Okinawa governor, Denny Tamaki, came to Hawaii in March 2019 to meet with members of the local Uchinanchu community. In his meeting with Hawaii governor, David Ige, Tamaki expressed his keen interest in Hawaii’s success in reviving the Hawaiian language. By bringing back the language, the Hawaiian activists helped bring back and revitalize Hawaiian culture. Gov. Tamaki hopes that a similar revival in Uchinaaguchi can happen in Okinawa. Part of his itinerary included participating in Ukwanshin Kabudan’s Uchinanchu identity summit where he will meet with people working to revive the language and culture of Okinawa.

Gov. Tamaki also met with the members of WUB Hawaii at a breakfast meeting held at the East-West Center. He is a strong supporter of WUB and is the honorary president of WUB Network. The event was held at the East-West Center because EWC has partnered with WUB Hawaii in many important conference events — Uchinanchu Talk Story series.

Gov. Tamaki’s visit illustrates how the strength and vitality of the Uchinanchu community worldwide is rooted in networking and relationship building. There is an Okinawan saying:

Shikinoo chui shiihii shiru kurasuru. – Let’s live helping each other in this world.