Community Focus

When Frances Nakachi moved to Hawai‘i from Okinawa in 1986, she said she found herself feeling at home in the Okinawan community. Everyone seemed like ‘ohana, or as they say in Okinawa, Ichariba chödë — “Once we meet, we are family.” So she took her passion for Okinawan dance and created a school that celebrates....

The Hawaii United Okinawa Association presented its 2015 Legacy Awards to four individuals and one family business. The event, themed “Yuziri,” which means “legacy,” was held Nov. 1 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Honored...

Hui O Laulima recently awarded $9,400 in cultural grants to 14 individuals and organizations. The nonprofit women’s organization is an active member of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Hui O Laulima annually offers grants to individuals and organizations that promote and perpetuate the culture of Okinawa in Hawai‘i. In awarding the grants, HOL noted that....

The Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai held its general membership meeting and shinnen enkai at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i’s Manoa Grand Ballroom on March 8. The event began with committee reports from the...

Yuko O’Reilly was presented the Foreign Minister’s commendation in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Feb. 11 presentation was made by Consul General Yasushi Misawa at the...

Hui Makaala held its 47th scholarship fundraising fashion show luncheon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom on July 24. The show featured fashions by three design groups — Dolkii, by sisters Shaiyanne Dar...

Sixteen years ago, the USS Greeneville, a nuclear-powered submarine practicing a high-speed surfacing maneuver off O‘ahu’s south shore, struck the Ehime Maru, an Uwajima Fisheries High School training ship from Ehime, Japan, puncturing a hole in its hull. Within minutes, the ship began to sink. The Feb. 9, 2001, tragedy took the lives of nine....

The United Japanese Society of Hawaii installed its 2016-2017 officers on June 25 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. Kenny Endo and Taiko Center of the Pacific presented the “call to celebration” with...

Over 900 people packed the Hawaii Okinawa Center on Jan. 17 for the installation of the organization’s 2015 officers and advisors and to recognize the year’s Uchinanchu of the Year. In his message, outgoing president...

Devynn-Leigh Kochi, 16, of Ha‘ikü was crowned queen of the 62nd Chrysanthemum Festival, which was held Dec. 6 at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku, Maui. Kochi is a junior at King...