Danny Morishige was a quiet but friendly person who was very popular with his classmates. Those who knew him always felt that he would be successful in life. But little did we suspect that he would touch so many lives and help so many people in the years to come.
After graduating from Kaimuki High, Danny went to the University of Hawaii for two years. He then went to Wisconsin where he finished up his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. Next, he moved to the Bay Area where he attended San Francisco State University and obtained his Master's Degree in Social Work.
After graduating from San Francisco State, Danny worked as a Case Manager for developmentally disabled persons. He worked for 3 years with the Oakland Catholic Charities. He lived in Berkeley and Oakland. While he was in the Bay Area, he met and married his wife Livia.
In 1982, Danny and Livia moved to Honolulu where Danny worked for Catholic Charities Hawaii. He began as a counselor but then became a Program Manager for a number of programs run by Catholic Charities. He managed programs in Family Counseling, Adoption, Home for Pregnant Women, Shared Homes for seniors, homeless and people with low incomes and federal grant programs for Junior High and High School kids. Of these programs, Danny worked the longest (26 years) as the Program Director for Adoptions. His programs brought parents and children together. He assisted with local adoptions and adoptions of children in need from foreign countries. Danny and Livia's two children are adopted. Danny retired in 2015.
Danny's philosophy is that you never know who or how you can be of help to others. He specifically recalls a teacher who would give him extra assignments beyond what the rest of the class needed to do. He thought the teacher was punishing him but she was really trying to help him to become a better writer. He is grateful for this. He has given the greater part of himself for 40 years to help people in need. If anyone has made a difference for the betterment of his community and the people around him, it is Danny Morishige.
