Dorothy Okahiro Chang's Obituary
Dorothy Okahiro was born on January 3, 1930 to Giichi and Shizuyo Okahiro in Lahaina, Hawaii. As a child, Dorothy was a girl scout, and she also played basketball. After Dorothy graduated from Lahainaluna High School in 1947, she was part of the USO, and performed the Hula for the US Troops during WWII.
Dorothy left the islands in 1947 to attend the University of Southern California, and graduated with a Pharmaceutical degree. She made life-long friends at Moreland Hall with whom she continued to correspond and travel up until a few years ago.
Dorothy married William S. Chang in 1959 in Los Angeles where they resided until 1965 when he passed away. She worked at Midway Hospital in Los Angeles.
She moved back to Maui in 1985 to help assist her parents. Dorothy was active in the Lahaina Historical Society. She was treasurer at her church, worked as a pharmacist at Valley Isle Pharmacy. When she ‘retired’ she often traveled, played mahjong, enjoyed crossword puzzles, watched college or pro football…although she would get too stressed and turn off the tv until the game was over. Her guilty pleasures; crime dramas, The Biggest Loser, Top Chef, Jeopardy, Project Runway, and the best of all vanilla mochi ice cream.
Dorothy’s Lahaina community involvement stemmed from the strong ties established by her parents. Shizuyo taught elementary school at King Kamahamaha, while Giichi worked for Maui Pineapple as an accountant and assistant manager at the Lahaina Store. Giichi was a founding and charter member for the Lion’s Club and an active voice for senior citizens.
She was pre-deceased by her sister Lois, but survived by her two nephews, Neal Lawrenson and Matthew Tanaka. After Lois’s passing, Dorothy became a surrogate mother to her nephews.
Dorothy was an amazing woman with a heart of gold. She seemed quiet but always had a strong opinion, and managed to insert her thoughts surreptitiously. She would always put others first, and her demeanor allowed others to be at ease and comfortable. She never wanted to be a burden or a bother, but her nature drew people toward her. Dorothy maintained life-long friends, and the depth of those interactions shows through the continued friendships of their children and grandchildren.
In leiu of flowers or gifts the family requests remembrances for Dorothy be sent to either the:
Lahaina Methodist Church - 988 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761
Or
Lahainaluna High School Foundation – PO Box 11617, Lahaina, HI 96761 http://www.lahainalunahighschoolfoundation.org
The family will have a private ceremony to scatter Dorothy’s ashes at sea.
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