Although Hawaii's Asian American community was a vital part of its economy, they faced wide-spread discrimination, even when purchasing life insurance. Companies either refused to write policies on them or demanded exorbitant premiums, believing that Asians had shorter life spans than Caucasians.

Lawrence "L.T." Kagawa - a young insurance executive - was convinced this wasn't true. He compiled detailed health data that proved it. But the insurance companies wouldn't listen to him.

L.T. travels to San Francisco. Although he does not have an appointment, he waits in the lobby until he's able to meet with A.P. Giannini, founder of Bank of America and Transamerica, the holding company for Occidental Life Insurance Company of California (which was renamed Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company).

He presents his findings and convinces A.P. Giannini who orders Transamerica to change its underwriting practices with regard to issuing life insurance to Asians.

L.T. opens what was to become Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii. The agency goes on to become one of Transamerica's top producers.

Because of the public's fear and uncertainty following the start of WWII, L.T., his family, and 120,000 other Japanese-Americans are required to move into government internment camps. Many lose everything they own.

The Kagawa family returns to Hawaii to restart their business. Fortunately, Transamerica has helped protect the agency assets and licenses in recognition of L.T.'s contributions to the company and the insurance industry.

L.T. convinces Giannini and Transamerica to support him in extending FHA-guaranteed home loans to lower and middle-income Asian Americans in Hawaii... creating new, lasting wealth for thousands of people shut out from owning their own home.

L.T.'s younger brother Yoshinobu becomes the first American employee of Sony. He provides founder Akio Morita with cross-border legal and business advice and assistance in opening the American and eventually European markets to Sony products to overwhelming success.

L.T. and Yoshinobu enter the Japanese insurance market to serve overseas Americans and the expatriate community, securing a license from the Japanese Ministry of Finance to represent and sell Transamerica's policies to Americans and other foreign nationals in Japan.

L.T.'s son Siegfred "Sig" Kagawa becomes President of Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii and dedicates himself to serving humanitarian causes while continuing to grow the flourishing business his father started.

Japan's Emperor Hirohito awards L.T. the distinguished Third Order of the Rising Sun in recognition of his pioneering services to Japanese in America. His younger brother Yoshinobu is later awarded the Second Order of the Rising Sun for helping corporations reach out beyond Japan.

Sig Kagawa is instrumental in securing funding for the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. It is designed to be a dynamic center for national - and global - learning that celebrates the contributions of Japanese Americans in overcoming hardship and opposition to become valued members of American society.

Sig goes on to become the first Asian American chairman of the Bishop Musuem in Hawaii and the first Asian American to serve on the National Board of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1997, he is awarded the Silver Buffalo Award, the Scout's highest and most prestigious volunteer award.

Stephen Kagawa - L.T.'s grandson and Sig's son - founds The Pacific Bridge Companies in Los Angeles. Pacific Bridge soon becomes an innovative and global leader in cross-border financial services, serving high net-worth individuals and Pacific Rim corporations.

Stephen Kagawa continues the family tradition of community service. Both the State of California and the City of Los Angeles honor The Pacific Bridge Companies for exceptional service to the community and outstanding corporate citizenship.

The Pacific Bridge Companies expands to meet its growing network of worldwide clients, alliances, and financial services by opening new subsidiaries and offices in Hawaii, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.

In response to the Lehman Crisis in 2008, Pacific Bridge partners with world class investment managers for underwriting and analysis of investment portfolios.

Business and client advisory in Asia evolve, encouraging new services.

Pacific Bridge Real Estate is launched, giving clients and alliances access to new opportunities in real estate with underwriting, analysis and coordination with real estate advisors.

The Pacific Bridge Companies sets its focus on the United States and the 1st generation communities migrating from Asia, helping with their transition to their new American homes.

New opportunities arise as tax law changes encourage new services for multi-national corporations. Lako e Pono is born.

Corporate & Community Citizenship is one of The Pacific Bridge Companies' (TPBC) guiding principles and we are honored to partner with variety of industry and non-profit organizations around the globe.