Richard Okamoto
1399th Engineer Construction Battalion

Early Adulthood

Richard Okamoto

With the encouragement of Dr. John Hopwood, principal of Mid-Pacific Institute, Richard enrolls at the University of Hawaii (UH) where he studies on scholarship during his first year, 1936 – 1937.

In pursuit of a teaching career, he enters UH Teachers College. He receives his undergraduate degree in 1940 and his Fifth-Year Diploma in 1941.

That same year, at the invitation of Dr. Hubert Brown of the UH physical education department, Richard joins the staff.