One important means of strengthening ties between the Okinawan homeland and the Okinawan diaspora is through educational exchanges.  Chiaki Maehara, Director of Okinawa AMICUS, was in town networking with leaders of the Hawaii Uchinanchu community.

Standing: Chiaki Maehara – Director of Okinawa AMICUS with Gregg Takara – incoming WUB Hawaii President; Sitting Left to Right: Courtney Takara – HUOA 2018 President, Robert Arakaki, Cyrus Tamashiro, David Arakawa, Yuichiro Harry Masuda, Jo Ige – HUOA 2019 President, John Tasato, and Bob Nakasone

East-West Center grantee, Yuichiro Harry Masuda, wrote:

It was a great first step for AMICUS to make connection with Hawaiʻi Uchinanchu.

I hope AMICUS can build a connection with Hawaiʻi and send students to Hawaiian schools after their graduation from AMICUS. Or launch some educational program with students/people in Hawaiʻi.

I believe that AMICUS can also help Uchinanchus in Hawaiʻi in many ways, such as becoming a host school when Hawaiʻi students go to Okinawa for short stay program or becoming translating/interpreting volunteer when Hawaiʻi Uchinanchus make contacts with relatives in Okinawa, especially during the World Uchinanchu Festival period.

Okinawa AMICUS campus

Okinawa AMICUS educational philosophy is:

Developing global citizens who can think, learn and act independently
in a learning environment where students forge their own paths for the future.  Link

Okinawa AMICUS middle school students on outing