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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

RECOGNIZING AND COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
   OKINAWAN IMMIGRATION TO HAWAII.



 1       WHEREAS, on January 8, 1900, 33 days after leaving Naha,
 2   Okinawa, 26 Okinawans arrived in Hawaii to work on sugar
 3   plantations, and thereby started the foundation for a cultural
 4   bridge that extended from Okinawa to Hawaii; and
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, today, there are an estimated 45,000 people of
 7   Okinawan ancestry in Hawaii, making up four to five percent of
 8   the State's population; and
 9   
10       WHEREAS, the Okinawan community has integrated and actively
11   participated in the Hawaii community, and has contributed
12   significantly to the development of Hawaii from its territorial
13   days through statehood; and
14   
15       WHEREAS, through the years, Okinawans have been able to
16   maintain their unique cultural identity, adding to the
17   diversity and multi-culturalism of our islands; and
18   
19       WHEREAS, this year marks the 100th anniversary of Okinawan
20   immigration to Hawaii, and it is being celebrated with the
21   theme "Okage sama de 2000: Bridging a Century of Uchinanchu
22   Aloha;" and
23   
24       WHEREAS, in anticipation of this anniversary, the Governor
25   established the Okinawan Centennial Celebration Commission,
26   that, in conjunction with the United Okinawa Association, has
27   organized various year long activities to celebrate this
28   momentous occasion; and
29   
30       WHEREAS, the celebration is designed to share the Okinawan
31   culture with people statewide, using the talents of Masters of
32   Okinawan performing arts and others, and is expected to attract
33   over 1,000 Okinawans from all parts of the world to the various
34   events throughout the year; now, therefore,

 
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 1       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 2   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 3   of 2000, that this body hereby recognizes and commemorates the
 4   100th anniversary of the Okinawan immigration to Hawaii, and
 5   extends its best wishes and appreciation to the Okinawan
 6   community for their contributions as part of a multi-cultural
 7   Hawaii.
 8 
 9 
10 
11                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________