森川虎一
TORAICHI MORIKAWA
Hakalau
Family Origin: Otake Town, Saeki County, Kagoshima Prefecture
Birth: May 28, 1906 
​Death: January 30, 1962
​Born in Hawaii

Prior to April 10, 1925. From left to right: sisters Yoshiko Idemoto and Akiyo Kunishi, mother Suna, Toraichi (standing), and father Kakuichiro. Photo courtesy of Leanne Kirk, first cousin, twice removed.

Circa 1934, included in The Light on the Ocean. Left to right: wife Sayoko holding holding infant Stanley; Toraichi; son Ronald; mother Suna.

Hawaii Manichi, December 5, 1936

Circa 1946-1950. L to R: Oldest son, Ronald; youngest son, Colin; Toraichi; his wife, Sayoko; second oldest son, Stanley; third oldest son, Wilfred. Photo courtesy of Leanne Kirk, first cousin, twice removed.

From The Light on the Ocean:
His father Kakuichi moved to Hawaii in 1900 and worked very hard. However, he passed away due to an illness in April, 1925. Toraichi graduated from the local public school in 1920, and then graduated from Hilo High School with brilliant records in 1924. Upon graduation he was hired as a Japanese Chief of purchasing department at the Sugar Cane Company. He was trusted by many as the head of the local boy scout and was respected as a model Japanese American citizen. Taking on his father’s legacy of dedication to the church and its school he is a rare devotee for a young man. 
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In the past few years he has been busy as the head of the school reunion association, an executive at the church, and additionally from May of this year the vice principal. His ingenuity is fully extended in many fields of the community. re to edit.

When the current mission was constructed in 1936, Toraichi Morikawa served as the Vice Chairman of the building Committee, noted both on the ganshu and the munafuda.

Ganshu, pledged April 4, 1936.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, his leadership in the community was mentioned often in the newspaper, including: 

• Boy Scouts: He was active in scouting for 38 years including 34 consecutive years as Scout Master for Hakalau’s Troop. Early in his scouting career, in 1939, he was awarded the highest award that the Kileauea Council could bestow on a scout leader, the Silver Beaver Award, for outstanding service to boyhood.

Merit Scouts, Officers and Troop Chaiman, in the front yard of the Hakalau Plantation Manager's home, 1930. Standing L to R: Eagle Scout Harry Urasaki, Life Scout Shigeru Ito, Star Scout Theodore Machado, Star Scout Masawo Tanaka, Eagle Scout Waichi Ouye, Star Scout Daniel Gonsalves, and Asst. Scout Master Nishioka. Sitting: Scout Master Morikawa, Troop Chairman J.M. Ross, and Asst. Scout Master Furusho. Photographer Shigeharu Furusho. Photo from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.

Boy Scouts in the Hakalau Jodo Mission Social Hall, circa late 1940's. Scout Master Toraichi Morikawa at far left.

• Hakalau Jodo Mission and Hakalau Meisho YBA, including Board President, Vice Chairman of the Construction Committee for the Mission (1936), Fundraiser
• Other leadership roles for the Hakalau School PTA, Honomu Hongwanji, the Hilo High Renunion Committee, Hakalau Civic Club, and Hakalau Plantation liaison with the community

Toraichi Morikawa, standing on the left near the front of the table, helps celebrate employees with 40 years of service to the Hakalau Plantation on January 20, 1935. Plantation Manager John M. Ross and his wife, Georgiana, are seated at the head of the table. This gathering is in the Boy Scout den in the lower level of the gym. Photo from the Waichi Ouye Collection, courtesy of his family.

We are grateful for his leadership and dedication to the Hakalau Jodo Mission and the community.