Community Focus

The Okinawan Genealogical Society of Hawaii celebrated 25 years since its formation with a party at the Hawaii Okinawa Center on Nov. 3. “Keishoo: Passing On to the Next Generation” was the theme of the celebration, which was dedicated to OGSH’s surviving charter members. Current president Rodney Kohagura reviewed some of OGSH’s accomplishments, including its....

Jodie Chiemi Ching For the first time in over 50 years, a presentation of Japanese kabuki will be staged in Hawai‘i. “Kabuki in Hawaii 2019” is being presented in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Honolulu Festival and the 150th anniversary of the 1868 arrival in Hawai‘i of the Gannenmono, the first Japanese immigrants....

Jacce Mikulanec has been selected as the new president and executive director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, succeeding the retiring Carole Hayashi- no. Mikulanec’s first day on the job will be Jan. 1, 2019. In a press release, JCCH board chair Ken Hayashida said Mikulanec’s “enthusiasm for JCCH’s mission, leadership in the community,....

The United Japanese Society of Hawaii held its an- nual “Tsukimi no Kai,” or moon-viewing celebration, on Oct. 25 on the Great Lawn of the Bishop Museum. This year’s event, co-chaired by UJSH members Frances Nakachi Kuba and Cyrus Tamashiro, was open to the general public and included food booths and food trucks with a....

The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui is seeking nominations for its 2019 Nihon Bunka Award. The award is presented to individual(s) in the Maui community who have dedicated their lives to perpetuating Japanese culture or have shown excellence and contributions to the Japanese arts and/or culture. They have also selflessly shared their talents with the....

The Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo Kai Hawaii Shibu koto association and the Ryukyu Koten Ongaku Nomura Ryu Ongaku Kyokai Hawaii Shibu sanshin association held their annual Gödö Ensö Kai, or joint concert, in the Shinshu Kyokai Mission social hall on Oct. 21. The program featured classical Okinawan sanshin and koto music performed jointly and as solos.....

Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawai‘i members, supporters and invited guests gathered at the Shintö shrine in Chinatown on Oct. 7 for the 112th annual Omatsuri Festival. The omatsuri service began with a procession of the priests. Representatives of the various community organizations and guests were invited to offer tamagushi (sacred branches) to the gods to....

The United Japanese Society of Hawaii honored 21 new octogenarians with a party at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i’s Manoa Grand Ballroom on Sept. 22. The new 80-year-olds were born in 1938. They were treated to a buffet lunch and a program of music and dance. Chinagu Eisa opened the program with the energy-packed....

This year marks 70 years since seven Okinawan men from Hawai‘i accompanied a shipload of pigs to Okinawa to help provide relief for their war-torn island home following the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. The men transported the 536 Chester Whites that had been purchased in Nebraska to Okinawa in August 1948. In a ceremony in....

SPOTLIGHT BY Karleen Chinen Bamboo Ridge Press, Hawai‘i’s go-to publisher for local literature, is celebrating its Big 4-0 with the release of a new volume of poetry, prose and art — and a birthday bash. First, the party. The “Not Pau Yet Party” will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 9 p.m. in....