Hawai‘i’s Okinawan commu- nity will welcome approximately 100 guests from Okinawa for a weekend of honoring, celebration and reflection. “Sumiti Itsimadin — Imprints for Eternal Generations” is the theme of the Hawai‘i-Okinawa sister-state 30th anniversary celebration. The weekend will also celebrate 25 years since the opening of the Hawaii Okinawa Center, which serves as the home of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association and ground zero for the celebration of Okinawan culture in Hawai‘i.
A number of events are scheduled for the celebration weekend. They are:
• Saturday, July 11, 8:30 a.m.-12 noon: Hawaii Okinawa Center Silver Anniversary Celebration at
the HOC. A look back at the collective effort to build the Hawaii Okinawa Center and to recognize the many people who contributed to its building. The $20 admission fee includes brunch.
• Saturday, July 11, noon-1 p.m.: Hawaii Okinawa Plaza groundbreaking, across from HOC on Uke‘e Street. When completed, the Hawaii Okinawa Plaza will be a two-story commercial retail center with over 12,000 sq. ft. of space available for leasing. Free admission, open to the public.
• Saturday, July 1, 1-5 p.m.: Hawai‘i-Okinawa Sister-State Roundtable discussion at the HOC. The roundtable will be an opportunity to exchange ideas based on Hawai‘i and Okinawa’s near-parallel history, culture, ecology, external dependence and influences. Free admission, but pre-registration required. (Reservations for mini bentö and bottled water: $6.)
• Saturday, July 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Geinou Perform- ing Arts workshop in the Hawaii Okinawa Center Serikaku Chaya. Guests from the Okinawa Prefectural University of the Arts will present a workshop for performing artists, focusing on self-hair arrangement and makeup. Free admission, but pre-registrationrequired.
• Sunday, July 12, 1 and 6 p.m. at Hawaii Okinawa Center: The “Drums of Hope” shows will feature drummers from Hawai‘i, Okinawa and Fukushima. The Hawai‘i performers include Chinagu Eisa Hawaii, Hawaii Okinawa Creative Arts, Nuuanu Shorin Ryu Karate and Tamagusuku Ryu Senjukai Hawaii, with special guests Kumu Hula Michael Pili Pang and Halau Hula No‘eau. Okinawa will be represented by producer, choreographer and performer Daiichi Hirata and the Okinawa eisa group, Souka Kariyushi. Also participating in the show are Team Ibuki from Fukushima and Kazufumi Miyazawa, lead singer of the group, The Boom! Tickets are $30 general admission and $100 for premium seating.
Registration for the various events are being taken at https://hawaii-okinawa-30.eventbrite.com, or by calling the Hawaii Okinawa Center at (808) 676-5400.
