Hawaii United Okinawa Association

The Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA) is an organization for the Okinawan community of Hawaii.[2]

Hawaii United Okinawa Association
Honolulu Festival 2014 (HUOA)
Formation1951
Location
Coordinates21.4204045°N 158.0059136°W / 21.4204045; -158.0059136
Membership
40,000+
LeaderLynn Miyahira[1]

History

The HUOA was founded in 1951 under the name “United Okinawan Association of Hawaii” but was renamed to its current title in 1991.[3]

Due to the Battle of Okinawa, much of Okinawa was destroyed. To help with its post-war recovery, the HUOA sent clothing, livestock and other essentials to Okinawa.[3]

Membership and activities

The HUOA has over 40,000 members,[4] which is a similar number to the total amount of Hawaii residents with Okinawan (Ryukyuan) ancestry (45,000-50,000).[5] The organization comprises over 50 member clubs, each representing a town in Okinawa.[6]

The HUOA holds the Okinawan Festival annually since 1982.[7][8] The 38th festival was cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic.[9]

Motto

Its motto, chosen by president Lynn Miyahira, is “Ukaji Deebiru”, which means “With deep appreciation, I am what I am because of you” in the Okinawan language.[10] It was also the slogan of Lynn’s late father, Wayne Miyahira, who served as president of HUOA in 1990.[10]

The phrase “Ukaji Deebiru” translates as “Okage sama de” in Japanese, which is also the name of an exhibit in the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH).[11]

See also

References
  1. "Hawaii United Okinawa Association welcomes new president". Ryukyu Shimpo - Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  2. "Hawaii United Okinawa Association". huoa.org. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  3. "History of Hawaii United Okinawa Association". huoa.org. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  4. "About Us (Hawaii United Okinawa Association)". huoa.org. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  5. "Center for Okinawan Studies". Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  6. "Hawaii United Okinawa Association welcomes new president". Ryukyu Shimpo - Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  7. HMSA. "the founding women of the okinawan festival". islandscene.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  8. Shiramizu, Shigehiko (2013). "The Creation of Ethnicity: Hawaii's Okinawan Community". Japan Social Innovation Journal. 3: 19–35.
  9. O'Connor, Christina (May 8, 2020). "Okinawan Festival canceled in response to Covid-19". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  10. "UOY Celebration and Installation Banquet 'It Takes a Village...'" (PDF). Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  11. superadmin (2016-10-27). "Okage Sama De: I am what I am because of you". Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
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