Ruby and Paul Mizue have established the Nobuye Horio Culinary Scholarship Endowment at Leeward Community College in honor of Ruby’s aunt. The scholarship, funded with a $100,000 gift, will support culinary students who are graduates of a Hawaiʻi high school.
“As a sansei, or third generation Japanese-American, I have been the privileged recipient of the values and sacrifices of my grandparents, parents and loving aunts and uncles,” said Ruby Mizue. “The Japanese principles of okage sama de (I am what I am because of you), gokuro sama (thank you for your efforts/hard work) and kodomo no tame ni (For the sake of the children), all envelop the spirit of gratitude and love for our past and hope for the future. My elders lived these values, giving me a strong, loving foundation upon which to pursue my education and career goals, raise a family and finally to return that loving support and care in their final years.
“Even as their lives faded, they taught me priceless lessons in patience, flexibility and unconditional trust and love. These gifts are blessings that can never be adequately repaid. Through this scholarship, these values that were so evident in my aunt’s life and passion for culinary excellence, will live on,” said Ruby Mizue.
“We are so thankful to Ruby and Paul Mizue for establishing this generous endowment to provide scholarships for students in our culinary program,” said Leeward CC Chancellor Manny Cabral. “The story of Ruby’s aunt Nobuye Horio is memorable and inspiring. She was a person who loved fine dining, and during her culinary career was the talent in charge of making the famous Tropics Dressing at the Tropics Restaurant. While the restaurant is now closed, the dressing is still available in grocery stores,” he continued. “This scholarship will grow her legacy for generations to come.”
About Nobuye Sato
Nobuye Sato was born in Waipahu in 1923, the second of six children of Japanese immigrants. She attended schools in Waipahu and the Liliha area and graduated from Farrington High School in 1941. Together with her sisters, she helped her parents by working in the Sato family’s saimin stand during and after World War II. The tiny but popular saimin shop stood near the Liliha-Vineyard corner where Liliha Square/Times Supermarket is located today.
From these humble beginnings and with no formal training in food service or cooking, Sato began her lifelong love of food and dining. Her early experiences prepared her well for the hard work and tireless pursuit of excellence in food preparation and presentation. After the family saimin stand closed, she worked in many restaurants, including Woody’s where she met her husband Masami Horio, a bookkeeper at the restaurant. Later she was the head “pantry lady” at the Tropics Restaurant.
Her pantry work took her to several fine-dining establishments, including Michel’s and the Cavalier restaurant. When Cavalier closed in the early 1980’s, she moved to her final job at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown Honolulu.
Throughout her long life of 91 years, Nobuye never lost her taste for fine dining and excellence in food service.
“She was a keen critic of any dish she prepared or was served!” added Ruby Mizue. “Taste, texture, temperature and presentation were all important to her, whether preparing a simple meal for herself, for a house full of guests, or while dining out with family and friends. She would be thrilled to know that the fruits of her many years of dedicated work will help culinary students pursue their own dreams.”