Leeward Community College’s Innovation Center for Teaching and Learning has invited the KapCC ‘ohana to join them for a special talk by very own Dr. Kelli Nakamura as a part of our Weeks of Remembrance in reflection of the history of Japanese-American incarceration and its relevance today.
“Shaping Okinawan Identity and Community in Hawai‘i During World War II” by Dr. Kelli Nakamura
- Date and Time: Monday, February 27, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
- Location: Online via Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting: https://hawaii.zoom.us/j/95092945371Meeting ID: 950 9294 5371Passcode: 256160
Description: During World War II, Okinawans in Hawai‘i reached out to Okinawan Prisoners of War (POWs) detained by U.S. authorities in various camps throughout Hawai‘i during the war. By offering food, cigarettes, companionship, and friendship to these POWs, Hawai‘i Okinawans were able to reaffirm their connection to Okinawa and their own identity through actions that reflected the value of yuimaaru. Okinawans also did not forget about the generosity of Hawai‘i residents to Okinawan POWs and to support relief efforts after the Battle of Okinawa, commemorating these efforts in numerous celebrations. Even today, Okinawan identity in Hawai‘i and Okinawa are shaped by the mutual aid and connections forged during the war.