Waipahu, Hawai'i
Culture, History
The Hawaii United Okinawa Association is a very active organization. One of its most visible activities is the annual Okinawan Festival, a two-day extravaganza held at the Kapiolani Park bandstand, featuring Okinawan music, dance and other cultural activities. The Festival provides an opportunity to share the unique Okinawan culture with all of Hawaii’s people in a festive outdoor setting. Often touted as the “largest ethnic Festival in Hawaii,” it is an opportunity to get an up-close look at Okinawan culture and taste Okinawan foods. More than a thousand volunteers are involved in staging the Festival each year. The volunteers, most of them members of the HUOA clubs, spend almost a year planning and organizing the event.