Richard Wassman Kimi

RICHARD WASSMAN KIMI

How do you begin to share the story of a simple barefoot Hawaiian boy from Hilo who lived the life of 100 men? Richard Wassman Kimi was born in Hilo, the son of Territorial Senator William James Kimi of Hilo, and Matilda Wassman Kimi of Kainaliu, Kona. He lived in Waiakea Houselots with his five siblings, and spent his early years living in poverty through the great Depression that wiped out what little money the family had. He had to learn at a young age whatever skills it took to help put food on the family table. As his father was quite the entrepreneur; Richard worked hard at their drive-in diner at nights, Hilo's only roller skating rink on weekends, the circus when it came to town, and waking up at 2 am every morning to make ice cream that he would sell at chicken fights and pay days in the Hamakua Coast plantation camps. This left little time to go to Waiakea Grade School, where he had little interest attending anyway. In those formative years, he yearned and learned to be a salesman. His education the streets rather than the classroom. At age 8, because of family hardships, he lived in Kamuela with his hanai Uncle and Aunty and learned cattle raising and building roads on their ranch. Right after the Pearl Harbor attacks, he enlisted to serve our country in the U.S. Army; where his leadership skills earned him his Sergeant stripes at age 19, the youngest Sergeant in the U.S. Army at the time. When the war ended he chose to return home to help his family business; which was now selling Army surplus goods (over-supplies like clothing, tents, shovels, canteens, trucks, bull-dozers, electric and plumbing fixtures) at his father's store near Hilo airport; where Hilo Seaside Hotel is today. As the business kept struggling , he turned to the construction business with the surplus equipment he could not sell. He and his brothers built Kimiville (a low-rent housing complex mauka of Mo'oheau Park in Hilo), hundreds of asphalt residential drive-ways; even the window blinds at the old Hilo Hospital. He worked every day, building what he sold going house to house at night. Soon, his successful sales skills sold all the surplus store inventory; except for an old dump truck, a bulldozer, some lumber, roofing and a steam-roller. He was 29 by then, but wanted a life for his family that made money while you were sleeping and decided to build a hotel where the surplus store was. All the 'experts' he consulted thought he was crazy yet the contrarian that he was he saw an opportunity the war had ended and prosperity was in the air why not build a hotel that was affordable to the average person? So he built the 30-room Hotel Hukilau, and soon it was always busy; so he built more rooms there. As smaller propeller planes became larger jet planes; travel to Hawaii became more affordable for the masses. What about building a hotel in Kailua-Kona, so visitors could spend one week on the Big Island? (Kona Hukilau now known as Kona Seaside Hotel opened with 44 rooms in 1960.)

The hard worker that he was; he checked guests in to the hotel, carried their luggage, cleaned their rooms, and cooked their meals in his restaurants; whatever it took to make them happy and return someday. As vacations became longer guests wanted to see Maui. So the family moved to Kahului and built the Maui Hukilau (Maui Seaside Hotel today) in 1962. Jet planes became jumbo jets but could only land in Honolulu. You guessed it our Hawaiian boy bought the Waikiki Biltmore Hotel (presently Hyatt Regency Waikiki) in 1965. He was so proud of that day especially when he called his father and told him we were in the big-time now not one, not two, but three elevators in our hotel. Wowee! As tourism for the masses grew, he saw the need for a Kauai hotel as tourists wanted to visit all four islands. So the family moved to Kauai and built the Kauai Sands Hotel at Waipouli beach in 1970. (No elevators, but nice sand beach!)

He was a legend in Hawaii tourism a pioneer of the kamaaina rate; air, hotel and car packages for locals, reservations by toll-free phone lines, then fax lines, and now on-line bookings. His vision was affordable and friendly hotels. Today they are known as the Seaside Hotels Hawaii. It is the only Hawaiian owned and operated family hotel chain in the world.

As an Aquarian, he always thought 5 to 10 years into the future; and was a genius in fore-telling marketing trends. He enjoyed teaching sales, marketing and business to hundreds of students; and always favored the under-dog and the little guy. One of his students Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad books, recognized Richard Kimi as his original 'Rich Dad' and continues sharing his lessons to the world. Richard Kimi lived life how he saw it, and thrived on opportunities thinking contrary to the 'experts'. He experienced, yet prospered through tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires and financial crises. He shared his journeys several years ago in his autobiography 'Barefoot Memoirs', dedicated to his father.

How do you end this story? It really does not end it only continues with the wisdom he shared with his 'students of life' and you all know who you are. Our debt to him is beyond measure.

He went home to Hilo on December 19, 2008. His wishes were simple no fuss just private bedside services, then take his ashes to Hilo Bay so he will be home again. No flowers or gifts please give to the Hawaii Food Bank for the hungry if you choose. Richard Wassman Kimi would have been 84 on February 3rd. He is survived by his wife Kathryn, son Philip (Veronica), children from previous marriages; sons; Alan (Suzie), Don (Tamera), daughters; Noe Kimi-Buchanan (Alex), Patti Kimi-Woodd (Harry), and Kim Kimi; brother; Uncle Billy Kimi, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

We miss you Mr. Kimi, Dad, RK, Pops, Fada, and Duke.
You remain in our hearts and lives. Aloha Oe'!