On June 23, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa—one of the bloodiest conflicts in the Pacific during World War II—came to a formal end. The result: A devastating loss of over 200,000 lives, many of them civilians. In Okinawa, this date is solemnly remembered as Irei no Hi, or “Day to Console the Spirits,” a day dedicated to honoring the memory of all who perished in the war.
This June, the Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA) held its annual Irei no Hi remembrance ceremony to pay tribute to the victims of the Battle of Okinawa and reflect on the enduring impact of war on generations of Okinawan families—both in Okinawa and throughout the diaspora. The ceremony, held at the Hawaii Okinawa Center, brought together members of the community, including descendants of survivors, war veterans’ families, and cultural leaders, to share in prayer, music, and messages of peace.
The event commenced with a call-to-attention siren–a blaring and unsettling sound of war. Jeannene Oshiro welcomed attendees and introduced Bryan Yamashita who set a tone of reverence with a moment of silence and prayer of remembrance. In his prayer he asked a higher power to “Comfort us in our grief and give us strength to face the future with hope. Help us be aware of the wars that rage in this moment and around the world and give us eyes and hearts to see the world with compassion and grace.”
Special guests included Kyoko Hijirida, survivor of the Battle of Okinawa; Robert “Bob” Shiroma, HUOA president-elect; Jon Itomura, Hawaii Okinawa Center executive director; and Frances Nakachi Kuba, HUOA president.
Kuba gave opening remarks about 2025 being a milestone year as the 125th anniversary of Okinawan migration to the world and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Then, Nidaime Teshin Kai presented an uta-sanshin performance of “Kuni Nu Hana”–a nostalgic and loving musical tribute to Okinawa.
Byrnes Yamashita—member of both the Haneji Club and the Okinawa Genealogical Society of Hawaiʻi, and president of the Nisei Veterans Legacy—delivered a compelling historical presentation on the Battle of Okinawa. Using data and historical records, Yamashita vividly illustrated the immense and unimaginable devastation caused by the conflict.
One of the interviews included Jon Itomura, HUOA executive director, talking with Brianne Yamada Nitahara about her grandmother, Haruko Kobashigawa (née Miya), a survivor of the Battle of Okinawa. In a heartfelt message, Nitahara expressed her gratitude, saying, “Haruko Obaachan, I can’t imagine all that you went through during the war. But I know those experiences shaped that strong, brave, and ultimately brave woman that you are today. I am lucky to call you my grandma. Thank you for your courage, for your sacrifice, and for raising Dane and I. Okage sama de.”
A video interview of war survivor Emiko Iwasaki was presented, followed by a moving reading of the remembrance poem “Kanpo Nu Kwee Nukusa” by Gwen Fujie, Mark Higa, Caro Higa and Bob Shiroma.
Other musical offerings to honor the victims of the Battle of Okinawa were “Yaka Bushi” and “Natsukashiki Furusato,” performed by members of Nidaimen Teishin Kai.
The event culminated in a beautiful finale – a special commemorative dance by Frances Nakachi Kuba to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” sung by Israel Kamakawiwaole.
For those who were unable to attend in person, the HUOA Irei no Hi ceremony will be broadcast on ʻŌlelo Community Media, allowing the broader community to experience this powerful and heartfelt remembrance. The program will air on the following dates and times:
- Thursday, August 8, 2025 – 7:30 PM
- Friday, August 9, 2025 – 3:30 PM
- Saturday, August 10, 2025 – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday, August 14, 2025 – 9:00 AM
Through music, prayer, and personal stories of survival, HUOA’s Irei no Hi ceremony not only honored those lost in the Battle of Okinawa, but also reaffirmed the enduring strength of the Okinawan spirit—a legacy of resilience, remembrance, and peace carried forward by each new generation.
