Miree Ya Kugani: A Bright Hopeful Future

Now through mid-December 2025, the James & Abigail Campbell Library is hosting “Miree Ya Kugani: A Bright Hopeful Future | Celebrating 125 Years of Okinawan Immigration to Hawaiʻi,” an exhibition presented by the Hawaiʻi United Okinawa Association (HUOA).

About the Exhibit

On January 8, 1900, twenty-six Okinawan men arrived in Honolulu—marking the beginning of Okinawan immigration to Hawaiʻi. In the years that followed, many more Issei (first-generation immigrants) came to work on Hawaiʻi’s plantations, enduring harsh conditions while laying the foundation for future generations.

Today, an estimated 40,000 Okinawans call Hawaiʻi home, now into their fifth and sixth generations. Miree Ya Kugani: A Bright Hopeful Future, presented by the Hawaiʻi United Okinawa Association (HUOA), commemorates this 125th anniversary with an exhibit tracing the journey from those first arrivals to the vibrant community of today. Explore Okinawa’s rich culture and discover how its traditions continue to thrive in Hawaiʻi.