In the 42 years of his well-spent life, Dr. Stephen Tokunaga earned a reputation as someone who served his community with the same love and devotion he held for his family.
His youngest, Kimi, was just 3 years old when he was killed in a traffic accident in Aiea. Now 17 and freshly graduated from Sacred Hearts Academy, she carries on his legacy through everyday acts of service and a long-term commitment to those most vulnerable.
“It was hard growing up after the loss of my father, especially when I was younger,” Tokunaga said. “I had to learn to grow up fast, but we did it together as a family. We were there for each other, and we did what we could to serve others.
“Our faith strengthened us over the years,” she said. “It made us who we are.”
Tokunaga’s parents met while both were attending dental school at Georgetown University. They opened a Waipahu family dental practice together — one that Modesta Gaerlan-Tokunaga continues to operate at a new location in Ewa Beach — and built a family of their own, with eight children arriving over a span of just 11 years.
Despite the demands of work and family, Stephen Tokunaga still made time to help others, sharing dental health lessons at local schools, volunteering with Head Start and Special Olympics Hawaii, helping out at his children’s schools and doing community service through his church.
In their own ways, Tokunaga’s children have found ways to keep their father’s memory alive, particularly through careers that serve the public.
With a long-held affinity for health care and an aptitude for science, Kimi Tokunaga intends to pursue a career as a neonatal nurse.
“As the youngest, I realized I have a lot of expectations to live up to, and I thought about what I could do to set myself apart from my siblings,” she said. “I have a passion for babies and kids, and I want to help babies in need.”
And while Tokunaga hasn’t yet taken her first college course — she’ll be attending the University of Portland in the fall — she already has accrued a wealth of experience that can only help her on her way.
Three years ago mom Gaerlan-Tokunaga started going on health care missions to the Philippines, where she was born, bringing along whichever of her children might be helpful. Kimi Tokunaga joined the cause two years ago.
“It was amazing to be there with my mother and to have the opportunity to learn about the culture and to work with people of the same faith,” Tokunaga said. “At the same time, I’m so used to the First World and all of the luxuries that we have that I had culture shock the first time I went. It was a humbling experience to see all of the things they lack that we have back home.”
Working in Sariaya in conjunction with a church based in Talaan, south of Manila, Tokunaga administered fluoride treatments and helped educate residents about oral health. She and her sisters, who all learned hula starting at a young age, also taught the Hawaiian dance to people in the area.
Tokunaga said she and her family hope to one day coordinate a mission in which all the siblings participate.
Back at home, Tokunaga is accustomed to keeping a busy schedule. She was president of the campus ministry and the Living in Faith Experience. She also was a member of the Na Leo Hoonani Liturgical Corps and sang in the youth choir at her church.
Much of Tokunaga’s service work has been focused on helping youth. As a member of the school’s National Honor Society chapter, Tokunaga tutored younger students. She also mentored children at Ali‘iolani Elementary School via Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii.
Beyond that, Tokunaga also followed a family tradition by playing tuba in the Sacred Hearts concert and marching bands and paddled with the Kanalui Canoe Club.
“I like to achieve little goals every day,” she said. “I’m high-maintenance that way. It bugs me if things don’t get done. I love doing different things and being active in whatever community I’m a part of. I like building relationships and helping others.”
Last year Tokunaga served internships at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children and Castle Medical Center via her school’s Girls Got Grit mentorship program. Her experience shadowing professionals in the neonatal intensive care unit played a major role in her career choice.
In the months before she departs for college, Tokunaga is serving a full-time internship at Kapiolani.
Wherever her future leads, Tokunaga said she will continue to uphold the values with which she was raised.
“I grew up in a big, loving family,” she said. “We were raised to love each other, have faith and serve others. That’s what I believe in.”
Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.
