Masato Nakama

Masato “Nick” Nakama, while hospitalized in Moreno Valley, California, passed away at the age of 79 on February 3, 2017. He is survived by his sisters Emiko Nakama and Ayano “Lillian” Nakama, various nieces and nephews, and their respective offspring. He was preceded in death by his parents, Yasube and Goze, brothers Sunao, Mitatsu, and Ansaburo, and sister Shizue.
Masato Nakama was born December 9, 1937, in Pu’unene, Maui, Hawaii, to Yasube Nakama and Goze Ajifu. Both parents had emigrated from Okinawa, Japan, to work in the sugar cane plantations of the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company. Masato, the youngest of seven children, grew up in the McGerrow Camp on Pu’unene, graduated from Baldwin High School, then went on to the University of Hawaii, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1959. He enlisted in the United States Navy on October 16, 1959, and served for a two-year tour aboard the attack transport USS Paul Revere. When his active service ended on October 13, 1961, Masato remained in the USN reserves for four additional years and was honorably discharged on October 15, 1965. Thereafter, he worked as an accountant for the U.S. military at both the Kwajalein and Johnston atolls, eventually returning to Hawaii for a while, where he worked for Longs Drugs in Oahu. Masato spent his latter years on the mainland, where he entered into retirement from the Los Angeles Police Department. His hobbies included tennis, reading, listening to music, and following the Los Angeles Lakers.
Although Masato Nakama was a very private person, he was well-loved by those who knew him well. He will be sorely missed. Aloha ‘oe, a hui hou.