Hiroshi Tagami

Hiroshi Tagami
American (b. 1930)

Hiroshi Tagami, born in Hawai’i during the depression years, was one of twelve children. After the death of his father at an early age, Tagami spent a good deal of his youth working on O’ahu plantations to help support his family during those lean times.  As a young adult, Tagami enlisted in the military and served the United States during the Korean conflict. After returning home to Hawai’i, he began and operated a successful photography business for several years.

In 1964 Tagami used his G.I. Bill benefits to enroll at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. He began his professional art career at that time and became a local master of the impressionist style.  He was the founder and operator of the Botanical Gardens and Gallery on O'ahu for several years. His works are in public and private collections worldwide including the permanent collections of the AMFAC Corporation, Bank of Hawai’i, State (Hawai'i) Foundation of Culture and the Arts, and the Walter Cecil Rawis Museum in Hawai’i.