Okinawa

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Year Started: Goeku Sonjinkai 1927, with 14 member families.
Organizers: Seiyei Inamine, Kamasuke Nakasone, Shuki Asato, Seizen Higa, Kamakame Shimabuku, Jitsumo Teruya.
Original officers: Seiyei Inamine, president; Shuki Asato, vice president; Seizen Higa, secretary; Kamasuke Nakasone, treasurer.
Past presidents: Seiyei Inamine, Shuki Asato, Kamasuke Nakasone, Kamakame Shimabuku, Shigeru Higa, Kokusei Kochi, Kamazen Shimabuku, Koichi Uesato, Seiho Yagi, Henry Kuwaye, Edwin Kamida, George Shimabuku, Yoshiyuki Kuba, Yoshio Kuba, Seisho Nakasone, Seizun Yagi, Seiki Kamimura.
Notes: Notes by Shigeru Higa: (1) In the early years of the Goeku Sonjinkai, meetings were held at the home of Kamasuku Nakasone in Moiliili. Although some members were from Waipahu, Wahiawa and Ewa, the majority were farmers and independent businessmen living in Honolulu. Nakasone, for example, owned a produce store located in he River Street area. The club held its New Year's parties at the Nakasone home because it had a lawn large enough to accommodate everyone and being owner of a produce store, he had access to vegetable crates, which were converted into outdoor tables for the parties. Kamasuke Nakasone is the father of Seisho Nakasone, instructor of Ryukyu koten, Okinawan classical samisen music, and president of the Nomura ryu ongaku kyokai Hawaii (Nomura School of Music, Hawaii Branch). (2) Sometime between 1950 and 1953, when Kamazen Shimabuku was president, the Goeku Sonjinkai honored the founders of the club by presenting them with koa sakazuki (sake cups). In earlier year, silver sakazuki were presented to members who had contributed most to the club.
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