At the 2025 Onizuka Day of Exploration, you’ll find over 100 hands-on activities, workshops, and classes for all ages to enjoy. With a special focus on Hawaiian culture, sustainability, and career development, there’s something for everyone to learn and discover, including workshops on robotics, coding, renewable energy, and much more. There will also be a variety of interactive exhibits and displays, as well as live demonstrations and talks from experts in various fields. The event is FREE and open to the public, so you don’t have to be a scout to participate!

Discover the Joy of Learning at the ODE Event – Free Admission for All Ages!

🌟 Open Doors to Exploration: A Day of Complimentary Educational Fun!

Embark on an adventure that spans the grades and ignites the imagination of every student! The ODE event welcomes learners from Kindergarten through 12th grade to dive into a world where education and entertainment blend seamlessly. And the best part? It’s completely free for all participants!

For easy access and convenience, there’s plenty of free parking.

Come support the women of Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyu Choichi Kai who will hold Hawaii’s first All Women Uta-Sanshin Concert will at the Hawaii Okinawa Center on September 14, 2025. This will be a beautiful celebration of our culture, and we are eager to share our music with the community. Come support these talented women by attending a fundraiser. The women’s group — Ohana o Melia — includes 60 female members, from keiki to kupuna. This fun-filled event will include entertainment, food and drinks, and raffle prizes.

 Join Kansen Atae no Kai at Blue Tropix for a Special Fundraiser! 🌺

Help bring Okinawan dance to the stage as Tamagusuku Ryu Kansen Atae no Kai celebrates 40 years with their upcoming show, Kansen nu Michi Tirashi this June! 🎭✨

Enjoy great food, drinks, and entertainment while supporting our dancers in this milestone performance. The proceeds will go help Hawaii performers travel to this culturally rich experience. Thank you for making this event unforgettable!

🎟️ Join us & support the arts!

Join the Hawaii United Okinawa Association for an unforgettable day at the historic ʻIolani Palace on Kamaʻāina Sunday, where all residents are invited to explore the Palace, experience Hawaiian and Okinawan culture, savor delicious food, support local vendors, and enjoy a variety of lively entertainment and engaging workshops. This free event takes place on the second Sunday of every month and is a great way to connect with local heritage and culture.

🎶 Live Performances

✨ Hālau O Nā Pua Kukui, Kumu Hula Ed Collier

✨ Okinawan Cultural Performances

✨ Royal Hawaiian Band

🌿 Cultural Workshops

Hawaiian Workshops

📍 Kanaʻina Building (Old Archives Building)

⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Workshop with ʻUmi Kai

• Limited to 20 participants (ages 18+).
• On-site registration required at Kīnaʻu Gate (Richards Street), signups begin at 8:30 AM.
• Only workshop participants are allowed in the classroom.

Okinawan Workshops

📍 Hale Koa (ʻIolani Barracks – Theatre/Video Room)

Workshop Schedule :

🕙 10:00 – 10:45 AM – Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos & talk on Hajichi (Okinawan Tattoos) by Lee Tanouchi

🕚 11:00 – 11:45 AM – Okinawan Health & Wellness by Randy Kuba

🕛 12:00 – 12:45 PM and 1PM – 1:45PM – Celebrating Hawaiʻi’s Long Tradition of Okinawan-Owned Restaurants

• Did you know? Over 350 Okinawan-owned restaurants have existed in Hawaiʻi, including Zippy’s, Columbia Inn, Wisteria, and Rainbow Drive-In!
• Talk Story Session with Gene Kaneshiro (Columbia Inn) & Howard Takara (Yuki’s Cafe)
• Moderated by: Shari Tamashiro

• Limited to 30 participants.
• On-site registration required, signups begin at 9:00 AM in front of the Barracks.
• Only workshop participants are allowed in the classroom.

🌏 Historical Spotlight

The Role of Immigration in Hawaiʻi

• 👑 King Kalākaua played a pivotal role in promoting immigration to Hawaiʻi, particularly from Japan, to address the labor needs of the growing sugar industry. His efforts led to the arrival of thousands of Japanese immigrants, shaping Hawaiʻi’s multicultural society.
• 🌱 Kyuzo Toyama, known as the “Father of Okinawan Immigration,” was instrumental in encouraging Okinawans to migrate to Hawaiʻi and other regions in the early 20th century. His leadership helped establish a strong Okinawan presence in Hawaiʻi, contributing to the islands’ rich cultural heritage.

🎧 Free Audio Tours of ʻIolani Palace

Available for the first 500 attendees!

• Must present a valid Hawaiʻi State ID, Hawaiʻi Driver’s License, or proof of Hawaiʻi Residency.
• One complimentary ticket per Hawaiʻi resident.
• Kamaʻāina are encouraged to arrive early!

🍽️ Food & Merchandise

• Food will be available for preorder – stay tuned for more details!
• 125th Anniversary Celebration Display & Merchandise available at Central Pacific Bank’s “Tidepools” (📍Address: 220 South King Street) at Central Pacific Plaza.

🚗 Parking & Event Guidelines

• Parking: Free street parking & Civic Center Municipal Parking Garage (entrance on S. Beretania Street).
• Paid parking is available at Aliʻi Place (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM) for $.50 per half hour, with a maximum fee of $3.
• No parking on ʻIolani Palace grounds.

Event Reminders:

✅ Bring your own mat for sitting on the lawn.

✅ Bring your own water.

🚫 No alcohol allowed.

🍿 Snacks will be available for purchase.

⚠️ All tours and workshops have limited seating and are first come, first served!

💡 Kamaʻāina Sunday’s entertainment and workshops are supported by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority through the Kūkulu Ola Program.

The gates at the Richard Street entrance open at 8:30 AM, and activities and tours run from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore history, culture, and community at one of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic landmarks!
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Some of the FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES will include:

• Easter egg hunt 
• Bounce house
• Giant jenga
• Luggage tag making
• Photo booth

Free parking available

Doors Open at 10 AM (event to conclude at 1 PM)

Tickets are available for purchase online and at the door.

$20 per child (ages 12 and under)

Ticket required for each child

Adults free

This presentation is part of a series of events commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the Honouliuli National Historic Site. Christine Ogura will be sharing updates on current work at the park as well as future plans.

Biography: Born and raised on Oʻahu in Moiliili, Christine worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 14 years before joining the NPS in 2024. She also worked for the late U.S. Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink and for non-profits acquiring lands for the NPS and supported international conservation efforts in more than 10 countries. She was the planner for the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Action Plan and managed the Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Watershed Partnerships program, which involved over 60 public-private landowners/partners.

In her role, working with others, Christine shepherds a site dedicated to telling the history of incarceration, martial law, and the experience of prisoners of war in Hawaiʻi during World

Stephen Miwa will read exerpts from the book he co-produced with his late father Larry Miwa,
“Gambare Hiroshima- Don’t Give Up!”

All proceeds from book sales at this event will go towards the current production of “Peace on Your
Wings”, thanks to the Larry Miwa Peace Foundation

Performance by the Cast of “Peace on Your Wings”
In preparation for their summer performances at Kennedy theater and tour to Japan, the cast will
perform a few songs from the musical “Peace on Your Wings”.

The Hawaii United Okinawa Association welcomes everyone to its 13th annual Senior Fair at the Hawaii Okinawa Center in Waipio. For baby boomers, 50-plus seniors, and their family caregivers, this FREE event is for you! Learn more about what services and products are available to you and your family. This year, our volunteer nurses we will be offering FREE blood pressure screening.