A kind man who offered a welcoming face to all who came to Teshima’s…

Ernest Etsumi Teshima died of pneumonia in Kona on Dec. 26, 2020, at the age of 90 years old.

Ernest was born in Kona, Hawaii, May 4, 1930, and grew up as one of five children of the late Mary Shizuko and Fumio Teshima in Kona, the founders of Teshima Restaurant.  When he was in Konawaena High School, a noodle processing machine accident injured his hand and required him to travel to Oahu for medical attention. He completed his studies at McKinley High School while there and joined the Army after high school.

His professional career spanned a wide range of fields and interests. He went to the mainland and worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines in the 1950s and later he was a general office clerk for Los Angeles County in the 1960s. He then returned to Hawaii and became a shoe salesperson at McInerny department store in Oahu in the 1970s and ultimately moved back to Kona in the 1980s to manage Teshima Restaurant operations. Up until he became ill, Ernest participated in the Restaurant and handled its finances, cooked ono shrimp tempura, served on the Board, and regularly purchased the fish and other products enjoyed by Teshima Restaurant goers for many decades.

Ernest was a kind and gentle man who enjoyed sharing a laugh with friends and family.

He is survived by his brothers Haruo, of Kona, and Ted (Nancy), of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and numerous nieces and nephews. 

His hobbies included karaoke and traveling to Las Vegas where he had a second home and a cherished 1991 Nissan Sentra (affectionately known as the Tesh Mobile). Both home and car provided the comforts of home when he made his monthly visits. He and his car were so well known and loved by many of the valet attendants that they parked the car respectfully among the  Ferraris and Lamborghinis.  Ernest loved Vegas and was an uncanny slot machine player who hit many jackpots over the years.                                           

Family was extremely important to him. While in Los Angeles, he hosted relatives at his home every summer and introduced them to amusement parks and Los Angeles Kings hockey. He also welcomed many visitors to his home in Las Vegas.

Donations in memory of Ernest can be made to Daifukuji Soto Mission, your favorite charity, or a slot machine.

Services were held January 11, 2021. In person services were limited due to Covid, but friends and family viewed the service on Zoom. Click here to see a video of the service. Please share memories of Ernest via the form on this page.

If you have any memories of Ernest that you would like to share, please submit them here:

Additionally, if you have any pictures of Ernest that you would like to share, please email them to Jill Perry, jill@teshima.net. Thank you.