Report

Inter-island Sustainability Lecture Series #2

As the second session of the Inter-island Sustainability Lecture Series launched this fall, a COIL lecture was held in the “Global and Regional Studies Seminar II and IV” classes taught by Associate Professor Kinuko Yamazato (Faculty of Global and Regional Studies), featuring guest speaker Kelli Y. Nakamura from Kapiʻolani Community College.

Title: The Hawai‘i Connection: Okinawa’s Postwar Reconstruction and Uchinanchu Identity
Lecturer: Dr. Kelli Y. Nakamura (Professor, History Department, Kapiʻolani Community College)
Date and Time: Friday, December 6, 10:20 – 11:20
Format: Online via Zoom
Overview:
This lecture focused on the experiences of prisoners of war (POWs) and the identity of Okinawan descendants (Uchinānchu) during and after World War II, particularly in the context of Hawaiʻi and Okinawa. After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, POW camps were established in Hawaiʻi, housing many detainees from Okinawa. Meanwhile, a significant Okinawan immigrant community already lived in Hawaiʻi, and despite the wartime turmoil, they provided support to the POWs. Although life in the camps was extremely challenging, Okinawan immigrants demonstrated the spirit of Yui-māru (mutual aid) by supplying food and resources, fostering bonds between the POWs and the immigrant community.

Many of the POWs from Okinawa were non-combatants, often young men caught up in the war. Their presence prompted Okinawan immigrants in Hawaiʻi to reflect on their identity and deepened transnational ties between Okinawa and the diaspora community. These connections continued postwar, with commemorative events and visits honoring the experiences of the POWs, reinforcing mutual understanding and solidarity. The memory of the war and the values of Yui-māru have enriched both Okinawan and immigrant identities, contributing to the development of a diverse and inclusive Okinawan identity in the present day.

Students expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to gain new perspectives on the connections between Okinawa and Hawaiʻi. They valued learning specialized knowledge about Okinawa’s history and war-related issues. Many noted that the lecture reconfirmed the importance of understanding their own history deeply.

Inter-island Lecture Series

#1　Lynn Miyahira “Being ‘Yonsei’ in Hawaii: Cultivating a Strong Identity & Passion for Community”
#2　Kelli Y. Nakamura “The Hawai‘i Connection: Okinawa’s Postwar Reconstruction and Uchinanchu Identity”