HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Thousands of people are expected to descend on the Hawaii Convention Center this Friday and Saturday, August 31 and September 1, to participate in the 42nd annual Okinawa Festival, themed “Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha.”

There are about 50,000 Okinawans living in Hawaii. Their roots go back to the islands of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, which are part of the Ryukyu archipelago. The first group of Okinawans consisted of 26 male contract workers who arrived in Hawaii on January 8, 1900. Today, the ethnic group is a vibrant part of Hawaiian culture.

Festival chairwoman Frances Nakachi Kuba appeared on HNN’s Sunrise to talk about the colorful celebration of Uchinanchu culture.

“The Okinawan Festival is Hawaii’s largest ethnic festival,” she said. “The event is organized entirely by volunteers and approximately 3,600 volunteers are needed to put on the festival. For Okinawans and Okinawans at heart, this festival brings locals and visitors together to celebrate all things Okinawan.”

Kuba is an Okinawan dance teacher and runs a studio called Senjukai Hawaii where she teaches people of all ages.

“I have been teaching Okinawan dance in Hawaii for over 25 years now and have students ranging in age from 3 to 90. Our school is located at the Manoa Japanese Language School and I just love sharing the beauty of Okinawan dance with everyone,” she said.

Kuba holds the highest certification in Okinawa’s performing arts and is one of many cultural figures who help Okinawa’s performing arts flourish in Hawaii.

Kuba’s school is one of many local groups performing at the festival, which highlights the diversity of Okinawan dances and music that have been passed down from generation to generation in Hawaii for over 100 years.

“We are very fortunate to have a number of schools here in Hawaii that teach Okinawan dance, uta-sanshin, koto, karate, shishi-mai (lion dance) and much more. Most of us train year-round to prepare for the Okinawan Festival,” Kuba said.

Groups from Okinawa will also perform, including Wanibushi “Wani” Masaichi, Uta-Maai and Naha Izumizaki Hatagashira Hozon Kai.

Kuba demonstrated some moves from Kachaashii, an Okinawan freestyle dance typically performed at the end of Okinawan celebrations.

The largest indoor bon dance in Honolulu takes place on Saturday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For more information, visit the Okinawan Festival website at okinawanfestival.com or follow us on Facebook and IG at @okinawanfestival.

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