Column: Local Grads Make the World A Better Place Episode 8; Meet Steve Hinatsu
Steve and Shelley Hinatsu have given much to The Dalles. The Wahtonka Grads are happy to call TD home.
Editor’s Note - This is the eighth part in a multi-part series of columns looking at students who were educated within The Dalles School system and who have gone on to make major contributions to our community by bringing their skills and experience to make a positive impact for all of us. A huge thanks goes to Nancy Turner and Patty Rolen.
By Nancy Turner and Patty Rolen
Nancy Turner
When I attended Oregon State University, in Corvallis, during the late ‘60s, a few of my friends’ last names were Hasagawa, Nishamura, and Morioka.
They never once mentioned their family history or how they fared during World War II, and it didn’t occur to me to ask. I knew Patsy Morioka’s father owned Harry’s Radio and TV repair business in The Dalles, but nothing more.
I wondered what brought her family to settle in The Dalles. It was never talked about. It’s as if that era of history never happened.
Patty Rohan
In 1994 David Guterson’s book, Snow Falling on Cedars, became a national hit. It won awards and was eventually made into a movie. In the flurry of its popularity, I read it. I was enchanted by the flawless writing about love and loss as they relate to interracial relationships and injustice. He shows that even with grave betrayal, the loss itself may become a kind of kinship.
This fictional story, based on eight years of research, shows the Japanese Americans let go of the bitterness and resentment they might have had. A few years ago I visited Manzanar, an internment camp in California. I was struck by the austerity and isolation families were forced to endure. They proved to be resourceful and resilient and went on living full, meaningful lives.
Steve Hinatsu is of Japanese-American descent. This isn’t a big part of his identity, but it is part of his history. His father, Vic Hinatsu, originally came to The Dalles as a young man.
He would have liked to join the Elks, but at the time, there was a law against it.
The family was sent to an internment camp during WW II. Two-thirds of all relocated Japanese Americans were American citizens by birth. Steve recalls his Dad saying that in spite of the circumstances, his childhood was a positive experience. The kids formed strong bonds with each other. They all lived in close quarters and were struggling with the same situation, much like the fictional characters in David Guterson’s book.
When the war ended, Vic and Jane Hinatsu’s family settled in The Dalles. Vic ran Harry’s Radio and TV Repair on 9th Street, next to the Sugar Bowl, along with Harry Morioka. In fact, both of Steve’s parents worked there.
Steve Hinatsu, a Wahtonka High School Grad of ‘72.
The topic of racial prejudice is rarely brought up in our usual social conversations. So I asked. Steve said that in The Dalles school, some kids acted prejudicial toward him.
When Patty and I interviewed him, he passed over those memories with a shrug of his shoulder. He hadn’t taken the kid’s negative treatment as a personal rejection. As a wise teenager, he offered the laurel branch of peace. Instead of anger, he offered friendship.
That made all the difference.
Some of the worst offenders became close friends.
In 1972, Steve graduated from Wahtonka High School.
As a youngster, Steve loved playing basketball, but he knew growing tall wasn’t in his genetic makeup. So he turned to other sports. He played football and competed in wrestling. He earned a scholarship in wrestling to attend the Oregon Institute of Technology.
After one year, he transferred to Mt Hood Community College, where he wrestled for a year. At that point, he was offered work as a draftsman at RR Drafting. He was eager to make money for a change, so left school. After three years as a draftsman, he was promoted to a field crew. With this new position, he traveled around the Northwest to inventory the power company’s equipment.
Steve Hinatsu was a wrestling referee for 8 years in The Dalles.
From there he went to work for Tenneson Engineering, as a draftsman. Their offices used to be in the building where the CCCNews is now located next to St. Peter’s Landmark.
For Tenneson, Steve worked on projects like the boat basin parking area, designing it to create as many parking spots as possible. It wasn’t easy, given the restrictions of the small area. In those days, he did hand drafting. There were no computers. It wasn’t until the 1990s when they got their first computers, that work became a whole lot easier.
During his 45 years at Tenneson, he watched the growth of The Dalles through good times and slow times. He saw subdivisions built, Port development, Google established, the construction of the Riverfront Trail, and the local economy supplemented by jobs building wind farms. Over the years, these developments show our citizens are resilient and open to change.
Steve’s wife, Shelley, also graduated from Wahtonka High School. While their three kids were in school in The Dalles, Steve coached football and Little League Baseball, and helped out at track meets.
For eight years he was a wrestling referee and later, a coach. Since he wasn’t a teacher, it was hard to find students to recruit. His friend, Kevin Kramer, a teacher and coach, helped find kids to play sports. Steve joined what they called, “the Chain Gang,” a volunteer position with football that enabled him to get the best seats in the house at football games.
These days, two of his six grandkids live in The Dalles. The oldest just started kindergarten here. Steve is now retired. He stays active playing pickleball, tennis, and golf.
What persuaded Steve and Shelley to settle in The Dalles?
What keeps them here after retirement?
It’s the people.
He likes the friendliness of a small town. The Dalles is a town that has shown that providing a good school environment helps raise educated, caring, responsible adults. For thirty years Steve was a coach, referee, and volunteer in other sports besides football.
He is another example of someone who contributed mightily to the well-being of all our children. We’re glad he came back for good.
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