Brennan “Kai” Kailani Kaneshiro, age 45, passed away at home on Wednesday, November 23, 2016.

He is survived by his partner, Dana Young of Akron, OH; mother, Eloise Cortez Kaneshiro (William Ing) of South Dakota; his father, Lloyd Sunao Kaneshiro of Hilo, Hawai’i; grandmother, Sueko Sumida Kaneshiro of Hilo; Aunts, Frances Cortez Stokes of South Dakota, Anita Cortez (Jonathan Holden) of Kansas, and Suellen Kaneshiro Tanaka (Leonard Tanaka) of Hilo; Uncles, Kenn Kaneshiro of Hilo and Wade Kaneshiro (Nancy) of Hilo; and numerous cousins. He is preceded in death by grandfather and grandmother Frank and Grace Cortez, grandfather Calvin Tadashi Kaneshiro, and uncle, Kelvin Kaneshiro.

His chosen family includes siblings, Saul Flanner and Kathy Walker of Kent, OH; Ross Flanner and Liz Zukowski of Akron, OH; beloved namesake and niece, Kailani Walker of Kent; and many others who called him brother, son, uncle, and friend.

Brennan was born April 24, 1971 at Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He attended public schools in Hilo: Waiakeawaena Elementary School, Ernest B. DeSilva Elementary School, Waiakea Intermediate School, and Waiakea High School. As a child, he exhibited an immense love of reading, treasure hunts, comic books, drawing, and games and puzzles of all kinds.He was a Big Island boy who never lost his love of singing and playing sweet Hawaiian music on his ukulele.

He attended the University of Hawai'i at Hilo while still in high school through the Upward Bound program and afterwards attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, where he worked to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in Ceramics. His appreciation of craft and aesthetics continued well beyond college, and permeated both his working career and his personal life.

He worked tirelessly in the printing industry for over a decade, for a variety of different companies. Most notably, his tenure at Kinko’s (now FedEx Office) and OfficeMax brought him into contact with a large, loving family of coworkers. His quick wit and infectious smile made him a favorite among his colleagues. He took great delight in providing superior products with excellent customer service, and making real connections with his customers, many of whom also became his friends. Post-printing, he pursued a variety of other opportunities, most recently as a sushi chef for Project Sushi in Medina, a job he truly loved.

He was clever and thoughtful, and proudly displayed his enthusiasm for science, the internet, super-heroes, horror films, geocaching, and all manner of dorky pursuits. He was a life-long gamer in many genres, playing video games, board games, card games, and role-playing games with equal relish. He was politically active,and deeply passionate about civil rights and racial justice issues. He was also an accomplished and mischievous teller of well-crafted stories, some of which were actually true.

In 2003, he moved from Manhattan, KS to Akron, OH, to be closer to his chosen family. There, he constantly challenged them to love more, laugh more, take risks, enjoy good food, and undertake new adventures. He valued intelligence, humor, integrity, and creativity in his friends, encouraging and inspiring these traits in those around him. He was generous with his laughter and friendship. He was more reserved with his trust, but for those who had earned it, he would do anything (with the occasional grumble).

Kai risked his heart in December 2011 and asked out the woman who would become the love of his life. They bought a house and made a home for themselves and two cats, Peanut and Charlie. In that home, they entertained their family and friends on numerous occasions, celebrating holidays and birthdays, playing games and telling stories, and preparing amazing meals for all who entered.

Kai’s Ohio family will welcome guests for a visitation to be held on Sunday, December 4, 2016 from 6 to 8pm at Dunn Quigley Funeral Home, 3333 Kent Rd, Stow, OH. A memorial service and reception will be held January 8, 2017, from 3 to 6pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, 228 Gougler Ave, Kent, OH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a cause close to Kai's heart, Standing Rock Tribe - Dakota Access Pipeline Donation Fund.