Charles Morrison and Daniel Chinen
On 12 July 2018, former EWC president Charles Morrison and WUB Hawaii member Daniel Chinen presented initial findings about young Uchinanchus’ attitudes towards the U.S. military bases in Okinawa.
Jane Serikaku 1939-2018
Jane Fujie Serikaku, executive director of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA), passed away peacefully on July 6, 2018, surrounded by close family and friends.
A longtime leader in the Okinawan community, Jane was the HUOA’s first female president serving 1993-1994. She was appointed executive director of the HUOA in 2006 and served in that capacity until 2018.
Jane was an exemplary educator. While serving as principal at Iliahi Elementary School, she received the prestigious Milken Educator Award. Always a staunch supporter of education, she believed that the future of HUOA is dependent upon the youth and helped coordinate the Hawaii-Okinawa High School Student Exchange program for over 25 years. She also initiated the HUOA Leadership Study Tour giving young Okinawans from Hawaii an opportunity to visit their ancestral homeland and learn about Okinawan culture.
Jane was a second-generation (Nisei) Okinawan with ancestral ties to Nakagusuku Village. She was designated as an “Uchina Goodwill Ambassador” by the Okinawa Prefectural Government in 2006.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. Visitation begins at 4:00 p.m. with memorial service at 6:00 p.m.
Me ka mahalo nui . . . . Nifeedeebiiru!
WHERE Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
1731 N. School Street Honolulu HI
DATE Sunday – June 24, 2018 9 AM
Open to the public
The Irei No Hi Memorial Service remembers all of those, American and Japanese soldiers and Okinawan civilians, who lost their lives during the Battle of Okinawa that raged from April through June 1945.
Over 240,000 lives were lost with Okinawan residents, among them children, accounting for half of the war victims.
On June 24, Jikoen Temple members will honor not only the victims of the Battle that ended 73 years ago but all of the victims of all wars.
Program
For more information: 808-845-3422 or dok@riseup.net
Co-sponsors: Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Hawaii Okinawa Alliance, and Women’s Voice Women Speak.
International Solidarity — Left to Right: Shin Oshiro, WUB Hawaii members Steve Miyashiro & Ed Kuba, and local retired high school teacher, Yoshiyasu Iha.
Ladies and Gents,
Just returned from Okinawa this morning from a successful trip to Kadena Air Base.
Our lei diplomacy event went very well and got good coverage in the two daily newspapers.
When we presented lei to the demonstrators, several ladies cried because of our show of support. It gave the demonstrators publicity for their just protest against unfair militarization of Okinawa. Our mission was accomplished!
Ryota Shimabukuro, the Ryukyu Shimpo‘s star reporter, forwarded the link for the article – click here.
Mahalo for your support, especially to the lei makers and lei money donors.
Aloha, Ed Kuba
Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii (RMD Hawaii) is delighted to present “The Dawn of Ryukyu” on July 24, 2018 at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. This special event can be enjoyed by all ages, and will feature a medley of Okinawan performing arts to tell the story of ancient Okinawa. General Admission tickets are just $35 and $40 at the door. Please contact Brianne Yamada at yamadabri@gmail.com or (808)285-3905 for ticket purchases. Thank you!
❖ Reserved VIP tickets each for $100, includes and early entrance at 6 pm, reserved seating, and an okashi gift box. With the purchase of each pair of tickets, a parking pass will be provided.
❖ Preferred Seating at $50, which includes early entrance at 6 pm, and preferred seating (first come, first serve).
❖ General Admission at $35, or $40 at the door, providing seats in the open seating area (first come, first serve).
Akemi Martin with Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko source
WUB Hawaii Vice President, Akemi Martin, founded Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko’s Hawaii chapter that includes branches on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Hawaii Island. Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko originated in Okinawa in 1982. It combines traditional Eisa and Karate forms with contemporary influences and music creating a new and unique taiko style.
Left to Right: John Tasato, Dr. Peter Gruss, and John Toguchi
In support of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, WUB Network presented a $25,000 check to OIST President, Dr. Peter Gruss, at the Uchinanchu Talk Story VII Conference which was held on 26 March 2018.
Panelists: OIST Pres. Peter Gruss, UH Pres. David Lassner, Prof. Kenneth Kaneshiro, Mr. Glenn Lee, and Gov. David Ige
On 26 March 2018, a distinguished panel spoke on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and research in Hawai`i and Okinawa. On the panel were Hawai‘i Governor David Ige and University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner, with Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology President Peter Gruss. Also on the panel were prominent local biologist Kenneth Kaneshiro and outstanding educator Glenn Lee, whose students have won numerous robotics competition titles.
Uchinanchu Talk Story VII “Views From the Cutting Edge” was sponsored by WUB Hawai`i chapter, the East-West Center, Okinawa Institute for Science and Technology, and the Center for Okinawan Studies of the University of Hawai‘i.
Keynote speaker Peter Gruss said that with the growth of knowledge and information complexity in the world accelerating at an exponential rate, scientific research and education are vital for communities to ensure future economic opportunity. STEM knowledge is also the key, he said, to addressing what he called global “mega-challenges,” including food, water and energy supplies; climate change; urbanization; and health care.
Dr. Gruss heads the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) which was founded by the government of Japan to be Japan’s MIT – a world class center for research and education. His visit to Hawaii was for the following purposes:
Governor Ige, a former engineer, said:
The challenge in our economy going forward is really about creating high-quality jobs that allow our young people to find challenging, successful careers here at home. And I truly believe STEM education is fundamental to achieving that.
UH President David Lassner cited San Diego as an example of a city with similarities to Honolulu that has transformed its economy from being tourism-dependent to being an innovation hub, and that the key to the change has been “collaboration between the government, the private sector and a great research university.” Lassner notes:
We used to talk about luring great companies here. Now we talk more about growing them here.
Uchinanchu Talk Story VII — March 27, 2018
WUB-Hawaii 2018 Shinnen Kai at Natsunorya Tea House – 2 February 2018
WUB-Hawaii’s 2018 Shinen-kai: WUB-Hawaii President John Toguchi, Hawaii Governor David Ige, Japan Consul Norimasa Yoshida, HUOA President Courtney Takara, Honolulu Chamber of Commerce VP Glenn Higa, Akisamiyo students (Rika, Yuichiro) attended our party.
