WAIMEA — Fumie “Effie” Nitta and Kikue Yamamoto both spent a lifetime being outside, both were seamstresses on Kauai and both have three kids.
WAIMEA — Fumie “Effie” Nitta and Kikue Yamamoto both spent a lifetime being outside, both were seamstresses on Kauai and both have three kids.
But that’s not all Nitta and Yamamoto have in common.
Today, they’ll both be in the spotlight at Kauai Care Center in Waimea, which is celebrating residents who have surpassed 100 years for National Centenarians Day.
“Kauai Care Center will be celebrating our very own centenarians on Saturday,” said Tonya Agan, activities director at Kauai Care Center. “They will both be crowned with special fresh flower haku and both honorees will be presented a cake with a cake topper celebrating their years of life.”
Nitta is 102 years old, born April 18, 1916 in Waimea. She married Minoru Nitta and loved to fish. During her life, Nitta worked for the Faye family as a sitter and sewed for the Tamashiro Tailor Shop. Later, she worked at and then retired from Up To Date Cleaners.
Yamamoto is 101 years old, born Jan. 5, 1917 in Waialua, Oahu. She married Soichi Yamamoto and loved raising orchids and anthuriums. Yamamoto worked as a clerk for the Okada Store in Waimea and later as a seamstress at the Iolani Company for the Kawakami Family.
Now, Yamamoto enjoys Hawaiian quilting and Nitta is loving daily walks and staying active.
The National Centenarians Day ceremony at Kauai Care Center is at 2 p.m. in the Lokahi Building.
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Jessica Else, environment reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
