United Japanese Society of Hawai’i
newsletter September 2026 Issue
Members, Friends Encouraged to Support UJSH Through Foodland’s Give Aloha Program September 1-30
By: Annette Matsumoto
Please support UJSH through Foodland's Give Aloha Program during the month of September. When donating up to $249 during the month at any Foodland, UJSH will receive 100% of your donation and Foodland will match a portion of your gift! To donate, just enter your Maika’i number. Then tell the cashier you’d like to support UJSH - #77697. Donors wishing a donation acknowledgment letter from UJSH are requested to email a copy of your Foodland receipt to ujsoh1@gmail.com with your name and mailing address. Any donation you are able to make will be greatly appreciated. Please share our donation code (77697) with your family and friends. Mahalo for your support!
UJSH to Celebrate Kūpuna at 52nd Annual Nenchosha Ian Engei Taikai By: Karen Kuba-Hori The United Japanese Society of Hawaiʻi (UJSH) invites the community to join us for the 52nd Annual Nenchosha Ian Engei Taikai (Senior Citizen Festival) on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Legacy Ballroom at the Hawaiʻi Okinawa Center in Waipahu. Held in observance of Japan’s Respect for the Aged Day, this cherished annual tradition provides an opportunity to honor our kūpuna and express our heartfelt gratitude for their many contributions to our families, organizations, and community. This year, UJSH will recognize and celebrate Nenchosha honorees who attain 80, 88, and 99 years of age in 2026. Honorees will be treated to a special luncheon celebration featuring lively entertainment and fellowship. While the original nomination deadline has passed, members of the public are warmly invited to attend the festival and help us celebrate these remarkable seniors and the values, wisdom, and traditions they have passed on to future generations. We hope you will join UJSH for this meaningful celebration as we honor our kūpuna and recognize the important role they continue to play in preserving and strengthening our community. To register: https://ujshawaii.org/event/nenchosha-2026/
Calendar of Events September 1-30 Foodland Give Aloha (Code: 77697) 5-6.
44th Annual Hawaii Okinawa Festival
26
Nenchosha Ian Engei Taikai Hawaii Okinawa Center
October 25 Tsukimi No Kai November 15 Madoka No Kai 5th Year Celebration 16
King Kalakaua Birthday Celebration
22
Hale Pulama Mau Goodwill Visitation
November / December Wolfhounds Toy Drive for the Holy Family Home Orphanage in Osaka, Japan UJSH Zippy’s Fundraiser
December 12-13 Honolulu Marathon “Volunteer at Clothing Return Booth” at Kapiolani Park January 30 UJSH Shinnen Enkai at JCCH March 5-7 Honolulu Festival Spring Hanashikata June
Pan-Pacific Festival & Parade 69th Annual Installation & Recognition Banquet
Celebrating Our Okinawa Heritage Together
By: Bob Shiroma
We are excited to welcome everyone to the 44th Annual Okinawan Festival, taking place at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center on Labor Day Weekend, September 5–6. This year’s Festival comes during a period of major construction at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, creating some unique logistical challenges. Yet, these challenges have once again demonstrated the strength of our Okinawan community. Our Uchinanchu and at heart have come together with flexibility, commitment, and the spirit of Chimugukuru to ensure that the Festival continues to thrive. Every Labor Day weekend, thousands of people come together to experience the food, music, dance, and warm hospitality that make our community so special. It is a weekend of celebration, friendship, and aloha, an opportunity to share the rich traditions of Okinawa with people throughout Hawaiʻi and beyond. The Okinawan Festival has grown to become the largest ethnic cultural festival in the State of Hawaiʻi, and its success is made possible by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who generously share their time, energy, and talents. Their selfless service reflects the values of yuuimaaru and Ichariba Choodee—the spirit of helping one another and recognizing that, once we meet, we are family. As HUOA celebrates its 75th Anniversary, we extend our heartfelt aloha and mahalo to our member clubs, volunteers, sponsors, supporters, and friends throughout Hawaiʻi and beyond. Your continued commitment to preserving and sharing our Okinawan heritage is what allows these traditions to remain vibrant and meaningful for future generations. We look forward to celebrating with all of you. Let us come together, strengthen our bonds of friendship, and proudly share the spirit of Okinawa with our community. Chimugukuru — to polish, to protect, and to be proud to be Uchinanchu. We hope to see you at the Festival!
Seeking Volunteers to Work in UJSH Booth at Mega Bon By: David Jones We have a fantastic opportunity to share with you! Megabon has graciously offered UJSH a booth at its main event on Saturday, September 12th, and we need your help to make it a success. This is one of the biggest bon dances in Hawaii, and this year it will be held at the Leeward Community College parking lot. It’s a wonderful chance for us to connect with the community and promote UJSH, our Kenjin Kai, and AJA member organizations. As a volunteer, you'll be a friendly greeter at our booth. We'll have a fun, interactive activity with large maps of the world and Japan, where we'll ask guests to place a sticker on the map to show where their families are from. It’s a great way to engage with people, share our mission, and enjoy the festive bon dance atmosphere! Mega Bon opens at 3:45 pm and ends at 9:00 pm. Our booth coordinator will be David Jones. We need up to 4 volunteers for each of the following shifts: Shift 1: 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM Shift 2: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Please review the important event logistics below: Location: Leeward Community College Parking Area Parking: There will be NO public parking at LCC. Please plan to use one of the three designated park-and-ride locations where you can take a shuttle to the event. You can also take the rail, Skyline. For detailed maps and transportation information, please visit the official Megabon Website. Megabon Website - Click Here This will be a great opportunity to promote UJSH and be part of the Megabon excitement. We hope you can come out and help! Ready to join us? Please sign up using the link below. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR A VOLUNTEER SHIFT Thank you for your continued support! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
In Memoriam: Rev. Hiromi Kawaji
By: Sheree Tamura
The United Japanese Society of Hawaiʻi (UJSH) mourns the passing of Rev. Hiromi Kawaji, who passed away in July 2026. Rev. Kawaji served as UJSH President from 2002–2003 and was a member of the Hawaii Kagoshima Kenjinkai. We are grateful for his years of service and contributions to UJSH and Hawaiʻi’s Japanese community. His family will hold a funeral service on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., and the funeral Service will commence at 11:00 a.m. UJSH extends its heartfelt condolences to Rev. Kawaji’s family, friends, and loved ones. We honor his memory with gratitude and appreciation for his dedicated service to our community. May he rest in peace.
