President Greenwood with University of the Ryukyus President Teruo Iwamasa and Governor Neil Abercrombie

Update October 13th

In a ceremony at the University of the Ryukyus, President Greenwood received an honorary doctorate from the university. President Greenwood presented UR President Iwamasa with a replica of the Hawaiian voyaging canoe, Hōkūle‘a, inscribed with the motto “One ocean, one people.” The gift was an expression of UH’s gratitude to the University of the Ryukyus for their generous gift of a pair of bronze shiisaa (which we hope will be seen on campus sometime next year), and for their support of Okinawan studies at UH. The Hawaiian Protocol Team chanted an oli, performed a dance with a paddle, and ended with a mele (composed just for this occasion) and hula noho (seated style). Hawai‘i Governor Neil Abercrombie delivered a moving speech that continued the theme of oceans uniting island peoples with strong indigenous traditions and facing similar challenges, while President Greenwood spoke of the opportunities available for UH and UR to work together to overcome these challenges. The President and Governor then went outside to plant two Okinawa cherry trees to commemorate the occasion. These trees joined others planted over the years by former UH presidents and Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.

The UH group and the Governor’s entourage then crossed the island to visit the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), a brand-new innovative research center funded by the Japanese government that is poised to take its first class of graduate students next year. UH delegation member Dr. Ken Kaneshiro has close ties with the Center, as does COS Senior Adviser Bob Nakasone. Preceded by an oli from the Hawaiian Protocol Team, Governor Abercrombie delivered a rousing speech which included a challenge to the scientists at this new research center to be mindful of the needs of human society as they pursue their research. Following this, the UH delegation toured the facilities, where President Greenwood had an extended private meeting with OIST’s President-elect Dr. Jonathan Dorfan, over collaborative projects with UH.

In the evening, the UH delegation enjoyed the opening ceremony for the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival. At times it was almost like a soccer match, as attendees from the various countries that have large Uchinanchu populations, such as Brazil, Argentina, Peru and, of course, the US (over 1000 attendees from Hawai‘i), tried to out-cheer each other in friendly competition.

Governor Neil Abercrombie, OIST President-elect Dr. Jonathan Dorfan, and UH President M.R.C. Greenwood

UH delegation at Shuri Castle gate. L-R: Center for Japanese Studies Director Robert Huey; Japan Specialist Librarian Tokiko Bazzell; Professor Mamoru Akamine (University of the Ryukyus); UH President M.R.C. Greenwood; School of Hawaiian Knowledge's Hawaiian Protocol Team members Kekai Avilez, Keawe Lopes, Ka‘iulani Kanehailua; and UH Foundation's Donna Vuchinich.

Update for October 12th
The president had a full day, starting with a visit to the Okinawa Prefectural Museum to see the Uchima Family Lineage volume. This book was donated to the UH Library by the Uchima family and was just restored by the Okinawa Prefectural Museum in a collaborative project. (The book is being displayed this week for the 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival, then, Japan Specialist Librarian Tokiko Bazzell will bring it back to UH.) The Hawaiian Protocol Team (Keawe Lopes, Ka‘iulani Kanehailua, and Kekai Avilez) from UH’s School of Hawaiian Knowledge performed an oli and hula noho (seated hula) to express gratitude to the Museum for helping UH to restore the book and recover a piece of history, and Tokiko Bazzell also presented the Deputy Museum Director with a Hawaiian quilt. The delegation then toured the museum and met with Mr. Takumi Toma, who did the book restoration.

The UH delegation also toured Shuri Castle, guided by Prof. Mamoru Akamine, Professor of Chinese and Ryukyuan history at the University of the Ryukyus. They later joined the members of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, sponsors for UH’s participation in the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival, and paraded down Kokusai-dori with hundreds of Okinawans from around the world. Hawai‘i Governor Neil Abercrombie and UH President MRC Greenwood led the Hawai‘i delegation.

In the evening, the UH delegation attended a reception hosted by Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima.

UH Delegation at Okinawa Prefectural Museum to view the restored Uchima Family lineage book. UH Japan Specialist Librarian Tokiko Bazzell (center) negotiated the Uchima Family lineage book restoration project with the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Mr. Takumi Toma (pictured in back center with lei) restored the antiquarian book for the UH Library.

——————————————————————–
 
October 11, 2011

UH delegation at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum (L- to r): Kenneth Kaneshiro (Director, Center for Conservation Research and Training; member of the UH Center for Okinawan Studies (COS) Executive Committee); Donna Vuchinich (President, UH Foundation); President M.R.C. Greenwood; Edward Kuba (Senior Adviser, COS); Robert Huey (Director, UH Center for Japanese Studies; member, COS Executive Committee)

UH President MRC Greenwood arrived in Okinawa for a three-day visit. The UH delegation visited the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and the Himeyuri Peace Museum, then met with Dr. Kaoru Ashimine, Director of the UH Postgraduate Medical Education Program at Chubu Hospital. The Chubu-UH relationship goes back 44 years.

President Greenwood contemplates the Himeyuri Memorial

President Greenwood viewing the Cornerstone of Peace, memorial walls outside of the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

L-R: Dr. Kaoru Ashimine, Director of the UH Postgraduate Medical Education Program at Chubu Hospital; President M.R.C. Greenwood; and Dr. Yoshimitsu Miyagi, Chubu Hospital Director in front of the UH Program office in Chubu Hospital.