Helpful Hiro, wife Lillian relish community service

When Hiroyuki Ito has something meaningful to express — his friendship, his appreciation, his wish for a speedy recovery — he often does so with a gift every bit as rare and delightful as the spirit with which it is offered.

"Green eggplant," Hiro says, watching eagerly as his guest unpacks a gift bag of homemade and homegrown goodies. "It looks young but it’s already ripe."

Hiro, 84, also grows the unusual nightshade berry ("It’s not a vegetable!" he says) in his yard and gives them to doctors, nurses, patients and others he meets at his once-a-week volunteer gig at Pali Momi Medical Center.

"I’ve made so many friends here," he says. "This is just something small I like to do for them."

While his wife, Lillian, a former city Parks and Recreation director, attends to clerical tasks behind the scenes at Pali Momi, Hiro, a retired regional manager for HonFed, walks the halls of the telemetry department, updating boards, assisting patients, even mopping up the occasional spill.

"When I was at Parks and Rec, we never had enough funding to do everything we needed to, so I relied a lot on volunteers," says Lillian, 83. "People have been so good to us, I knew that when we retired it would be a giving-back time for us."

She’s being modest. Fact is, through 59 years of marriage the Itos have built a life together founded as much on community service as on their obvious affection for one another.

It was at Lillian’s suggestion that Hiro joined the Lions Club some 36 years ago, the same sort of gentle nudge that also prompted him to serve on numerous volunteer boards and committees over the years.

Likewise, Lillian spearheaded innovative recreation programs for senior citizens and other underserved populations, efforts that continued after she retired from the parks department.

"We complement each other in whatever we do," Hiro says. "She’s my mentor and inspiration — always has been, always will be."

Says Lillian, "All though our life together, (Hiro) has been there to support me. Volunteering allows us to continue doing things together."

The Itos’ generosity is evident throughout the hospital, from the bottles of homemade "broke da mout chili wata" that Hiro leaves for his doctor pals, to the plates of somen salad and New Year’s gau that Lillian shares with hungry nurses and staff, to the 30 desert rose plants they donated to beautify the Pali Momi grounds.

Still, the Itos say their efforts at the hospital return more than they could ever invest.

"When I help a patient, even if it’s something as simple as opening their milk carton, the appreciation they show is so genuine that I get chills," Hiro says. "I think everyone who is able should volunteer. I’m going to do this as long as my two legs keep me going."

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Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.