On Sunday, December 18, 2011, Shinichi Maehara, retired executive director of Okinawa Television Broadcasting Company, gave a talk about Okinawans around the world.  Mr. Maehara gave the talk in conjunction with his receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.  The talk was titled “Okinawan Spirit and Heart:  What Does It Mean To Be an Uchinanchu?”

Mr. Maehara produced a documentary series, Sekai no Uchinānchu kikō, which aired in Japan from 1987 until 2004.  It won a national award in 2002.  The series documented the lives of Okinawans around the world, including Hawai‘i.  (The program is currently being shown in Hawai‘i on a cable station.)  Ten of the interviewees from Hawai‘i were in the audience at this talk.

Okinawan music and dance were also performed by Senseis Cheryl Nakasone Penhart (dance), Norman Kaneshiro (sanshin) and Terry Higa (taiko).  The talk was well-attended with many from the local community.