Exhibit Floor & 3rd Floor 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Bon Dance 5:30 PM

• All booths/rooms will close during the Bon Dance, except selected food booths

• Convention Center parking open from 7AM, cost $10

• Shuttle from McKinley High School begins at 7AM, roundtrip shuttle cost $3

Doors open at 9AM
Closes at 10PM

• No pets (except service animals)

• No hard shell coolers

• No lawn chairs

• Bring CASH - scrip booths only accept cash (ATMs available)

5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

• Only selected food booths will remain open until 8 PM.

• All other festival booths/rooms will close at 5 PM. 

Exhibit Floor & 3rd Floor 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• Convention Center parking open from 7AM, cost $10

• Shuttle from McKinley High School begins at 7AM, roundtrip shuttle cost $3

Doors open at 9:00 AM

Closes at 4:00 PM

• No pets (except service animals)

• No hard shell coolers

• No lawn chairs

• Bring CASH - scrip booths will only accept cash (ATMs available)

Seating for 600 will be provided to watch the local performing arts groups for odori (dance), koto, sanshin, eisa, taiko, karate students perform on Saturday and Sunday. We have a long list of performers coming from Okinawa! Please see the entertainment program above for more details.

Bring your reusable shopping bags and fill them with fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits and other delicious treats to eat! Cool down with a refreshing mason jar of plantation tea. Support local businesses and eat local!

Add 2019 to your Okinawan Festival t-shirt collection! The 37th Okinawan Festival T-shirt is available in men’s, tank top, women’s, and youth sizes. Designs will be posted on the website and Facebook.

Children’s Activities include favorite games, Keiki Korner for the little ones (pre-school and under) and new this year - a hands on Lego booth all on the exhibit floor. Upstairs in the “Mura - village”, the whole family can take pictures dressed in Uchina kimono and participate in various interactive exhibits in Bunkwanushima (cultural village) room. Activities from the June Mini-day Camp will be scheduled throughout the weekend. Different photo opportunities are available through- out the festival and village floors.

Discover a fabulous selection of potted plants and flowers for sale, such as orchids, water lilies, succulents, vegetables, and fruits. Find the perfect addition for your houseplant collection and outdoor garden!

Carefully sculptured and designed miniature trees and plants displayed by the members of the Bonsai association are shared at the festival.

The Hawaii Okinawa Plaza is completed and ready for business! Celebrate with us and learn more about this project which helps to secure the financial future of the HUOA. Updates from the HOP committee will be on display and visit with our local and Okinawa partners who helped make this dream come true!

Olelo Community Media has been a longtime partner of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Learn about all the different classes and skills you can learn through Olelo and learn how to take better photos and video on your own device. Sign up for Olelo classes and you too can be part of our HUOA video crew!

Enjoy an ice-cold Orion Beer or Awamori cocktail! 

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Open Saturday 8/31 - 11:00am – 5:00pm, then relocate bar closer to the Bon Dance 5:30pm – 9:00 pm

Open Sunday  9/1 - 11:00am – 3:00pm

Cash or credit cards only.  No scrips

Orion Beer $8.75

Chili Pepper Awamori Gimlet $9.00

Kona Coffee Awamori Cocktail $9.00 

Room 311
Experience Hawaii’s version of Okinawa’s famous Heiwa Doori (marketplace in Naha). Specialty foods from Okinawa will be on sale, such as konbu (dried kelp), goya-cha (bitter melon tea), Okinawa soba noodles, andagi mix, shikwasa (Okinawan lemon-lime) juice, kokuto (black sugar candy) and more.

Room 313 A &B
Explore a wide array of wonderful original arts and crafts by local artisans and crafters.

Room 316A
Cultural Village - Improve your knowledge of Okinawan culture! The Cultural Village features a variety of displays and activities highlighting Okinawan culture, including musical instruments, calligraphy, Shimakutuba (Okinawan language), and kimono and paranku dressing and picture taking (available for a fee). This year, we will have a special feature on Okinawan tattoos with a special book signing with Lee Tonouchi and Laura Kina - author and illustrator of "Okinawan Princess - Da Legend of Hachiji Tattoos." We will also have historical insight into why women's hands were tattooed and you can have your own hands tattooed too!

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Schedule - Book signing & Performances (download PDF)

Room 312

Yuimaaru means “Communities supporting one another” is the core part of our Okinawan community. Learn about the history and legacy of the Hawaii Okinawan community and what makes it so special. Exhibits will tell the stories of the Hawaii Okinawan Restaurant Project, which showcases the many restaurants owned by Okinawan families in Hawaii, the Battle of Okinawa, Pigs from the Sea, and the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Museum. Storyteller Alton Takiyama Chung will bring to life the stories of the Himeyuri and the Pigs from the Sea. Step back in time to discover the roots of the Hawaii Okinawan community! See Schedule

Room 317A

Join us as you journey to find your roots.  Our immigrant data base contains 19,000 records and covers Okinawan immigrant information from 1900-1925.  We will have representatives from Okinawan Prefectural Library (OPL) who are able to tap into their vast records for finding relatives in Okinawa. You can also come and learn about the one and only Serikaku Sashiki Flyer “Made-in-Hawaii” airplane from Waipahu.  We’ll have a fun “make-and-take” airplane for the young children. Love to learn and read?  Come and browse and buy our “Short Story Books” filled with stories of our Issei, Nissei and Sansei life experiences and situations both in Hawaii and Okinawa.  We also have a “Beginner’s Guidebook” for genealogy research.  Come check us out in Room 317A on the 3rd floor. 

Download the Genealogy Request Form. 

