Interviews

1. Getting involved in the family business at age 19

2. A body, mind and spirit work ethic

3. Postwar discrimination

4. Less information about Hawai‘i in mainland

5. Family first

6. Being accepted as biracial family

7. Preserving tradition becoming more difficult

8. To be “100 % Japanese”

Kobayashi,Bert A.

(b.1944) Founder of Kobayashi Group, LLC

Less information about Hawai‘i in mainland

When I was stationed in Virginia, you get all these hillbillies and these guys – they got no clue what Hawaii is, you know. They think I live in caves. They think I live in grass shack, I said, “My father’s a contractor.” Not joking. “We live in caves because it doesn’t leak like a grass shack” and they thought I was telling them the truth. “The girls walk around without any tops?” I said, “Of course!” “You guys brush your teeth?” I said, “No. There’s no toothbrush.” I was joking but they thought I was telling them what Hawaii was like. I was in Fort Lee, Virginia.

discrimination Hawaii interpersonal relations racism United States Virginia

Date: June 1, 2006

Location: Hawai`i, US

Interviewer: Akemi Kikumura Yano

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Bert A. Kobayashi, founder of the Kobayashi Group LLC, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on November 10, 1944. He is a third generation Japanese American whose parents were also born and raised in Hawai‘i. At the age of 19, his father Albert fell ill and Bert was suddenly introduced to the difficult realities of running a business when he took over the construction company founded by his father. Bert eventually guided the business to become the largest local construction company in Hawai‘i, selling the business to a group of employees in 1997. He then founded the Kobayashi Development Group, serving as chairman until his retirement, and continues to be an advisor to the company led by his son, B.J. Kobayashi, who serves as CEO and president. Bert is known throughout the state of Hawai‘i for his generous philanthropic efforts such as starting the University of Hawai‘i Foundation and has been an active member on numerous community and educational boards. (2007年3月1日）