Uehara family photographs

Haya Uehara is the donor's father and the son of Tasaburo and Sato Uehara from Kamamoto, Japan. His father Tasaburo arrived in 1906 to Little Tokyo in Santa Barbara, with Sato arriving in 1912. Both Sato and Tasaburo lived and worked on a farm in Montecito during the 1910s. Haya was born in Santa Barbara and sent to Japan for his education for seven years, during which his parents had two more sons, Yoshohiro (1920) and Toshiro (1924). during his seven years in Japan, he was cared for by his two grandmothers while his parents worked in Santa Barbara. The family would return to Kamamoto in the 1930s for the younger sons to begin their schooling. At 14 years old, Haya completed his schooling in Kamamoto and was brought back to Santa Barbara by his father to work. Tasaburo encountered health issues which led to him returning to Japan. Due to the Japanese Exclusion Act, Tasaburo was not able to return to the United States, leaving Haya alone. Haya worked garden jobs to support himself and briefly attended Santa Barbara High School. Haya also played basketball with the Santa Barbara Buddhist Temple's team, and eventually worked as a produce clerk at Hoover market.

Chiyoko 'Grace" Haruki is the donor's mother and arrived with her mother and siblings in Santa Barbara after her father Shinjiro Haruki's sudden death in a farming accident. Shinjiro left behind his wife, Mitsu Haruki and their six children, the youngest, Rose, being one year old. Chiyoko's older siblings found work in Santa Barbara while Chiyoko attended Santa Barbara High School. Mitsu passed away in 1938 in Santa Bbarbara. Chiyoko continued to care for and support Rose up until Rose's marriage.

Haya and Chiyoko were introduced by Chiyoko'brother, Miki Haruki, who worked with Haya (likely at Hoover Market). Chiyoko and Haya married on October 16, 1938 at the Santa Barbara Buddhist Temple. Their oldest son Roger was born on October 11, 1940 at Cottage Hospital.

The Uehara family was incarcerated at Gila River during World War II.