The settlement ends several years of bitter struggle within the largest cultural organization for Okinawans outside of Okinawa.
Group president Randall Kuba today said he hopes this settlement "ends it. The matter is dead; it's now time to move on."
Michael Abe, the group's past president, in December filed a Circuit Court suit against Wilfred Hokama, another former past president, to recover association funds and assess punitive damages.
Abe, president from April 1 to Dec. 31, 1995, said the lawsuit "upset a lot of people" who felt the matter should have been handled internally. But Abe defended his actions, saying it was sanctioned by the association board of directors and "was the best thing we did since he (Hokama) subsequently left the state."
The lawsuit also was prompted by Hokama's refusal to produce financial documents, Abe said.
Hokama had been president from April 1, 1994, to March 31, 1995. Shortly after becoming president, he opened an account at Central Pacific Bank's Makiki Branch on May 25, 1994. Abe alleged that Hokama then deposited $48,000 of the association's money and wrote checks on it to his personal account.
The discrepancy was not discovered until Hokama left office.
Under the terms of the settlement announced by Kuba, Hokama - who has since paid back $45,852 - is prohibited from saying he was president of the group.
Hokama's name as president also will be stripped from the association's rolls.
Although Hokama had apologized and returned $45,852, some members wanted more information.
Hokama was not immediately available for comment on the settlement.
Kuba said the settlement reflects the decision of the association's 51 board members who represent the 53 groups which make up the association.
Despite this problem and another concerning a dispute with an Okinawan dance club, Kuba said "morale is very high."
"We've just completed one of the best festivals we've ever had . . . . We're mainly a cultural organization not a political organization . . . and that's been the cause of some our problems because a few want to use the association for their own political gains."
"This has been a long and trying process for the organization . . . ," Kuba said in today's letter.
He said the group consulted "with the elders who built this organization," club presidents, people with contrary points of view, and lawyers before presenting the settlement.