Wayne Miyahira was a family man, a Russian linguist and a general sales manager. And he was an Okinawan proud of his heritage.

Many called Miyahira, who died Tuesday at 63, "Mr. Uchinanchu Aloha," which means spreading the spirit of Okinawans. His pride in his heritage was his legacy, said his daughter, Lynn Miyahira.

Miyahira devoted much of his life to the Hawai'i United Okinawa Association, serving in a number of capacities, but most notably as the Hawai'i Okinawa Center executive director.

The association's goal is to enhance awareness of the Okinawa culture and heritage in Hawai'i. With 40,000 people from member clubs, the biggest event the association hosts is the two-day Okinawan Festival at Kapi'olani Park.

"Wayne has always been involved in the association," said Jane Serikaku, present executive director of the association. "He was a third-generation sensei and one of those people who promoted the fact that the younger generation needed to acknowledge their history of how they got to Hawai'i from Okinawa."

Miyahira was born in Pu'unene, Maui, and was a graduate of Baldwin High School and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. He served as a Russian linguist with the U.S. Army Security Services in Hokkaido, Japan.

He served with a number of Okinawan clubs, including the Gaza Yonagusuku Doshikai (Gaza Club), the Nishihara Chojin-Kai and as president of the United Okinawan Association. He was chairman of the celebration committee for the 90th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Hawai'i and was the narrator for the Hawai'i Okinawa Today video series.

Lynn Miyahira said he took joy in the successes of people of Okinawan heritage.

"They all moved up and went to college," she said. "The (Okinawa) center was the tangible object he could look at as the symbol of the Okinawans perseverance."

Miyahira is survived by daughters, Ann Yoshida and Lynn Miyahira; two grandchildren; sister, Jean Ige and brother, Harry Miyahira; and nephews and nieces. His wife, Patricia Miyahira, died in 1998.

Services will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday with visitation at the Hawai'i Okinawa Center. A memorial service will follow at 6:30 p.m.

"He lived and breathed being Okinawan. He was dedicated to his heritage," Serikaku said.