Hundreds of people honored the life of popular television host Hari Kojima Saturday at his memorial service.
The service at Mililani Memorial Park honored the man who taught Hawaii to catch, prepare and cook fish on the shows "Let’s Go Fishing" and "Hari’s Kitchen." Hari was famous for many dishes, including his potato macaroni crab salad and blackened ahi.
Hari shared a love for many things besides fishing, including the harmonica and ukulele, golfing and giving back to the community, his friends and family said.
Kojima was diagnosed with cancer in May and battled multiple tumors before dying June 8 at his Kaneohe home. He was 66.
"(My brother) was always a calm person. I think he got that from my mother. He didn’t put on airs," said his younger brother, Paul.
Harry Kojima’s first job was as a delivery boy for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. He delivered about 200 newspapers on his route and began shortening his name to "Hari" on the collection slips he distributed. The name stuck.
Kojima began working in the seafood section of Tamashiro Market at age 16. It was there that he was taught to cut fish in record time.
"Once he bragged to his sister Carol, ‘I can prepare a plate of sashimi from a whole fish in 17 seconds,’ said Kimo Kahoano, co-host of "Hawaii Stars," who delivered the eulogy. "That was too much for Carol to believe, so she timed him, and in 17 seconds the fish was converted into sashimi, put on a plate, and in presentation style."
Kojima, who graduated from Farrington High School, served in the Army as a computer programmer from 1963 to 1966.
In his last year of service, Kojima and his brother Paul were stationed in Germany.
"It was helpful to have him there to get acclimated. We worked in the same office together and even bunked together," Paul said.
Kojima co-hosted "Let’s Go Fishing" from 1981 to 1998 and hosted "Hari’s Kitchen" from 1996 to 1998. After retiring from television, Kojima worked for Fresh Island Fish Inc. in sales and development.
"He was very generous and gave without expecting anything back," said entertainer Kawika Gapero, Kojima’s longtime friend. "He was always down to earth and true to himself and that’s why we clicked and why he became so popular."
Gapero, who was friends with Kojima since 1976, composed the theme song for "Let’s Go Fishing" and traveled with Hari often.
"His passion was helping the elderly and going into the care homes," Gapero said. Kojima also devoted his time to fundraising for public schools.
