In celebration of the opening of the Center for Okinawa Studies, Hamilton Library featured a two-month-long exhibition (July 1- August 31, 2008) titled, “Mii-gusui, Mimi-gusui, Sustenance for the Eyes and Ears: Okinawan Performing Arts.” The exhibit focused on Okinawa’s rich music and dance culture. Visitors enjoyed the photographs and artifacts related to the Okinawan performing arts. The exhibit also highlighted the history of Ryukyuan/Okinawan Studies at UH, featuring several scholars who were pioneers at introducing Okinawan Studies at UH in the earlier days.

The exhibit was later transported to the Maui Okinawa Cultural Center, where it ran from October 25 through November 15, 2008. Special thanks go to Norman Kaneshiro, who played a central role by delivering the artifacts and photographs to Maui and assembling the exhibit, and to Wayne Muromoto, who contributed his time and talent by taking all the photographs featured in the exhibition.