Since more than 1,500 years ago, Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) have welcomed immigrants from every corner of the globe, cultivating and perpetuating a tapestry of diverse cultures. In the fourth article in this ongoing series on the many cultures that comprise Hawai‘i, we focus on how the Okinawan people arrived in the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and a few widely celebrated observances, with a focus on the upcoming Okinawan Festival.
Okinawan Arrival in Hawai‘i
Following the annexation of the Ryukyu Islands by Japan in 1879, many Okinawans faced hardship and desired to emigrate in search of a better life. Twenty years later, led by emigration activist Kyuzo Toyama, 26 Okinawans journeyed to Hawai‘i, arriving in 1900. By 1908, more than 8,500 people in Hawai‘i were of Okinawan heritage. There are now 45,000 to 50,000, making up about 3% of Hawai‘i’s population.
Culture and Tradition
Because Okinawa was an independent country prior to annexation by the Japanese, they faced discrimination due to their linguistic and cultural differences. This adversity emboldened Okinawan migrants—known as Uchinānchu—to have great pride in their distinct cultural practices and traditions, especially those living in Hawai‘i.
Today, this is evident in their love of merry-making and cuisine. Music became a meaningful way for laboring Uchinānchu to preserve and perpetuate their culture for their descendants and other laborers through expressions of folk songs and mo-ashibi (field play), where they gather to sing and dance. In terms of food, Okinawan sweet potato and gōyā (bittermelon) are found in many local recipes, such as a layer in haupia pie and an ingredient in champurū, a staple Okinawan stir-fry dish.
Major annual Okinawan observances also include Irei no Hi, in memory of the end of the Battle of Okinawa (June 23), and Shīmī and Obon, separate but related traditions honoring ancestors.
Celebrating Okinawans in Hawai‘i
Though Okinawans honor their heritage every year, this year in particular is special because it marks the 125th anniversary of Uchinānchu’s arrival in Hawai‘i and the rest of the world. To celebrate, the Hawai‘i United Okinawa Association (HUOA) will host various events, including the 43rd annual Okinawan Festival on Aug. 30 and 31, when music/dance performances, martial arts demonstrations and craft-making activities will abound at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Abroad, Okinawa hosts the World Uchinānchu Festival every five years, when Okinawan descendants return to their homeland and celebrate. Uchinānchu from Hawai‘i have consistently had the most representation at the festival.
Visit HUOA’s website (huoa.org) and Generations Magazine’s Facebook page (facebook.com/genmag808) and calendar (generations808.com/calendar) for more community events.
The next article in this series will feature the influences of Portuguese culture in Hawai‘i.
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