HILO — “The Taniguchi family would like share that Barry K. Taniguchi passed away Friday at The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, due to medical complications,” his family said in a statement to the Tribune-Herald.
Taniguchi, a resident of Hilo, was 72.
“The family is extremely grateful to the medical staff at Hilo Medical Center and The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for their assistance and compassion in caring for Barry,” the statement said on Saturday.
Taniguchi was chairman of the board and CEO of KTA Super Stores. He served on numerous business, community and health- and human-services boards and organizations.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra, and his five children: Tracy, Toby, Terri, Amanda and Ryan, and their respective families.
“Barry Taniguchi was a brilliant problem solver and man of action. He was a model businessman and citizen who gave himself fully to the betterment of the Big Island and the State of Hawaii,” U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said in a statement on Sunday. “My thoughts are with the Taniguchi family during this difficult time. We will greatly miss his intellect, his gentleman’s style, and his determination to always do the right thing.”
West Hawaii Today will publish a complete obituary soon about Taniguchi and his importance to the Big Island community.