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!