Clarence Mitsuo Hara passed away peacefully at home with his family beside him to be with our Lord on January 30,2021. He was born on March 28,1924 at Kauikeolani Children's Hospital in Honolulu. He was the firstborn of four children - two brothers (Clifford and Ernest) and a sister (Frances), born to James and Edith Hara.

Clarence attended the original Iolani School campus on Nuuanu Avenue and Judd Street from the 5th grade through High School. On December 7,1941, as a senior high school student at Iolani, the school shutdown the 11th - 12th grades so that older students could participate in the war effort. He worked for the U.S Engineering Department, building large emergency warehouses to store military supplies from 7:00AM to 4:00PM and volunteered as an ambulance driver from 6:00PM to 6:00AM
at Kahumanu Intermediate School's Basketball Gym which had been converted into a First Aid Station. In September 1942, Clarence was accepted as a Freshman at the University of Hawaii after completing only one semester of High School. In October 1942, he fell out of a mango tree and broke his back and because of this - he was unable to volunteer for military service with his classmates, many of whom formed the 442nd Infantry Regiment which suffered "heavy" casualties. Two and a half years later he signed up with his brother Clifford for active duty. After 4 months of basic training at Camp Walters in Mineral Wells, Texas - he was assigned to the European campaign with the 102nd Ozark Division that was guarding Hitler's Elite "S.S" Storm Troopers in a concentration camp in Flossburg.

Several months later, Clarence left Germany with an honorable discharge and returned home to "paradise".  He worked the night shift from 2:30PM - 11:00PM as a postal clerk at the main US Post Office in Honolulu while he was enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Hawaii. After graduating from UH he was hired as an investigator with the Hawaii Housing Authority and also
worked evenings teaching High School English at Farrington High School's Adult Education Program. This is where he met the future "Mrs. H", Alice, who was also teaching English there.

After 18 months of steady dating, Alice and Clarence eloped to Los Angeles, California and were married on March 14,1954. They only knew a distant Uncle and Aunty in Los Angeles so their first priority was finding employment since they arrived with very little cash. After his first interview, Clarence was hired by the California State Employment office to interview applicants for employment and a few months later he was hired as the Assistant Manager at the Aliso Gardena low-income housing
project. After 15 months they purchased their first home, bought their first German Shepard, and became very involved making friends in obedience dog training and Clarence even became an AKC Dog Show Judge. In later years, they became fixtures at Hollywood Park Horse Racing Track and made frequent trips back to Hawaii and to Las Vegas.

In 1957, Clarence and Alice incorporated Mr. Hawaii, a Hawaiian sportswear company, they worked tirelessly to establish their "Go Barefoot" label using two footprints with six toes as their logo.

They eventually sold the footprint to Hang Ten. Clarence, Alice and their son Craig worked together in the family business for over 30 years until Alice's passing. Father and Son continued working side by side for the next 6 years until the pandemic forced Clarence to stay home while Craig continued to run the family business. Mr. Hawaii was a member of the MAGIC organization
(Men's Apparel Guild in California) where Clarence served on the Board of Directors for over 25 years and was it's acting President in 1988.

He was an amazingly attentive Father to his only child and throughout Craig's life was his Teacher, Mentor, Boss, Business Partner, Best Friend, Biggest Fan and constant companion. He loved and appreciated his daughter-in-law Tina and he was a very caring and sacrificing Grandpa.

He loved and cherished his granddaughters, Cameryn and Courtney.

Clarence was extremely welcoming to ALL "new" friends and was generous beyond words. He always put others first and opened our family up to several acquaintances who soon became part of our Ohana. He will always be an example of "Aloha Spirit" as he was always available to help others.

He leaves behind his loving family, son Craig, Daughter-in-law Tina and granddaughters Cameryn and Courtney.

He was also survived by his younger sister Frances (2022), younger brother Ernest (2023),  cousin Mae Kimura and many nieces and nephews and several others who loved him as Uncle Clarence.

Please join us in celebrating Uncle Clarence's life and what would have been his 100th birthday followed by lunch on Saturday, April 13th, 10:30am at the Gardena Baptist Church, 1630 West 158th Street, Gardena.  Kindly RSVP by April 2nd to 310-324-1197.  Aloha attire.