOWN IN YOUR BOOK FROM THE BOARD BECAISE ALL TEST ANSWERS WILL BE FROM DA NOTES FROM DA BOARD. SMALL KINE LECTURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND NOTES. BRAH DA REST OF DA CLASS TIME PASS TO THE LIBRARY AFTA A PUHI PAKA IN E BUILDING BATHROOM. AND HE KNEW... A CLASS WEA ALL DA CHESS PLAYERS WOULD HANG IN. A PLACE TO EAT LUNCH...AND CRASH LITTO WHILE. OM MAHALO FOR THE GREAT SENIOR MEMORIES AND MAKING 2ND PERIOD AS COMFORTABLE TO LEARN GIVONG ME MY A TO PASS AND GRAD.CLASS OF 93' BIDS YOU FAREWELL REST WELL KAWAMOTO NO MOA PAIN U FREE...UNTIL NEXT LIFETIME AHUIHOU HAWKZ BEBEH!!!!
Da best SS teacher around! My absolute favorite class senior year and my husband’s least favorite cause “was too hard” lol. Mr. Kawamoto used to tell us “my class not hard you just no pay attention” and that’s the truth. I still have my fat composition book from senior year, 2017 and I look through it once in a great while. You are missed and loved by all of Nānākuli, Mr. Kawamoto. Rest in peace!
Mr. Kawamoto’s class was THE BEST! He showed genuine care and compassion for his students and really had us working hard to earn the grades we needed. He kept all of his students accountable for their work and still made the content fun and appealing.Mr. Kawamoto always greeted everyone with a smile and I’m sure I can say that all his students loved him. NHIS has lost a beautiful soul, inside and out. Thank you for all the love and support you showed your students throughout the years. Heaven surely has gained a beautiful soul.
Mr. Kawamoto was the coolest! He had college type teaching style where if you don’t care about learning or paying attention, he wouldn’t scold you. You on your own in that class but if you care he’ll care too! I loved going to his class and listening to all his stories and memories, he made it easy for those who cared to pay attention. I’ll miss him. I was so sad to hear he passed. God bless him and his ‘Ohana. Sending my love and condolences!
Of one of Nanakuli High and Intermediate School finest teachers. Always made his class fun and cared about the students he taught. Made me interested in psychology which I eventually majored in. He will be missed.
