Wayne Newton, a name famous in Las Vegas and across the world for his singing and performances, was married for several years to a wonderful woman named Elaine Okamura. While Wayne Newton’s career kept him in the spotlight, Elaine Okamura lived a life that was also interesting and full of experiences.
Bio
| Full Name | Elaine Okamura |
| Date of Birth | 1944 |
| Place of Birth | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | 81 (as of 2025) |
| Education | Kaimuki High School, Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Japanese-American |
| Marital Status | Divorced (from Wayne Newton) |
| Spouse | Wayne Newton (m. June 1, 1968 – div. 1985) |
| Children | Erin Newton (adopted daughter, born July 25, 1976) |
| Siblings | Shirley Kajioka (sister) |
| Legacy | Known for her marriage to Wayne Newton and her career as a flight attendant. Maintained a private life post-divorce. |
| Famous For | Being the ex-wife of entertainer Wayne Newton |
| Profession | Former flight attendant |
| Net Worth | Estimated at $500,000 |
Elaine Okamura’s Early Life
Elaine Okamura was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, a beautiful place known for its islands and rich culture. She came from a large family, being the sixth of seven children. Her family had roots in Japan and Hawaii.
Her father had moved to Hawaii from Japan, and her mother was born in Hawaii but spent some of her childhood in Japan.
Growing up in Hawaii likely gave Elaine a unique perspective and appreciation for different cultures. Her knowledge of the Japanese language, which she learned while growing up, became a useful skill later in her life.
A Career in the Skies
Before she met Wayne Newton, Elaine Okamura had an exciting career. She worked as an airline stewardess for Pan American Airlines, also known as Pan Am. This was a very popular and well-known airline at the time.
As a stewardess, Elaine had the chance to travel to many different places, especially across the Pacific Rim. This job required her to be friendly, helpful, and able to communicate with people from various backgrounds.
Her ability to speak Japanese was a great help in her role, allowing her to assist passengers on flights to and from Japan and other parts of Asia. Traveling the world as part of her job must have been a wonderful experience, opening her eyes to many new things and cultures.
How Elaine Met Wayne Newton
Elaine Okamura’s path crossed with Wayne Newton’s in a memorable way, thanks to her job as a Pan Am stewardess. She met Wayne Newton while she was on a flight returning from Vietnam.
At the time, Wayne Newton was also on the flight. He was coming back after visiting and entertaining the troops. This was a time when many entertainers would travel to be with the soldiers serving their country.
Meeting on an airplane after such different experiences – Elaine working and traveling, and Wayne entertaining the troops – is quite a story. They connected and began a relationship. They dated for about two and a half years before deciding to get married.
Life as Mrs. Wayne Newton
Elaine Okamura married Wayne Newton in 1968. Their wedding was a special event. After they got married, Elaine and Wayne made their home in the Las Vegas area. Las Vegas was, and still is, a major center for entertainment, and Wayne Newton became one of its biggest stars.
Living in Las Vegas in the 1980s meant being part of a lively and constantly changing city. Elaine experienced life connected to the entertainment world, attending events and being part of the scene around Wayne’s successful career.
Their home in the Las Vegas area was a ranch. Ranches are often large properties, and living on one must have offered a different kind of lifestyle compared to the busy energy of the Las Vegas Strip. Elaine also had the opportunity to attend important national events.
She attended the inaugurations of three United States presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. Attending such events shows that they were connected to significant aspects of American life beyond the entertainment world.
During their marriage, Elaine and Wayne welcomed a daughter, Erin Newton. Having a child is a major and joyful part of life, and Erin became an important part of their family.
A Look at Las Vegas in the 1980s
Elaine Okamura lived in Las Vegas during a time when the city was really growing and changing. In the 1980s, the Las Vegas Strip was becoming even more famous for its big hotels, casinos, and shows. Wayne Newton was a huge part of this. He was one of the most popular performers, known for his singing and his charm.
Elaine was there to see the city develop and to be part of the excitement that surrounded Wayne’s performances. She would have seen the famous hotels, the bright lights, and the many people who came to Las Vegas for fun and entertainment.
Beyond the Strip, Las Vegas was also a community where people lived and worked. Elaine’s life on their ranch would have been a different experience from the constant activity of the tourist areas. She saw both sides of life in the Las Vegas valley – the glitz and glamour of the entertainment capital and the more settled life at home.
Elaine’s Experiences and Perspectives
Living a life that involved both her Hawaiian background, her travels as a stewardess, and her time married to a famous entertainer in Las Vegas gave Elaine Okamura a wide range of experiences.
She saw different parts of the world and different ways of life. She was part of the fast-paced world of entertainment but also had her own family life.
It is important to remember that Elaine Okamura is an individual with her own story and experiences. While she is known to many as Wayne Newton’s ex-wife, her life before and during their marriage was full of unique moments and personal history.
Her time as a Pan Am stewardess, traveling across the Pacific, highlights a period of her life where she was independent and exploring the world.
The End of the Marriage
After being married for 17 years, Elaine Okamura and Wayne Newton divorced in 1985. Divorce can be a difficult time for any family. While the reasons for their divorce are personal, the end of their marriage marked a change in both of their lives.
They had shared many years together, built a family with their daughter Erin, and experienced a significant period of Wayne Newton’s rise to superstardom in Las Vegas.
Even after the divorce, Elaine Okamura remains a part of the history of Wayne Newton’s life. Their marriage was a significant chapter in his personal story, and Elaine was a supportive partner during a crucial time in his career.
Life After the Divorce
After her divorce from Wayne Newton, Elaine Okamura has largely lived a more private life away from the intense public spotlight that comes with being married to a major celebrity. While Wayne Newton continued his performing career, Elaine has not sought the same level of public attention.
It is natural for people to move forward after a divorce and focus on their own paths. Elaine likely focused on her own life and interests, as well as her relationship with her daughter, Erin.
Living a private life means that many details about her life after 1985 are not widely known to the public. This is a choice that many people make after being in the public eye through a relationship with a celebrity.
Elaine Okamura’s Legacy
Elaine Okamura’s story is connected to the history of Las Vegas entertainment through her marriage to Wayne Newton. She was there during a golden age of the city’s growth as an entertainment capital. Her background as a Hawaiian-born woman who traveled the world as a flight attendant before marrying a famous singer adds interesting layers to her life story.
While the focus of many historical accounts is often on the celebrity, the partners in their lives also have their own journeys and contributions.
Elaine Okamura was a significant person in Wayne Newton’s life for many years, sharing in his successes and experiencing life alongside him. Her life reflects a mix of cultural background, a career that involved global travel, and a period spent within the unique world of Las Vegas entertainment.
