Uchinanchu The Voice of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association August/SeptemberU 2002 Issue #88 Circulation 10,200 OKINAWAN FESTIVALS GALORE!!! Summer 2002 will be remembered as the Okinawan festivals: the Hawaii United Okinawa the last two decades. “Summer of the Okinawan Festivals.” Association’s festival in Honolulu, a Labor Day A lively bon dance featuring both Okinawan and From Hilo’s wet and wild Haari Boat Festival at weekend tradition since 1982. For 20 years now, mainland Japan dance styles will close the Festival Wailoa State Park, to Maui‘s wowee of a festival HUOA members have pulled together to share on Saturday. The bon dance, which promises to be at the Rinzai Zen Mission in P¯a‘ia, to Oahu’s their culture with residents and visitors alike. one of the season’s biggest and best, will begin at celebration marking two decades of Okinawan (Uchinanchu takes a look back at the first 6 p.m. and wrap up at 9. If you plan to participate Festivals—and don’t forget Kaua‘i, which held its Okinawan Festival in 1982 on page 10.) Previous in the bon dance, keep in mind that the last shut- Okinawan Dance Festival earlier in the year— festivals have attracted more than 50,000 people tle bus bound for Kapi‘olani Community College there’s no question about it: the Uchinanchu spirit during its two-day run. will leave the park at 9:30 p.m. is alive and well in Hawai‘i! As in previous years, Festival-goers can avoid “Spirit of Okinawa” was the theme of the Maui the anticipated traffic congestion around Okinawa Kenjin Kai’s (MOKK) second annual Kapi‘olani Park by parking free of charge at Okinawan Festival, which was held Aug. 23 and 24 Kapi‘olani Community College and catching the at the Rinzai Zen Mission in P¯a‘ia—one week air-conditioned Okinawan Festival shuttle bus to after the Hilo Haari Boat Festival. The Maui festival the Festival grounds. The shuttle will begin run- was held in conjunction with the Rinzai Zen ning at 7 a.m. both days and run until 9:30 p.m. Mission’s annual o-bon celebration and closed on Saturday, and until 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. both nights with the temple’s bon dance. “Spirit Wheelchair-accessible buses will also be avail- of Okinawa” was co-chaired by Koki Tamashiro, able this year. People with special needs who are Mike Hondo and Mark Miyahira, with lots of traveling to Kapi‘olani Park on the Handivan or support from MOKK members and friends. This year’s Festival, themed “Ichimadin being dropped off at the park by family members Uchinanchu salutes the dedication and hard work Kanaganatu,” unfolds Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, at the will be allowed to drop off and turn around inside of the various committee chairs on Maui: Traci Kapi‘olani Park bandstand. It is being co-chaired the Monsarrat Avenue parking lot. Villarosa and Jana Molina (food booths); Judy by HUOA President-elect George Tamashiro and A wide selection of Okinawan and local foods, Tanaka and Rita Kunitake (craft tent/cultural dis- Vice President Keith M. Kaneshiro, with more than including Pigs Feet Soup, Okinawan soba, yakisoba, play); Sumi Kuniyoshi and Grace Oshiro (country 1,000 volunteers — Okinawans and Okinawans-at- andagi and nmu muchi, are on the menu and store); Gere Shimomura and Todd Hondo (publicity); heart—involved in putting on the two-day event. available for purchase. Darren Konno, Wendy Tamashiro and Raina The cultural activities will begin at 9 a.m., both The traditional arts and culture of Okinawa will Takumi (entertainment); Harry Kochi and Clarence days, following a short welcome by 2002 HUOA be showcased in the Hui O Laulima cultural tent, Uehara (grounds, utilities, security); Ted Kesaji and President Gladys Tokunaga-Asao. The formal which this year will also feature information and Kay Nishibayashi (children’s games); Annette opening ceremonies on Saturday will begin at photos on the Hawaii Okinawa Restaurants proj- Omuro and Adriene Yamaguchi (hospitality, first 10 a.m. with a colorful parade of HUOA club ect (see project details on page 14). There will aid, information); Frank Kawahara and Shigeru banners carried by members of the respective also be bingata kimono- and paranku-dressing and Nakamura (clean-up); Colleen Takamura and clubs, the playful and friendly Okinawan shiisa photo-taking as well as genealogy, language, Debbie Yoshimi (finance); Lorraine Gibo and and a paranku procession. Okinawan tattoo information and more. Hui O Christine Hondo (scrips, pre-sale); Ed Ige Jr., Ed Scheduled throughout the day on the Kapi‘olani Laulima members will be selling their hot-selling Tengan and Helen Tamashiro (purchasing, delivery, Park bandstand stage will be performances of cultural cookbook, “Okinawan Mixed Plate: inventory); and Tony Arakaki and Lynette Shiroma Okinawan music, dance and taiko drumming as Generous