Room 315
Explore Okinawa through the Okinawa Visitors and Convention Bureau’s colorful display of places to explore and visit. Talk story with members of Hawaii Okinawa Creative Arts and their shisa! Opportunity to get a real sanshin from an authentic sanshin shop!

Room 314

Learn about the Hawaii United Okinawan Association's (HUOA) events, clubs, classes, and programs.  Learn about membership opportunities and find out how you can get involved! HUOA gift shop items and selected Okinawan artifacts from local families will be available for sale with proceeds going to specific HUOA programs.

Room 313C

Movies for the whole family to enjoy!

Saturday 8/31

9:15 am - 11:16 am Jimami Tofu . (121 min)

11:20 am - 12:30 pm Pigs from the Sea (70 min)

12:35 pm - 2:11 pm Ryujin Mabuyer (96 min)

2:15 pm - 2:41 pm Family Ingredients (26 min)

2:45 pm - 4:46 pm Jimami Tofu (121 min)

Sunday 9/1

9:15 am - 10:25 am Pigs from the Sea (70 min)

10:30 am - 12:06 Ryujin Mabuyer (96 min)

12:10 pm - 12:36 Family Ingredients (26 min) 

12:41 pm - 2:42 Jimami Tofu (121 min)

2:45 pm - 3:55 pm Pigs from the Sea (70 min) 

Room 317B
Hospitality room for volunteers. 

Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyo Kai Hawaii Shibu

Derek Fujio, President | Jane Kaneshiro, Sozan Kai | Bonnie Miyashiro, Soho Kai | Yamashiro Yoneko, Sokyoku Kenkyu Kai | Yasuko Arakawa, Aki no Kai | Toyoko Toma, Sokyo Kai | Kazuko Ito, Sokyoku Kyoshitsu

9:30 AM

Ryukyu Koten Ongaku Nomura Ryu Ongaku Kyokai Hawaii Shibu

Seiichi Yagi, Chapter President

9:55 AM

Hawaii Taiko Kai

Terry Higa, Instructor

10:20 AM

Opening Procession

Chondara, Shishimai, VIPs, Paranku, HUOA flags

10:50 AM

Paranku Clubs of Hawaii

Jane Tateyama, President

11:05 AM

Formal Opening Ceremony

Jo Ige, HUOA President | Governor Ige | Mayor Kirk Caldwell | Counsul General | UJSH President

11:20 AM

Brandon Ing & Yuttai Kwattai

Brandon Ing

11:45 AM

Ryusei Honryu Ryuko Kai

Teacher and Artistic Director Mitsuko Toguchi Nakasone, Kaishu

12:00 PM

Yui Buyo SuiShin Kyogi Kai Hawaii Shibu

Misako Yagi, Shibucho

12:25 PM

Hawaii Okinawa Creative Arts

Jon Itomura, President & Eric Nitta, Vice President

12:50 PM

Hooge Ryu Hana Nuuzi no Kai Nakasone Dance Academy

Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone, Grand Master and Director

1:20 PM

Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii

Founder and Regional Director, Akemi Martin, Sensei

1:50 PM

Jimpu Kai U.S.A. Kin Ryosho Ryukyu Geino Kenkyusho

Cheryl Yoshie Nakasone, Instrructor and Shibu Cho

2:25 PM

Matsukawa Ikuko Chorus Group

Aiko Maeshiro, Group Leader

3:00 PM

Shorin-Ryu Hawaii Seibukan

Masakazu Teruya, Kancho

3:25 PM

Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai Hawaii

Grant "Sandaa" Murata, Chapter President

3:50 PM

KACHASHI // BON DANCE

4:50 PM

Opening & Welcome

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5:30 PM

Young Okinawans of Hawaii

Brandon Ing / Collin Hoo

5:35 PM

Iwakuni Odori Aiko Kai

Gregg Nakayama, President | Marion Kanemori, Vice-President and Dance Committee Chair

6:40 PM

Hawaii Shin Kobukai

Betty Dela Cuesta, Head Instructor

7:15 PM

Aiea Taiheiji Yagura Gumi

Todd Imamura, President

7:50 PM

Hawaii Eisa Shinyuu Kai

Melissa Uyeunten

8:25 PM

KACHASHI

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9:25 PM

Kilauea Okinawa Dance Group

Toshiko Neumann, Leader

9:30 AM

Hawaii Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate Association

Mitchell Shimamura, Sensei

9:50 AM

HUOA Ichigo Ichi E Class

Derek Asato, Sensei

10:15 AM

Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko

Troy Sakihara, Leader

10:40 AM

Radio Okinawa's 2019 Miuta Taisho Winner: Champu Ryu Geino Dan

11:15 AM

Azama Akemi Ryubu Kenkyujo Hawaii Shibu Nomura Ryu Dento Ongaku Kyokai Hawaii

Allison Yanagi, Saikosho

11:50 AM

Chinagu Eisa Hawaii

Devin Kawamura, President

12:25 PM

Nidaime Teishin Kai Hawaii Shibu & HUOA Sanshin Class

Ryosei Oshiro, Sensei

1:00 PM

Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai - Frances Nakachi Ryubu Dojo

France Nakachi Kuba, Artistic Director; special appearance by Azama Honryu Seifu Ichisen Kai USA Mototake Kinuko Ryubu Kenkyujo

1:45 PM

Yomitan Tokeshi Shishimai Hozonkai (Society of Traditional Yomitan Tokeshi Shishimai Preservation)

Kiyoshi Kobashigawa

2:30 PM

Okinawa Minyo Kyokai Hawaii & Urizun Minyo Group

Tribute to Derek Ichiro Shiroma, Sensei

3:10 PM

KACHASHI

3:40 PM