A U.S. Army veteran and longtime commercial artist for movie studios and other companies including Mattel—passed away on December 24, 2013, at age 86 in Poway, Calif. He is predeceased by his son Wade Hokoda and survived by his wife, Mary Hokoda of San Diego; children Mark Hokoda of New York and Audrey (Christopher) Marx of San Diego; grandchildren Laura and Kevin Marx of San Diego; sister Teruko Tamaru; sisters-in-law Margaret Hokoda and Yoshie Sakamoto; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

A private funeral service was held on January 18, 2014, at Senshin Buddhist Temple.