Hari Kojima

Hari Kojima, the longtime host of "Let's Go Fishing" and "Hari's Kitchen" died today at his Kaneohe home surrounded by family. He had been diagnosed with cancer a month ago.

Kojima was a staple of Hawaii television with a style that was uniquely Hari. He was the local boy generations of Hawaii residents grew up with.

As co-host of "Let's Go Fishing," Hari Kojima found his stride as locally produced television took a foothold in the islands.

"We were the right team at the right place at the right time," said Stan Wright, "Let's Go Fishing" co-host.

Kojima and Stan Wright were the odd couple that clicked.

"There were people who criticized us, they said they couldn't understand my southern accent and said Hari was talking too much pidgin," said Wright. The critical reviews did not stick. Hari became a local legend. "Boy he got in front of that TV camera and it was just magic,"

Kojima was a fish cutter at Tamashiro Market when original host Bruce Carter invited him on "Let's Go Fishing" to showcase his abilities. His skill with a knife and power of gab soon made him a fixture on the Sunday show.

"And he became very popular and being Hari he enjoyed that," said Paul Kojima, Hari Kojima's brother. The laughs and good times would continue for 29 years - along the way Kojima shared thousands of recipes. "It evolved into Bruce Carter asking Hari, 'well what can we do with this fish? How do you prepare it? How do you cook it?'"

"And the best recipes were the ones he got from his mom," said Wright.

All those recipes eventually led to "Hari's Kitchen," another locally produced show with a ten year run.

"Hari's position in the history of TV, local TV are really unique; the things that make singularly Hawaii, recreation, culinary highlights, Hari was there to bring all that to our homes on a Sunday," said Ben Wong, "Let's Go Fishing" host.

A slice of local TV history that will not be forgotten.

Hari Kojima was 65. He leaves behind a wife, four daughters, and seven grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.