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ix Foreword My husband Galen and I were taking a break from picking opihi along the rocky shoreline of Moloa‘a on Kaua‘i when we received a call from Galen’s uncle, Edward Nakamura, one September afternoon in 1997. He was at The Queen’s Hospital after experiencing chest pains and would be undergoing heart surgery. “I’ve lived a full life, with no regrets,” he said. “Every day (since my first heart attack) has been a bonus.” We flew to Honolulu expecting to see him following his operation, but we helped plan his funeral service instead. For those of us who were related to him or worked with him, Ed Nakamura was an extraordinary force. He held high ethical standards , led by example, and was not afraid to challenge the status quo. He was humble and disciplined. His life’s purpose was to lift up the common person. He encouraged many of us, a generation removed, to believe in ourselves and in the democratic process and to never abandon the quest for justice. The lesson was always about making commitments, sticking to principles, and never giving up. Five years ago in Honolulu, I spoke with a group of attorneys, union leaders, and family members to gauge their interest in producing a book about Uncle Ed. Why a book about Ed Nakamura? Because, we determined, there are few such role models today, and because his life reminds us that we can make the world around us better. Everyone who answered my invitation—Lowell Chun-Hoon, Leonard Hoshijo, Guy Fujimura, James Kawashima, Kent Nakamura, Martha Nakamura, Fritz Rohlfing, Scott Saiki, Rae Shiraki, and Michael Tanoue—expressed a strong interest in moving the project forward. They reviewed book formats, developed a detailed outline, listed key resources, raised funds, and arranged interviews. We agreed that a book on Ed required a keen understanding of Hawai‘i, so we determinedly sought out Tom Coffman to serve as its writer. Ed was not one to talk about himself, and he left virtually no paper trail, but Tom’s curious nature and relentless interviewing yielded many a surprise, even for those of us who knew Ed well. As we hoped, he created a highly readable narrative of history, government, and x Foreword politics in Hawai‘i while capturing the essence of the Ed Nakamura we knew and admired. As the work unfolded, members of our group ably reviewed drafts and submitted editing notes. A young attorney from Maui, Ben Lowenthal, who never met Ed Nakamura, joined our group and contributed the analysis of Ed’s Supreme Court opinions found at the end of the book. Other key collaborators included Professor Tom Dinell, the Honorable Daniel R. Foley, Professor Eric Yamamoto, Pat McManamon , Craig Howes, James Williston, and Peter Nakamura. The Hawai‘i Immigrant Justice Center and the Hawai‘i Labor Heritage Council served as nonprofit sponsors, and many individuals and organizations contributed financially. A warm thanks to all. On a personal note, my thanks go to Galen for the time and space to work on this project. He and I hope that our children Casey, Reis, and their cousins Theresa and Christopher will be among those who read this book and appreciate the impact of a single, focused person who happened to be their grand uncle. We hope Ed Nakamura’s story will inspire them and many others to work for social justice in Hawai‘i. Nadine K. Nakamura Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i ...

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