Dr. Ruth Eiko Oda

Background:

     In November 2021, there was a post on Facebook about the Dr. Ruth Oda Playground in Hilo.  Many people were asking who Dr. Ruth Oda was since they were new to the island or were too young to know who Dr. Oda was.  I did a search on the internet to find articles about Dr. Oda, and only her obituary showed up.  I realized that this was because Dr. Oda retired in 1998 when the internet was not as popular as it is today.  I was very saddened to realize this because Dr. Oda was such a beloved and memorable physician.  The originator of the Facebook post, Darryl Lynn, felt strongly that Dr. Ruth Oda should be memorialized in some way, either through a plaque, book, or piece of artwork.  Darryl’s unflagging energy and strong conviction inspired me to create this website to honor and memorialize Dr. Ruth Oda so that hopefully when people do an internet search on her, they will be able to learn about her and all of her accomplishments.
Biography
     Ruth Eiko Oda was born in Hilo, Hawai’i on July 4, 1928.  Her parents were Masaru “Thomas” Oda and Masako (Kanakuri).  Ruth had an older sister, Dora (Ishikawa).
     Ruth Oda attended Hilo Union School, Hilo Intermediate School, and Hilo High School.  She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.  She also attended the Washington University medical school.  Ruth Oda interned for one year in New Haven, Connecticut.  She completed her two-year residency at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
     In 1956, Dr. Ruth Oda returned to Hilo to practice at 198 Ponahawai Street in Hilo, Hawai’i.
     Dr. Oda practiced at the same location for 42 years.  She was beloved by everyone and was always jovial and fun.  Dr. Ruth Oda loved to sing in the office which put her patients (children) at ease.  When I was her patient, Dr. Oda, with her glasses, hair tinged with gray flecks, and white coat over an aloha shirt and pants with her stethoscope hanging around her neck, made a comforting sight.
     For 17 years, Dr. Oda had a white poodle, Winkle, who followed her around as she walked from room to room.
     Dr. Oda’s sister, Dora, was her office manager.
     Dr. Oda had some funny sayings like, “No need to use a ten-ton truck for a jeep job,” when referring to whether to use antibiotics or not.  She also had a good sense of humor.  Once when my mom was concerned because I slept with my head under the blanket, Dr. Oda said, “Don’t worry, she’s a mole.”
     On March 16, 1991, Dr. Oda was the grand marshal of the Seventh Annual Hilo Girl Scout Parade with its theme “In Step with the Future” showing girls what career options are open to women in the 1990s.
     Dr. Oda was named Distinguished Physician of the Year by the Hawai’i County Medical Society on December 27, 1991.
     She was named the recipient of the 1996 Kulia i ka Nu’u (Strive for the Summit) award by the Public Schools of Hawai’i Foundation on May 14, 1996.

     Dr. Oda received the Jonas Salk Memorial Award from the March of Dimes from Dr. Jonas Salk’s son, Dr. Jonathan Daniel Salk, on March 2, 1998.  

     On July 11, 1998, hundreds of people attended a testimonial dinner in honor of Dr. Ruth Oda who planned to retire in August.
     Dr. Oda retired on August 31, 1998 due to her battle with ovarian cancer.
     On March 14, 1999, the East Hawai’i Independent Physician’s Association (of which Dr. Oda was a member for many years) donated a Wallaby Phototherapy System for the treatment of jaundice in newborns to the Hilo Medical Center in honor of Dr. Ruth Oda.
     Dr. Ruth Oda passed away on November 2, 2001, succumbing to her battle with ovarian cancer.
     In 2002, Dr. Ruth Oda was among the honorees in the book, “Living Legacy:  Outstanding Japanese Women of the 20th Century in Hawai’i” by Scott C. S. Stone, published by The Japanese Women’s Society Foundation of Honolulu.
     In June 2007, a complex of multi-colored slides, climbing structures, and swings at Lincoln Park in Hilo, Hawai’i, was named the “Dr. Ruth E. Oda Playground.”  The address of the Dr. Ruth E. Oda Playground is:  365 Kinoole Street, Hilo, Hawai’i  96720.