Ii sougwachi debiru!

 

2026 marks the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar. In the Fire Horse we see a rare and powerful combination of the Horse’s drive with the Fire element’s fierce vitality. When Fire meets the Horse, the horse’s already bold spirit ignites into full blaze: confident, passionate, and unstoppable.The Fire Horse’s energy calls us to act with courage and vision, but also with wisdom. Let the spirit of the Fire Horse inspire us in 2026!

WUB Hawaii welcomes Randy Kuba as our incoming president for 2026. Please read Randy’s message and share it with others.

Robert Arakaki

Secretary, WUB Hawaii

Message from Incoming President Randy Kuba

Aloha WUB Members,

Happy New Year and warmest wishes to you and your families as we begin 2026.

This year, we move forward together with our WUB theme: “Connect, Talk Story, Collaborate.”

2026 will be a year of renewed purpose for WUB Hawaii. We will focus on providing real value to every member through meaningful connections, practical collaboration, and opportunities that support your business and personal growth.

We welcome a new slate of officers, bringing bright ideas, energy, and commitment. Together, we will shape a WUB Hawaii chapter that is engaged, relevant, and forward-moving.

This year, each member will be encouraged to champion a project they are passionate about, and WUB will support those efforts through resources, connection, and teamwork. We believe our greatest strength is the creativity, experience, and heart of our members.

We will also feature inspiring guest speakers at each monthly meeting, leaders who will share knowledge to help us become even better entrepreneurs, collaborators, and community contributors.

Most importantly, your presence matters. Your voice, your story, and your participation are essential to building the renewed WUB Hawaii chapter. We encourage you to attend meetings, share ideas, talk story, reconnect with old friends, and make new ones. Together, we will continue the proud legacy of our Uchinanchu ancestors while creating opportunities for the next generation.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication. Let us make 2026 a meaningful year of connection, collaboration, and action.

Kahuushi, with heartfelt gratitude,

Randy Kuba

President, WUB Hawaii

To purchase a ticket please go to Eventbrite.

I recently met Magaly Tsukayama Goya at a WUB Hawaii meeting. She is currently in Hawaii for the East-West Center’s Asia-Pacific Leadership Program. WUB Hawaii is strongly committed to supporting and encouraging young Uchinanchus, whether from Hawaii or from other countries. WUB’s mission is to promote global networking among Uchinanchus.

Robert Arakaki

Tell us about yourself. Who you are, what you do, and where you are from.

My name is Magaly Tsukayama Goya. I am Nikkei Uchinanchu from Lima, Peru. I studied economics at San Marcos University. Currently, I have run my own entrepreneurship that offers toys to motivate creativity to children.  Also, I am the vice president of the Education board of AOPCOOP (Cooperative Financial Institution founded by Nikkei Uchinanchu) and write in Peru Shimpo (The first Nikkei Newspaper in Peru). Since COVID 19, I have become a teacher. I taught children and seniors how to make handicrafts and also about Okinawa culture and history. 

What is an economist and what do you do as an economist?

To my way of thinking an economist is a person who synthesises mathematics, statistics with social sciences because the main reason of the economy is to find the well-being of the people. 

In my early years as an economist, I worked in some of the most important banks in Lima, basically in the finance field. Now, I am focusing on the social part of the economy. I write articles in Peru Shimpo related to sustainability. Moreover, in AOPCOOP the projects we propose are associated with financial inclusion, financial education and the promotion of Okinawan values.

What brings you to Hawaii? What has the APLP experience been like for you?

First, I want to express my gratitude to World Uchinanchu Business for the support to be part of the Asian Pacific Leadership Program (APLP). Since I was a child, I have had the dream not only to know the type of leadership in the countries around the world but also to learn about it; due to the fact that for me a leader always has to serve the community. 

 As far as I’m concerned, the APLP is a life changing experience. I have shared experiences with people from different cultures and also learned about that. Also, I learned about Hawaiian culture that is a good example of tolerance and preservation and respect for their traditions, language and people. 

What generation of Uchinanchu are you? What is the story of your family’s migration from Okinawa to Peru? What village is your family from? 

I am sansei. My grandparents immigrated to Perú in the 1920s. From my father’s side they were from Chatan cho and my mother’s side from Kitanakagusuku son. (Attached is my grandfather’s passport.)

What are some facts that you would like people to know about Peru? 

Peru is a multicultural country because of the immigrations from Asia, Europe and Africa. Because of this, the gastronomy in Peru is considered one of the most important in Latin America.

What is the Uchinanchu community like in Peru? What similarities and differences between the Peru Uchinanchus and the Hawaii Uchinanchus have you noticed?

The Uchinanchu community in Perú and Hawaiian Uchinanchu Community have many similarities. For instance, there are some restaurants that sell Okinawan dishes, play sanshin.  

 I am very happy to meet Uchinanchus in Hawaii because they show me that there are no boundaries to feel “Ichariba choodee.” You make me feel like home.

Anything you want to add?

Thank you WUB for the opportunity to be a fellow of APLP at East West Center. Thank you to the East West Center for the experience to become a better leader.  Because of this experience, I learn new tools and improve my leadership skills to serve our community.  I promise to work hard to study more about Okinawa culture, traditions and history to preserve, diffuse it and contribute to WUB network development around the world as well. Thank you very much, I am very happy and proud to be part of the Uchinanchu community.

Ippee nifee debiru!

Magaly Tsukayama Goya

This is the new and improved WUB Hawaii.com!

WUB Hawaii President John Tasato welcomes Uchinanchu Talk Story III.

Aloha!  Haisai!

We just completed the successful Uchinanchu Talk Story III “U.S. Bases in Okinawa Forum.”  The conference was held at the East-West Center on March 10.  The purpose of the conference was not to make policy, nor to make a statement, but to learn more about a complex issue and just as importantly to ask questions.

We were honored to have Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie and Lt. General Wallace “Chip” Gregson, (Ret.), former Commanding General US Marine Force Pacific (MARFORPAC) as our keynote speakers.  In light of the high level of interest at the conference and the need to keep the conversation going we have provided a link to Gov. Abercrombie’s speech and a comment section where you are invited to voice your opinion on the issue.  We ask that you be civil and thoughtful in your comment speaking to the issue and refraining from personal attacks.

WUB Hawaii is proud to be partners with Akisamiyo-! and the East-West Center.  It is through partnering together that we will strengthen our community locally and around the world.

John Y. Tasato
President, WUB Hawaii