Madoka no Kai Hawai’i Celebrates 5th Anniversary with “Minyo Matsuri” By: Lynn Araki-Regan Madoka no Kai Hawaii invites the community to celebrate its 5th Anniversary Recital, “Minyo Matsuri,” on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at the Michael D. Nakasone Performing Arts Center at Pearl City High School. This special anniversary performance will celebrate the rich tradition of Japanese minyō (folk music) and showcase the music and cultural artistry that Madoka no Kai Hawaii has shared with our community over the past five years. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m., with the recital beginning at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 plus tax and may be purchased by scanning the QR code on the event flyer. Come enjoy an afternoon of Japanese music and culture while supporting Madoka no Kai Hawaii as it celebrates this exciting five-year milestone.
UJSH to Honor King Kalakaua on November 16
By: Elisabeth Iwata
The United Japanese Society of Hawaiʻi (UJSH) invites members and friends to join in a special celebration honoring the birthday and legacy of King David Kalākaua on Monday, November 16, 2026, at ʻIolani Palace. The tentative event time is 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Throughout the day, kamaʻāina will have an opportunity to enjoy free self-guided audio tours of ʻIolani Palace. Festivities are expected to include opening ceremonies, a performance by the Royal Hawaiian Band, a review of the Royal Guard, welcome remarks from UJSH, a presentation on the historic relationship between King Kalākaua and Emperor Meiji, and cultural performances and activities to be announced. King Kalākaua and Hawaiʻi’s Japanese Community King Kalākaua played an important role in establishing the enduring relationship between Hawaiʻi and Japan. During his historic 1881 journey around the world, Kalākaua visited Japan and met with Emperor Meiji, becoming the first reigning foreign monarch to visit the country during the Meiji era. His visit strengthened diplomatic ties between the Hawaiian Kingdom and Japan and helped lay the groundwork for government-sponsored Japanese immigration to Hawaiʻi. Beginning in 1885, thousands of Kanyaku Imin, or government-contract immigrants, came from Japan to Hawaiʻi, establishing communities that would become an integral part of Hawaiʻi’s history, culture, and identity. UJSH will host an outreach table near the entrance to the Palace tours, where visitors can learn more about the relationship between King Kalākaua and Emperor Meiji, as well as UJSH and UJSH’s member organizations. Volunteers and performers are needed! If you are interested in volunteering at the UJSH outreach table or participating as a performer, please contact Beth Iwata at Beth@jcchawaii.org. Honoring King Kalākaua in Waikīkī Also on November 16, UJSH officers will pay their respects to King Kalākaua at the Oʻahu Kanyaku Imin Centennial Committee Statue at Waikīkī Gateway Park. A lei will be presented in his honor and in recognition of his important role in fostering the relationship between Hawaiʻi and Japan. The time for this observance will be announced. Because parking in the area is very limited, attendance at the statue ceremony will be restricted. Please save the date and join us as we celebrate King Kalākaua’s legacy and the historic bonds of friendship between Hawaiʻi and Japan!
An Evening of Friendship, Fellowship, and Aloha By: Lynn Araki-Regan The United Japanese Society of Hawaii gathered at Jade Dynasty on August 13 to bid a heartfelt farewell to Consul Idenoue, with our deepest appreciation for his service and friendship, and to warmly welcome Consul Ebisu to Hawaiʻi. UJSH extends its very best wishes to Consul Idenoue in his next chapter and look forward to getting to know Consul Ebisu and continuing to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Hawaiʻi and Japan. Mahalo and aloha, Consul Idenoue, and e komo mai, Consul Ebisu!
JANM Sets Reopening Date of January 23, 2027 By: Japanese American National Museum
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) recently announced that the Museum will reopen its newly renovated Pavilion on January 23, 2027. The transformed Pavilion includes new first-floor galleries for the all-new core exhibition, In the Future We Call Now: Realities of Racism, Forging Democracy; improved special exhibition galleries on the second floor with the inaugural exhibition, Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo; a new and publicly accessible Hirasaki National Resource Center (HNRC) featuring art and design from the permanent collection, the interactive StoryFiles of George Takei and others, and archival viewing areas; the Kosasa Education Center with two new classrooms; an improved visitor entry experience; and an upgraded HVAC system to preserve JANM’s significant collection of more than 160,000 artifacts. JANM’s Pavilion has been closed since January 6, 2025. “JANM’s reopening launches us into a new era, one that brings American stories to life and reflects the full richness of our shared history. We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world to a Pavilion transformed by powerful storytelling, immersive installations, and new technology that connects the stories of the Japanese American community to the urgent issues facing all of us today. These new spaces and experiences will deepen our ability to fulfill our mission, share our extraordinary collection, serve as a beacon for civil rights, and activate memory and the arts to shape a more just and hopeful future, one that inspires, educates, and connects generations to come,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO. Beginning January 23, 2027, JANM will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on Fridays. School and group tours will resume March 1 with reservations to open this fall. An array of preview events and opening celebration activities will be announced this fall.