Na Kūlani Hagemann-Frank
As we board our flight back home, we take this time to pay homage and our respects to the first group of Japanese who left the Empire and sailed many long weeks to the Hawaiian Kingdom. We also acknowledge all ships and flights after that carried Japanese citizens beyond their shores in hope of a better life.
During our trip we have visited the Japanese immigration museum, it was a very touching experience. Some of us in our group also have Japanese ancestry and discussed similarities and the stories that were passed down to us in our families. The museum only amplified their stories and shine light on some of the history that we may not know.
With the many Japanese descendants living in Hawaiʻi, their influence had a big impact in Hawaiʻi even until this day. Shortly after the first couple waves of Japanese immigration, both of Japan’s major religions, Shinto and Buddhism, sent religious leaders and built religious facilities to attend to their faith throughout their lives in their new island home. Today in Hawaii, we have many buddhist temples and shinto shrines in almost every town. During the summer time, Hawaii is filled with the vibrant Obon Festivals for 3 months. A festival originated in Japan to honor and celebrate the spirits of those that passed to visit for a very short time.
With the ancestors that we celebrate, we also serve them food from the motherland. Due to the Japanese immigration, many essence of the Japanese diet has found its way into the average household in Hawaii. One main staple is the Japanese rice which became the main carb source for people to eat with every meal. Later, sushi, chicken Katsu, Ramen and many more foods. Some new foods were even created with using available ingredients to fit the Japanese palate with Spam musubi being the most famous. Today there are many Japanese eateries in every town in Hawaii to enjoy.
The Japanese immigrants left a large impact and influence on everyday life in Hawaiʻi, only enhancing the multicultural lifestyle that we all take a part of today. Because of their hardships in life, I only have gratitude for striving to give me their dream, a better life.He mau makaʻāinana o ka Pua Kiku. Mai Mauna ʻO Fuji a i Mauna Kea. Ua pae lākou i ko kapakai. E ola mau nō nā iwi o nā kupuna i loko oʻu.
References