Our classmate, Karen Nogawa Okada, is a very successful business woman who currently owns and runs three Texaco stations; her original station is located in Waipahu (Farrington Highway, next to Waipahu Intermediate), another is in McCully (@ King and Pi‘ikoi) and and the third is in Kaimuki (@ Harding and 11th Avenue). Over the past 40 years, Karen has built up this system of stations with grit, determination, and business acumen.
Karen has been generous in sharing the results of her hard work. She has always provided gifts and donations for our class reunions and golf tournaments, and has never turned down a request for donations or money. Recently, in response to the KHS Class of ’69’s 50 for 50 campaign to raise $50,000 for the school, Karen has responded very generously. She has played a significant part in the success of the campaign so far.
Karen loves to golf. One of her golf highlights was being able to go to Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia and “experience” the Masters Golf tournament in person. She vividly remembers seeing Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player playing together in the same threesome!
Karen has three children and one grandchild. When she is not working or playing golf, she is playing with Chloe, her granddaughter, now 11.
On behalf of the Class of ’69 and the community at large – thanks, Karen!
