Hawaii and Okinawa join together to share food and culture at festival opening

Hawaii and Okinawa join together to share food and culture at festival opening

Festival goers enjoying a Bon Festival dance accompanied by Okinawan folk music. September 1, Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu


September 3, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

By Fumiaki Jahana

 

Honolulu – A large number of people flocked to the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu September 1 for the start of the 36th Annual Okinawan Festival (hosted by the Hawaii United Okinawa Association), where they enjoyed Okinawan music, traditional culture, and food.

The festival ran September 1-2. Timed in conjunction with the completion of the Hawaii Okinawa Plaza, the festival welcomed artists and performers from both in and out of Okinawa.

The convention floor was buzzing with activity as Hawaiians and Uchinanchu from both islands strengthened their cultural relations.

 

There was a lineup of 17 performances to take the stage including Eisa dancing, Sanshin, Karate demonstrations, Hula dancing accompanied by Okinawan music, and other dances, and was capped off by a Bon Festival dance accompanied by Okinawan folk music.

Approximately 25,000 people came to the festival to enjoy Okinawan culture and food.

 

Yasushi Nakao, head of the Chatan Youth Association that performed an Eisa dance at the festival for the first time said, “The energy was amazing,” and noted that the unifying power of the festival for his group and the Hawaiian Uchinanchu gave him goosebumps, commenting, “It was exciting for both groups. I was glad that we could all have fun.”

 

Yoshiko Nakasone, who has taught Ryukyuan Dance in Hawaii for many years, commented happily on the success of the event and the growth of the younger dancers, saying, “Even though this is the 36th festival, it feels like it has gone by in a flash. I am very happy and relieved to see the younger generation becoming skilled in [Ryukyuan] dance.”

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

Go to Japanese


　


Previous Article:
Next Article:

[Similar Articles]