Okinawa

Lee A. Tonouchi Special to The Hawai‘i Herald Editor’s note: Next Tuesday, June 23, Okinawa Prefecture will commemorate Irei no Hi — Okinawa Memorial Day. The day is observed in Okinawa only to remember the date...

The Hawaii United Okinawa Association recognized the 2018 “Uchinanchu of the Year” (highlighted in the Herald’s Feb. 15 edition) and installed its 2019 officers on Jan. 19 at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. Students from Hawaii Okinawa Creative Arts opened the program with a lively Shishimai dance. Among the 900 people in attendance were Gov. David....

Okinawan Festival Returning to Kapi‘olani Park Labor Day Weekend After cancelling last year’s Okinawan Festival just days before the signature summer event was set to open, citing safety concerns over an approaching hurricane, the Hawaii United Okinawa Association’s 2,000-plus volunteers will be out in force “Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha” during Labor Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday,....

By Gwen Battad Ishikawa Chef Grant Sato’s passion for Okinawan cuisine is evident in the way he talks about it, cooks it and presents it. His reverence and respect for Okinawan cuisine is reflected in...

ALL-TIME FAVORITES! Pig’s Feet Soup: It’s called ashitibichi in Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan language). Pieces of pig’s feet are cooked in a soup stock and garnished with konbu (seaweed), daikon (turnip), togan (squash) and mustard cabbage and...

The 85th anniversary of Kin Ryosho Sensei’s teaching of the art of Kumiwudui, also known as Kumi Odori, in Hawai‘i — and the 41st anniversary of his teaching dance and Kumiwudui at the University of Hawai‘i will be commemorated with the presentation of a lecture demonstration by two of Kin-Sensei’s former students. The program is....

Okinawan Culture Reflected in Its Food Lynette Lo Tom Special to The Hawai‘i Herald “If you aren’t going to enjoy the fat, then don’t eat rafute,” Grant Murata declares passionately. Rafute is the unctuous braised pork belly that is a signature dish of Okinawa. Not to be confused with the more common and usually leaner....

Ryler Nielsen Carries Okinawa in His Heart Alan Suemori Special to The Hawai‘i Herald In his dream, Ryler Nielsen is walking through the winding streets of the neighborhoods of his youth in Chatan and Yomitan on the island of Okinawa, surrounded by old friends and familiar landmarks. Nothing has changed, and yet, everything is even....

Kalaheo High School Students Make a Documentary About the Post-Battle of Okinawa Relief Effort Dan Nakasone Special to The Hawai‘i Herald “History can teach us to have hope,” said Kalaheo High School senior, Kehaulani Bringas. “Given the way things are today, this story gives me hope,” agreed Emily Casey, also a senior at Kalaheo. They....

Jodie Chiemi Ching This year marks 120 years since the first Okinawan immigrants landed on our shores. We are bound by history and bound by aloha. Today, we turn another page by signing this special friendship city relationship with Kin Town,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. On Feb. 10 Mayor Caldwell met with Hajime Nakama —....