Ishii, Frank Takeshi

Frank Ishii was born on Hawaii Island and was a U.S. Army veteran of the First World War. Other veterans who were interned include Sanji Abe, Frank Futoshi Arakawa, Sukeichi Koide, Shigeru Ernest Matsusaka, Ichitaro Ozaki, and Ichiro Sato. 

Ishii was a well-known community figure and local sports promoter in Hilo in the period between the world wars. A political insider, who ran election campaigns and supported Nisei candidates, Ishii made his first bid for office in 1938, running as a Republican nominee for county supervisor. He came in second, securing one of three spots in a tight race that saw the ouster of the incumbent. 

At the time of his arrest, Ishii was a member of the Hawaii county board of supervisors.