Daisy Lum Kurashige
September 19, 1915 - June 10, 2016
Daisy L. Kurashige passed away peacefully on Friday, June 10, 2016 at the age of 100. Born in Honolulu and an alumna of the University of Hawaii-Manoa, she lived a life full of good memories and accomplishments as a teacher, artist, community volunteer, and not least as a wife and mother. After obtaining a Master of Education from Columbia University in New York, she worked as a high school teacher in Kona where she met her husband, Dr Wilfred H. Kurashige. With two daughters, the family settled in Honolulu where her husband practiced as a dermatologist. In Honolulu Daisy was an elementary school teacher, but after several years returned to the University of Hawaii to study ceramics. This became the center of her work and passions for the rest of her life. Her artworks are included in Hawaii museum collections, and in the late 1960s she opened the art gallery Daisy in Kapahulu to promote crafts and local artists. She was a founding supporter of Hawaii’i Craftsmen. After her husband passed away, Daisy traveled extensively. She often visited her daughter Elise’s family in Australia and enjoyed her vacation home in Kona. She became an avid gardener in the Manoa community garden and volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the homeless in Chinatown. She will be sadly missed by her daughter Christine Kurashige and husband P. Barry Whitfield, daughter Elise Tipton and husband Frank Benjamin Tipton, Jr, and grandchildren Lee Tipton, Christine Tipton and husband Peter Nitschke. Her family is grateful to the staff at Palolo Chinese Home for the warm care that they provided Daisy during the last months of her life. A private memorial service will be held later this month for Daisy.
Daisy L. Kurashige passed away peacefully on Friday, June 10, 2016 at the age of 100. Born in Honolulu and an alumna of the University of Hawaii-Manoa, she lived a life full of good memories and accomplishments as a teacher, artist, community... View Obituary & Service Information