Gladys Mae Hideko Fujii

May 31, 1936 - September 14, 2017

Mrs. Gladys Mae Hideko Fujii of Kahului, passed away peacefully at home on September 14, 2017 at the age of 81. Services honoring the late Mrs. Fujii will be held at Iao United Church of Christ on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, with services beginning at 11:30 am. The family requests aloha attire and please, no koden. Gladys was born in Wailuku on May 31, 1936 to Tadayoshi & Evelyn Kadoyama. She was the elder of two children. After graduating from Baldwin High School in 1954, Gladys set off to Kansas, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary education from Kansas State Teachers College, now Emporia State University. It was there she met the love of her life, Wallace Fujii. She taught one year at Gridley Elementary School in Kansas while Wally was completing his Master's degree. The young couple moved back to Maui to marry, begin a family and long careers with the State of Hawaii Department of Education. Mrs. Fujii taught at Hana and Kula elementary schools, and she will most fondly be remembered for her work at King Kamehameha III School in Lahaina, where her career spanned 22 years before her retirement in 1998. When she wasn't working, she loved to spend time with her two children, Patti and Gary. She was a wonderful homemaker, excellent cook and took impeccable care of the children, pets and her husband. Gladys will be remembered as a sweet, caring, generous, reliable and special woman who may very well have been the most proud Baldwin High School Alum. For those who remember seeing their sports and academic achievements posted in Mr. Fujii's office, few of you may know that it was Gladys who diligently scoured the Maui News for your accomplishments and cut them out to be displayed. Gladys quietly, consistently, and unassumingly supported the Fujii family, 38 years of students, and her beloved Baldwin High School. Mrs. Fujii leaves behind to cherish her memory, her beloved husband of 58 years, Wallace H. Fujii; daughter, Patti Fujii (Walt) Pacheco; son, Gary (Sheri) Fujii; grandson Daniel Pacheco; her "Monthly Lunch Bunch," and many students, teachers and mentees who turned to Gladys for guidance, support and knowledge throughout the years.