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Crossed over on June 20, 2022 to meet the Lord and Savior Jesus. Born Takeko Moromisato to Okinawan immigrant parents Taketa and Makato (Uchima) Moromisato in Honolulu on April 1, 1929. Takeko was delivered by a midwife. In lieu of a birth certificate, her father filed an affidavit. The adopted American name Kay became Takeko's first name.In Okinawa, the Mo Uchima Clan had renowned musicians. The Hawaii Uchima family kafu (genealogy) is curated and archived at UH. The Moromizato Clan was prominent in martial arts. Taketa was a founding member and Treasurer of HUOA (Hawaii United Okinawa Association), and represented Gushichan district. Kay grew up during the Great Depression in "Hell's Half Acre" on N. Kukui St. She recounted nights awaking hungry and heading to the kitchen with her sister to fill their bellies with cold water so that they could sleep. Her sister recalled rice and mayonnaise dinners.
Makato (ma-kah-TU) converted to Christianity and took her children to the Salvation Army Church.
Makato (Uchima) Moromisato
Kay graduated from Farrington High, and from UH at age 50 with a BA in Psychology. She retired from the DOE in administration at Jarrett Intermediate.
Kay raised orchids, landscaped, built doll houses, created Barbie doll costumes, woodcrafted, fired pottery and Christmas ornaments, embroidered, crocheted. She once sewed a bridal gown overnight for an impromptu wedding. Every elementary school year she sewed aloha shirts with coconut shell buttons for her son. Horses fascinated Kay. She collected horse artwork and a print of Jesus returning astride a white horse as King and Lord.
Kay worked in restaurants from age 15 and made delicious maki sushi rolls with unagi and watercress, pork nishime, sweet sour chicken karaage, carrot cake, mango bread, Jell-O kanten, freshly whipped mashed potatoes with gravy. For HUOA picnics it was batter fried chicken, homemade takuan, potato mac salad with carrots, eggs, peas -- extra mayo.
Kay's 23andme test revealed that her M7b2 maternal DNA is a branch of the M7 Jomon Haplogroup: The indigenous people of Japan and Korea, who migrated from India over 45,000 years ago and inhabited East Asia. Jomon were hunter gatherers, seafaring fishermen, early potters and lacquerware artisans, who spoke the ancient language that linguists call Japonic.
The M7b2 Jomon tribe sailed from Japan 7,000 years ago and settled in the Ryukyus, where 36% of Ryukyuans have Jomon DNA. Moreover, M7a Jomon DNA is indigenous to Korea and M7c Jomon DNA is found in 20% of Filipinos and some Pacific Islanders.
The sole surviving ethnic Jomon tribe are indigenous Ainu of Hokkaido island. Japan annexed Hokkaido in 1869 and instituted forced assimilation. Satsuma japanese conquered the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1609. Japan annexed Okinawa in 1879. In 1900, Okinawans immigrated to Hawaii.
From India, Korea, Japan, Okinawa, Hawaii to Heaven -- GOD works in wondrous and mysterious ways. Hallelujah!
Predeceased by husband Kenji. Survived by sisters; children: Linnell, Sharman, Dorraine, Raplee; grandchildren, nieces, nephews. Visitation 10:15 a.m.; Services from 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.; Saturday, September 17, 2022, at Nuuanu Memorial Chapel of the Flowers.
Arrangements Provided By: Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary LLC
