Howard or "Junior" as he liked to be called, is of Japanese and Hawaiian descent. His Japanese grandparents are from the southern part of Japan. His mother's family settled in Kona, on the Big Island, lived there until all 13 children graduated from high school, then they all moved to Waianae. His paternal grandfather settled in Waialua, Hawaii where he married Junior's paternal grandmother, who is of Hawaiian descent.

Junior's love of all things Okinawan comes from his wife, Leanne and their two children, Travis and Tori, and their involvement with the Okinawan community. The Okinawan influence comes from Leanne's mother's family. Her maternal grandparents were originally from Shuri and settled on Molokai in the early 1900's. They later moved to Oahu where Leanne's issei grandmother worked in the sugar cane fields and her grandfather was a mechanic by trade. Together, they raised nine children.

Junior is a member of the Itoman Shijin Kai. Although he and his wife's family are not from Itoman, when one of their friends asked tthem to be a part of the club, they readily agreed. Junior has been active with the Ryukyu Kobudo Taiko as a "taiko parent" and over the last six years, as the Assistant Director for Sensei Calvin Nakama. Utilizing his many skills, he has also been a most valuable volunteer as our lighting technician and backstage coordinator at many cultural performances at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. Junior also co-chaired with Calvin Nakama, the HUOA sponsored Weinberg Village Waimanalo Summer Picnic, our very successful community service project.

Junior is currently a manager at the American Tire Company. Most important to him is that he is always there for his children's activities, whether it be Okinawan dancing, eisa club, taiko or sanshin. Watching his children embrace their Okinawan heritage, boosts Junior's love of the Uchinanchu spirit and motivates him to assist wherever help is needed.