An endearing testament to Shuichi "Shu" Miyasaki's distinguished career in law is his four children all became attorneys.

"My dad never suggested to any of us that we become attorneys," Joy Miyasaki said. "I think it was what he saw everyday, a very enthusiastic person who enjoyed what he was doing."

Shu Miyasaki of St. Louis Heights died July 5 at Kuakini Medical Center of complications from viral pneumonia, a month before his 80th birthday.

Joy, Miles and Ann Miyasaki are attorneys in the Honolulu firm founded by their father in 1991 while their sister Jan Miyasaki teaches Asian-American studies at the University of Wisconsin and applies her law degree in social service work.

"He inspired us to be lawyers just by watching him," Miles Miyasaki said.

Shu Miyasaki, a Big Island native of Pa'auilo and the youngest of nine children born to Torakichi and Teyo Miyasaki, proprietors of T. Miyasaki Store, earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawai'i. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he decided to pursue a career in law and attended University of Minnesota law school.

He received a Master of Laws in 1959, from Georgetown University law school, where he attained the highest class standing in the estate planning and taxation curriculum. He later specialized in those areas of law.

Miyasaki returned to Hawai'i in 1959.

Among his early career highlights was a challenge by he and Roy Nakamura of the state commission's handling of their clients' natural disaster claims resulting from a volcanic eruption and tsunami (then called tidal wave) on the Big Island in 1960. The Hawai'i Supreme Court ruled in their favor in 1973.

Miyasaki also worked as a State Senate attorney and assisted then chief counsel Sam King on the comprehensive state reorganization bill creating the state government in conformance with the new state constitution. During the 1967-1970 sessions, Miyasaki was chief counsel for the Judiciary Committee.

He retired from government work and started his own practice in 1991.

Miyasaki ran six Honolulu and two Maui Marathons, practiced calligraphy and most recently, had taken up tai chi and 'ukulele playing with the Happy Strummers. He was a past president of Mo'ilii'li Hongwanji Mission and Rotary Club of Waikiki.

In addition to his children, Miyasaki is survived by wife, Pearl; sisters Florence Miyasaki and Fusayo Matsuyama, and two grandchildren.

His funeral is July 27 at 2 p.m. at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Hwy. Visitation is from 1 p.m. Inurnment is 10:30 a.m. July 28 at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl.