The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all of us to find new ways to stay connected. So this year, the Hawaii United Okinawa Association is striving to bring the excitement of an in-person Okinawan Festival into the comfort of your home. For the first time in 38 years, you can enjoy a front-row seat to all the singing, dancing, music and interviews from anywhere around the world! We encourage you to cook your favorite Okinawan dish or order take-out from your favorite Okinawan-owned restaurant and enjoy the best our culture has to offer. Here is a list of performances, speeches and demonstrations for you to view and hear over the Labor Day weekend.

The Paranku Clubs of Hawaii performed at the 2019 Hawaii United Okinawa Association’s Okinawan Festival at the Hawaii Convention Center. (Photo by Wayne Shinbara)
The Paranku Clubs of Hawaii performed at the 2019 Hawaii United Okinawa Association’s Okinawan Festival at the Hawaii Convention Center. (Photo by Wayne Shinbara)

All events are scheduled in Hawai‘i Standard Time and subject to change. Visit the website okinawanfestival.com for updates.

To watch the live shows and webinar, go to okinawanfestival.com or HUOA’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/channel/UC61hEnfb8TenI9Aq6o_dTnQ). Festival programs will be available for viewing on the YouTube channel some time after the live event.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4, 2020

5-7 p.m.   120TH ANNIVERSARY OF OKINAWAN IMMIGRATION
WEBINAR

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5, 2020

2 p.m.   RYUKYU SOKYOKU KOYO KAI HAWAII SHIBU
Derek Fujio, President
Jane Kaneshiro, Sozan Kai
Bonnie Miyashiro, Soho Kai
Yamashiro Yoneko, Sokyoku Kenkyu Kai
Yasuko Arakawa, Aki no Kai
Toyoko Toma, Sokyo Kai
Kazuko Ito, Sokyoku Kyoshitsu

RYUKYU KOTEN ONGAKU NOMURA RYU ONGAKU
KYOKAI HAWAII SHIBU
Seiichi Yagi, Chapter President

HAWAII TAIKO KAI
Terry Higa, Instructor

PARANKU CLUBS OF HAWAII
Jane Tateyama

3 p.m. CHINAGU EISA
Devin Kawamura, President

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: JAKE SHIMABUKURO

COOKING DEMONSTRATION: CHEF ROY YAMAGUCHI

HAWAII OKINAWA CREATIVE ARTS
Jon Itomura, President, and Eric Nitta, Vice President

HAWAII-OKINAWA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EXCHANGE

HOOGE RYU HANA NUUZI NO KAI NAKASONE DANCE
ACADEMY
Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone, Grand Master and Director

RYUSEI HONRYU RYUKO KAI
Mitsuko Toguchi Nakasone, Kaishu
4 p.m. SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: UDUI HARU & LEQUIOS

AZAMA AKEMI RYUBU KENKYUJO HAWAII SHIBU &
NOMURA RYU DENTO ONGAKU KYOKAI HAWAII
Allison Yanagi, Instructor

SHORIN-RYU HWAII SEIBUKAN
Masakazu Teruya, Kanchö

RYUKYU KOTEN AFUSO RYU ONGAKU KENKYUU
CHOICHI KAI HAWAII
Grant “Masanduu” Murata, Chapter President

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: DAIICHI HIRATA

5 p.m.   End of Program

Grab your favorite dish from a local Okinawan-owned restaurant and join
HUOA again at 7 p.m.

7-8 p.m.   VIRTUAL OKINAWAN FESTIVAL BON DANCE
Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi
Hawaii Shin Kobukai
Iwakuni Odori Aiko Kai
Hawaii Eisa Shinyu Kai

SUNDAY, SEPT. 6, 2020

2 p.m. KILAUEA OKINAWA DANCE GROUP
Toshiko Neumann, Leader

HAWAII OKINAWA SHORIN-RYU/SHINDEN-RYU
KARATE ASSOCIATION
Mitchel Shimamura, Sensei

HAWAII OKINAWA CENTER’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY

3 p.m. BRANDON ING YUTTAI KWATTAI

HUOA ICHIGO ICHI E CLASS
Derek Asato, Instructor

ALLISON ARAKAWA

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: MAMORU MIYAGI
YUI BUYO SHUISHIN KYOGI KAI HAWAII SHIBU
Misako Yagi, Hawaii Chapter President

JIMPU KAI USA KIN RYOSHO RYUKYU GEINO
KENKYUSHO
Cheryl Yoshie Nakasone, Instructor and Shibu Cho

WARABI ASHIBI – CHILDREN’S DAY CAMP

4 p.m. NIDAIME TEISHIN KAI HAWAII SHIBU & HUOA
SANSHIN CLASS

Ryosei Oshiro, Director

TAMAGUSUKU RYU SENJU KAI – FRANCES NAKACHI
RYUBU DOJO
Frances Nakachi, Artistic Director

OKINAWA MINYO KYOKAI HAWAII & URIZUN MINYO
GROUP
Kyle Arakaki, President

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: ALBERTO SHIROMA

HUOA OKINAWAN FESTIVAL THROWBACK

5 p.m.   Closing Remarks
Kachashi
Pau!

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