After graduating from Leilehua High School in 1934, he joined and expanded his father's trucking business.
[1] Higa also opened the first Pepsi-cola bottling plant in Japan, and is credited with introducing it to the nation.
[2] His son Ernest and his daughter Merle Aiko followed him in business, opening up their own franchises in Japan.
[3] Higa was also an athlete who played baseball and ran track and field.
[1] He brought two Major League Baseball teams to Hawaii and Japan to play.