The Okinawans in Hawaii (Okinawan: ハワイ沖縄人, Hawai uchinānchu) are a Ryukyuan ethnic group, numbering anywhere between 45,000-50,000 people, or 3% of Hawaii’s total population.[2]
The economy of Okinawa plummeted following its incorporation into Japan after 1879.[3] As a result of worsening conditions, many Okinawans wished to move elsewhere for a better life. Previously, Japan had prohibited emigration from Okinawa Prefecture, but this decision was later reversed in the late 1890s. In 1899, the first group of Okinawan migrants were formed, numbering 26 people.[4] Led by emigration activist Kyuzo Toyama, these laborers arrived in Hawaii on January 8, 1900.[2][5] Subsequent waves of migrants came to Hawaii in the following years, with the second group, also led by Kyuzo, arriving in 1903.[5] This group had 40 people.[4]
Okinawa's declining economy was the main contributor of emigration, but other factors included the recession caused by the Russo-Japanese War and draft dodging.[4]
Settlementedit
While many Okinawans wanted to return home after making enough money in Hawaii, many also stayed behind and permanently settled.[2] This caused the formation of the Okinawan community of Hawaii. By 1908, over 8,500 Hawaii residents were of Okinawan descent.[4]
Okinawans in Hawaii faced discrimination by the local Japanese community, who saw them as backwards due to cultural and linguistic differences.[6] Common insults included "pig-eater", and many customs such as the hajichi (Okinawan female tattoos) were made fun of.
Identityedit
Because Okinawa used to be an independent country from Japan, many Okinawan migrants viewed themselves as a distinct group from the Yamato Japanese, or Naichi[7] (内地, "inner lands"). The attitude of being a distinct group persists today among Hawaii Okinawans.
There are numerous cultural organizations for the Okinawans in Hawaii, the largest one being the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. As of 2020, it enrolls over 40,000 people across 50 different member clubs, each pertaining to a specific region in Okinawa.[8] Since the 1970s, the HUOA has held an annual Okinawan Cultural Festival.
^ abc"Center for Okinawan Studies". Retrieved 2019-08-15.
^Clayton, Bruce D. (2004). Shotokan's Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins. Black Belt Communications. p. 25. ISBN978-0-89750-144-6.
^ abcd"Okinawans in Hawaii - SamuraiWiki". wiki.samurai-archives.com. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
^ ab"The Century of Emigration". rca.open.ed.jp. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
^"The Okinawas A Japanese Minority Group" (PDF). UH Manoa Library. March 16, 1944. p. 5.
^Matsumoto, Y. Scott. "Okinawa Migrants to Hawaii" (PDF). UH Manoa Library. p. 1.
^"Hawaii United Okinawa Association". huoa.org. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
^Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (December 20, 2023). "China is winning online allies in Okinawa's independence movement". Axios. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
April 10, 2024
okinawans, hawaii, okinawan, ハワイ沖縄人, hawai, uchinānchu, ryukyuan, ethnic, group, numbering, anywhere, between, people, hawaii, total, population, total, population45, languagesenglish, pidgin, okinawan, japaneserelated, ethnic, groupsryukyuan, people, japanese. The Okinawans in Hawaii Okinawan ハワイ沖縄人 Hawai uchinanchu are a Ryukyuan ethnic group numbering anywhere between 45 000 50 000 people or 3 of Hawaii s total population 2 Okinawans in HawaiiTotal population45 000 50 000 1 LanguagesEnglish Pidgin Okinawan JapaneseRelated ethnic groupsRyukyuan people Japanese in Hawaii Japanese people Japanese Americans Ryukyuan Americans Contents 1 History 1 1 Immigration 1 2 Settlement 2 Identity 3 Notable people 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editImmigration edit The economy of Okinawa plummeted following its incorporation into Japan after 1879 3 As a result of worsening conditions many Okinawans wished to move elsewhere for a better life Previously Japan had prohibited emigration from Okinawa Prefecture but this decision was later reversed in the late 1890s In 1899 the first group of Okinawan migrants were formed numbering 26 people 4 Led by emigration activist Kyuzo Toyama these laborers arrived in Hawaii on January 8 1900 2 5 Subsequent waves of migrants came to Hawaii in the following years with the second group also led by Kyuzo arriving in 1903 5 This group had 40 people 4 Okinawa s declining economy was the main contributor of emigration but other factors included the recession caused by the Russo Japanese War and draft dodging 4 Settlement edit While many Okinawans wanted to return home after making enough money in Hawaii many also stayed behind and permanently settled 2 This caused the formation of the Okinawan community of Hawaii By 1908 over 8 500 Hawaii residents were of Okinawan descent 4 Okinawans in Hawaii faced discrimination by the local Japanese community who saw them as backwards due to cultural and linguistic differences 6 Common insults included pig eater and many customs such as the hajichi Okinawan female tattoos were made fun of Identity editBecause Okinawa used to be an independent country from Japan many Okinawan migrants viewed themselves as a distinct group from the Yamato Japanese or Naichi 7 内地 inner lands The attitude of being a distinct group persists today among Hawaii Okinawans There are numerous cultural organizations for the Okinawans in Hawaii the largest one being the Hawaii United Okinawa Association As of 2020 it enrolls over 40 000 people across 50 different member clubs each pertaining to a specific region in Okinawa 8 Since the 1970s the HUOA has held an annual Okinawan Cultural Festival Notable people editRyan Higa YouTuber David Ige former governor of Hawaii Rob Kajiwara Okinawan Hawaiian political activist 9 Yeiki Kobashigawa Medal of Honor recipient WW2 Herbert Matayoshi former mayor of Hawaii county Shinyei Nakamine Medal of Honor recipient WW2 Robert Taira restaurant owner Toshiko Takaezu artist Dwight Takamine state senator Jill Tokuda congresswoman Roy Yamaguchi chef and entrepreneur Stephen K Yamashiro former mayor of Hawaii countySee also editRyukyuan Americans Ryukyuan people Japanese in HawaiiReferences edit Center for Okinawan Studies a b c Center for Okinawan Studies Retrieved 2019 08 15 Clayton Bruce D 2004 Shotokan s Secret The Hidden Truth Behind Karate s Fighting Origins Black Belt Communications p 25 ISBN 978 0 89750 144 6 a b c d Okinawans in Hawaii SamuraiWiki wiki samurai archives com Retrieved 2020 09 14 a b The Century of Emigration rca open ed jp Retrieved 2020 09 14 The Okinawas A Japanese Minority Group PDF UH Manoa Library March 16 1944 p 5 Matsumoto Y Scott Okinawa Migrants to Hawaii PDF UH Manoa Library p 1 Hawaii United Okinawa Association huoa org Retrieved 2020 09 14 Allen Ebrahimian Bethany December 20 2023 China is winning online allies in Okinawa s independence movement Axios Retrieved December 20 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Okinawans in Hawaii amp oldid 1200250585, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
