Janet Satomi Ishikawa-Fullmer

Janet Satomi Ishikawa-Fullmer, Ph.D. passed away on December 3, 2020 at the age of 95. She was born

on October 17, 1925, to Shinichi and Onao (Kurisu) Saito, in Umauma, Hawaii.

Following her studies at Hilo High School and the University of Hawaii, she entered the teaching

profession, rapidly advancing to chair the Math Department at Kapiolani Community College. A lifelong

learner, she was inspired by the likes of psychologist Carl Rogers and anthropologist Margaret Mead to

continue her studies. While working full time and raising a family, she continued graduate studies at the

UH, receiving two Masters degrees and a Ph.D. degree.

In addition to teaching, she became a Counselor, Director of Counseling, and Dean of Students, in turn,

at Kapiolani and Honolulu Community Colleges. She also entered private practice as a psychologist with

her husband, Dr. Dan Fullmer. She often said that she loved helping people get better – helping them

achieve their “untapped potential,” in the words of Mead.

Known for her beautiful roses and pikake leis, which she gifted from her garden, her career is exemplified

by leadership and service. In addition to driving a thriving private psychology practice and serving in the

Community College System, she gave back to her community in many ways. She cofounded, with Dan

Fullmer, the Waianae Child and Family Center and the Kilohana UMC Family Center, providing weekly

pro-bono counseling services for many years. She took on leadership roles in many organizations, such

as, the Honolulu Board of Psychology, Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Women Educators,

Pi Lambda Theta Education Honor Society, and Pacific Buddhist Academy.

In her mid-50s, she took up distance running. She applied her appreciation of hard work, consistency of

effort, and healthy habits there too. She would wake before 5:00 am every morning to train before going

to work, much as she had done when she woke early for her graduate studies before work, earlier in life.

She became a top runner in her age group, completing eight Honolulu Marathons, as well as numerous

other races, before retiring from running when she was 70.

She continued helping patients in her private practice, after retiring from the Community College System,

well into her 80s. She stopped only when she moved to the Mainland to be with family. There, she

continued to share her gifts for ten more years.

Dr. Ishikawa-Fullmer is survived by sons John, James, and Mark; daughters-in-law Annemarie and

Barbara; and grandchildren David, John, Daniel, and Andrew. She was preceded in death by husbands

Daniel and Calvin; and daughter-in-law Stephanie.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, 10:30am at Kilohana United

Methodist Church, 5829 Mahimahi St 2120, Honolulu, HI 96821.

In lieu of flowers, we welcome donations to Kilohana UMC https://kilohanaumc.org/donate/, Pacific Buddhist Academy https://pacificbuddhistacademy.org/giving/annual-fund, or your own

favorite cause.