Servings of Culture, Customs and (manpower). well as karate demonstrations by local students of Cuisine,” which is a treasure-trove of information . And then there’s the granddaddy of the the culture. The Festival is an opportunity for on Okinawan culture. Bonsai enthusiasts will be them to showcase the fruits of their hard work on hand to provide advice and information on and commitment to the Okinawan culture. This bonsai cultivation. year’s program will also feature ethnic perform- Festival-goers can take home a bit of Okinawa ances by Korean, Chinese, Hawaiian and Filipino with the multitude of food products available in cultural groups. the “Heiwa Dori”—Hawai‘i’s version of Okinawa’s Making a hana hou appearance at this year’s popular shopping mall, minus its maze-like layout. Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Honolulu, HI Permit No. 659 Festival, all the way from Ishigaki Island, via Kin There will also be ample opportunities to shop for Town, Okinawa, where he now lives, is Mamoru plants, produce and other items in the country Miyagi—described by one Festival-goer last year store and the craft gallery. Or, you can glaze your as “the Okinawan Ricky Martin.” The popular own raku pot which will be fired and ready for singer/songwriter/composer made his international you to pick up on your way home. There will also debut at last year’s Festival. He will be accompanied be lots of fun games for the children, including by his wife, a piano teacher, who often performs the popular cool-off activity, the Andagi Dunk. with him. Many of Miyagi’s songs speak longingly So . make the most of this “summer of of the beauty of his island home. A versatile Okinawan festivals” and celebrate to your heart’s performer, Miyagi will take the stage both days: content. at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday at 3:30. And for those who can’t get enough of him, For more information on the Okinawan Miyagi’s two CDs will also be available for purchase Festival, see pages 8 and 9—and bring the in the Cultural Tent. 4-page Festival pull-out section with you to In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Kapi‘olani Park. aipahu, Hawaii 96797 Festival, the HUOA will recognize the many See you at the Okinawan Festival! Hawaii United Okinawa Association Street 94-587 Ukee W businesses that have supported the event over 2 Uchinanchu August/September 2002 UCHINANCHU Ippe nihei deebiru . mahalo . Uchinanchu is our voice — the voice of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, its Fumiko Miyahira Linyei & Dora Shimabukuro members, and the “home” we all built together: the Hawaii Okinawa Center. By sharing Yoshinobu Miyahira Tsunehiko Shimabukuro information and experiences, Uchinanchu keeps us connected as a family, dedicated to Catherine S. Morishige Masao Takara preserving, sharing and perpetuating our Okinawan cultural heritage. Shizue Nakama Tom T. Tasato HUOA received a total of $1,640.00 in contributions for Uchinanchu during the Harold M. Nakamura Seiyu & Yoshino Toguchi months of May and June. Every dollar donated—along with the valuable income Mr. & Mrs. Shigeru Nakamura (Pepeekeo, Hawai‘i) from advertising—helps offset the cost of publishing Uchinanchu. HUOA sends a sin- (Wailuku, Maui) Beatrice F. Tomihama cere ippe nihei deebiru to the following donors, including two from the Big Island, Ronald K. Namihira Al Uyechi (Centreville, Virginia) three from Maui, one from Kaua‘i and one each from Chicago, Illinois, and Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Nishimura Shigeo Uyehara Centreville, Virginia. Mahalo for keeping Uchinanchu alive and thriving. Jane U. Oshiro In Memory of Masako Wauke In Memory of Sei Serikaku Mr. & Mrs. Frank K. Yamashiro Anonymous (2) Wataru Isa Gladys S. Shimabuku Wallace S. Yara Eric Akamine Kimiko (Gail) Y. Ishiki Howard H. Akamine Richard & Yuriko Kadekaru Edna M. Arakaki George K. Kamimura (Wailuku, Maui) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Clarence Y. Asato Gentoku Kamiya (Kekaha, Kaua‘i) by Gladys Tokunaga-Asao Edward & Catherine Asato Kimiko Kamiya Tamagusuku Club George & Jane Asato Stanley Kamiya Lawrence & Ellen Asato Mr. & Mrs. Eikichi Kaneshiro Thirty years ago, I was just being introduced to the activities of the Hawaii United Nancy H. Asato Richard T. Kaneshiro Okinawa Association, formerly UOA. Little did I know that history was being made Take & Shigeko Azama Miyoko Kitamura and Okinawa was once again to become a prefecture of Japan. Joyce N. Chinen Mr. & Mrs. Paul K. Kiyabu Reversion had taken place and my cousins and relatives in Okinawa became citizens Kenyu Fukuhara George K. & Harriet H. Kobashigawa of Japan. They no longer needed a passport to travel from Naha to Tokyo. What social Shigeko Hata Kikuo Kobashigawa and economic changes have they experienced since reversion . in these past 30 years? Kay M.