Yoshiko Uechi Obituary

YOSHIKO GUSHI UECHI Age 96, passed away in Pearl City on November 30, 2022, under home hospice care. She was born on March 15, 1926, on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa. Her family moved back to Oroku, Okinawa, when she was seven to begin her formal schooling. After a few years she was sent to Osaka, Japan, to live with her older school teacher sister and returned to Okinawa in her late teens. Before the Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945, she was employed in the household of Police Chief, Taizo Arai, because of her Japanese language proficiency. As the war progressed, she assisted the Police Chief and Governor, Akira Shimada, in their efforts to save as many Okinawan civilians as possible. After the war she met and married Hawaii Nisei Douglas Uechi and emigrated to Hawaii. She was torn about telling the story of the efforts to save Okinawans because the Japanese could construe it as a betrayal or traitorous act. However, in the 1990's when historians began interviewing her, she decided it was time to tell her story. Her first person account of the war helped to uncover previously unknown information regarding these men. This is her legacy as well as the horrors of war and how we should avoid it at all cost. As she always reminded us, life is precious. She is survived by daughters Patricia Davison and Sandra Glynn (Robert), five grandchildren, two great-grand- children and sister Yoshiko Tokeshi of Okinawa. Predeceased by husband Douglas and son Kirk. Funeral services will be held at Jikoen Hongwanji Mission on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Visitation at 4 pm, Service at 5 pm. Please wear a mask. Arrangements Provided By: Hosoi Garden Mortuary