Ii soogwachi deebiru! Happy New Year!
On Saturday, Jan. 20, the Hawaii United Okinawa Association held its Uchinanchu of the Year and 74th Installation Celebration themed “Hwikarasanaya – Let’s Shine Together.” Six-hundred-fifty attendees gathered in the Albert T. and Wallace T. Teruya Pavilion at the Hawaii Okinawa Center.
Twenty-twenty-three HUOA Outgoing President Clarisse Kobashigawa happily passed her gavel along and presidential duties to Brandon Nakasone. One of her notable accomplishments was bringing back the HUOA Leadership Tour to Okinawa that inspired a group of upcoming community leaders to connect with other leaders in the Okinawan government and community while reigniting their passion for history and culture.
In his president’s message, Brandon explained, “This year’s theme, ‘Hwikarasanaya,’ was inspired by the shining bright future of the HUOA, its membership, and future generations. But we must never forget what our ancestors sacrificed so that we could become what we are today.”
Having participated in HOUA leadership roles over the years, Brandon said he is frequently asked, “How does the Okinawan community stay so strong?”
“Is it because we hold the largest volunteer-run ethnic festival in the state with more than 45,000 attendees?” he asked. “Is it because we maintain a strong cultural connection to Okinawa almost 125 years after the first immigrants arrived? Is it because we’re able to have an annual banquet with almost 700 people at a beautiful center we call our home?
“For me, the reason why the Okinawan community stays so strong is because we are always willing to help each other without hesitation. It’s because we still believe in ichariba chode – once we meet, we are family. It’s because we have reverence for our ancestors, and keep our families close,” Brandon proudly affirmed.
HUOA recognized 32 Uchinanchu of the Year who contributed unselfishly to the success of their respective clubs. Karen Nakasone, Associate Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in the State of Hawaiʻi, installed the 2024 HUOA Officers. The 2024 Executive Council includes: Brandon Nakasone, president; Frances Nakachi Kuba, president-elect; Kimberly Yamamoto, vice president; Jodie Ching, vice president; Jessica Yamamoto, vice president; David Shinsato, vice president; Sandra Yanagi, executive secretary; Wendy Horikami, assistant executive secretary; Riko Higa, Japanese-language secretary; Brianne Yamada, treasurer; Kirstie Maeshiro-Takiguchi, assistant treasurer; Clarisse Kobashigawa, immediate past president; Dave Arakawa, advisor; Lynn Miyahira, advisor; Norman Nakasone, advisor; Tom Yamamoto, advisor; Leslie Nagamine, at-large member; Roy Arakaki, at-large member; Kathleen Matsuda, Hawaiʻi Island representative; Robert Kaneshiro, Hawaiʻi Island representative; Christine Hondo, Maui representative; Jonathan Chun, Kauaʻi representative; Ryan Hunt, club representative; Marcie Moribe, club representative; Kylie Sato, club representative; Mark Higa, Business Advisory and Audit Committee (BAAC) chair; and Scott Arakaki and Lisa Tamashiro, BAAC members.
Many of Hawaiʻi’s dignitaries and community leaders were in attendance including: Representing Gov. Josh Green, Cameron Deptula; Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and husband Mike; representing U.S. Congress Rep. Jill Tokuda, Lynn Miyahira; Hawaiʻi State Legislature House Rep. Scott Nishimoto; Former Gov. David Ige and Former First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige; representing Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Jiro Sumada, deputy director of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting; Consul General of Japan Yoshinori Kodama; Associate Justice, Intermediate Court of Appeals, State of Hawaiʻi, The Honorable Karen Nakasone and her mother Chieko Nakasone; United Japanese Society of Hawaii, President Dr. Keith Sakuda; Japanese Women’s Society Foundation President, Carole Hayashino; U.S.-Japan Council Director of External Relations, Wendy Abe; Pan Pacific Festival Advisory Committee Chair, Christine Kubota; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) Center for Okinawan Studies Executive Director Dr. Masato Ishida; Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji, Rev. Ryokei Ishii and his wife Ikuko.
Elegant music flowed from the hands of harpist Dustin Ebesu as guests entered Legacy Ballroom.
Newly installed vice presidents, Jodie Ching, and David Shinsato emceed the Sports Awards portion of the program. The sports trophy award recipients were: Eric Akamine, HUOA Golf Tournament Grand Champion; Gary Higa and Merl Miyashiro, Senior Flight Champions; Brianne Yamada, Women’s Flight Champion; Shinka won the HUOA Inamine Golf Cup; Urasoe Shinjin Kai was named the HUOA Invitational Slow-Pitch Softball League champion team; and Kochinda Chojin Kai were the HUOA Volleyball Champion team.
The 2024 call to celebration started with a resounding ten-tun-ten-ten ten-tun-ten of 16 sanshin in a makuake (curtain open) or seishou opening with the 2024 HUOA President Brandon Nakasone front and center. He was joined by Shihan Grant “Masanduu” Murata and fellow members of Koten Ryukyu Koten Afuso-Ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai from Hawaii, Tokyo and Okinawa. Also on stage to complete the ensemble were Ryukyu Sookyoku Koyo Kai Hawaii Shibu (koto), Lynn Miyashiro (fue), and Alison Ebesu (taiko).
The makuake opening included three dance performances: “Kagiyadefu” by Hooge Ryu Hana Nuuzi no Kai Nakasone Dance Academy, “Katami Bushi,” by Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai Hawaii Frances Nakachi Ryubu Dojo and “Nuchibana” by Tamagusuku Ryu Kansen Atae no Kai Akiko Tome Ryubu Dojo.
The dance academies also performed in the afternoon entertainment program in addition to Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii, and Azama Honryu Hawaii Shibu (Dazzman Toguchi). Newly installed president Brandon Nakasone performed a smooth reggae rendition of “Warabigami” with Tom Yamamoto and Chikako Murata.
The traditional grand finale Kachaashii which provided by Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyu Choichi Kai USA-Hawaii: Grant “Masanduu” Murata, Sean Sadaoka, John Hewitt, Tom Yamamoto and Dennis Nishiguchi. Other members of the musical ensemble for the program included June Uyeunten, fue and Alison Ebesu, taiko of Afuso Ryu Gensei Kai Hawaii Shibu; and Lisa Sadaoka, koto of Ryukyo Sokyoku Koyo Kai.
The HUOA is a non-profit organization serving as the umbrella organization for 50 member clubs statewide and comprises over 40,000 members. The HUOA thrives with the help of a team of volunteers who help run cultural and community events.
HUOA hosts the Okinawan Festival, the biggest cultural festival in Hawaii, traditionally held on Labor Day weekend.
Author
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Jodie Ching is a former editor of The Hawai’i Herald: Hawai’i’s Japanese American Journal and is a member of Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyu Choichi Kai and Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Japanese from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and is a 1998 recipient of a scholarship sponsored by the Okinawan Prefectural Government for Okinawan descendants. Ching is also the author of IKIGAI: Life’s Purpose (Brandylane Publishing, 2020), an Okinawan children’s book under the pen name Chiemi Souen.
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