“Devastating Hitter” Hideo Akiyama
Eleele, on the island of Kauai, was a tiny town. It is on the southern side of the island, where the Ko’ula River empties into the Pacific. But it was home to Hideo Antone Akiyama, born July 2, 1912 (although he is listed on some forms in his file as having been born in 1922). He grew up there with his father, Fumichici, his brother, Hisoto, and his sister, Betsy.
Before high school, Hideo began working for the Territorial Highway Department; by 1943, he was making thirty dollars per week...