okinawa hai!

CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON       In addition to all the  Holiday Illuminations going on around Okinawa, the Okinawa Zoo Park is hosting a blow out holiday extravaganza this year.  From Dec 23- Dec 28, Okinawa Zoo Park has a special holiday program including dance and musical performances, super laser beam lights shows, Bingo contests, and [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON Having been on island for one year now, my husband and I have experienced Okinawa in all its glory during different times of year and seasons. Though there aren’t drastic transitions in the weather like we might experience in the States, the passing of time here is marked by an array of changing produce in the farmer’s markets and various local [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY JANNINE MYERS   Photos compliments of Pamela Oliveras We’ve all seen the eisa dancers, or at least heard of them, but do we know why they dance and how it all started? For those of you who don’t already know, eisa has its roots in a centuries-old Buddhist tradition whereby many of the priests [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY MARY RICHARDSON Last July when we arrived on island, we were surprised by all the hanabi (fireworks) and matsuri (festivals) going on. It seemed like they continued nonstop for weeks!    Indeed, July and August mark the official festival season in Okinawa. The festivals are great opportunities to be introduced to island culture, [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY While Americans eagerly await Puxatawny Phil  to predict the length of winter, the Japanese are celebrating the first day of spring (which begins February 3rd) with a tradition called Mame Maki. Apparently, many Japanese families scatter roasted soybeans inside their house as well as outside their windows. Then the father of the [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY DASHA GARIEPY   I took this picture in our front yard this morning! Heather and I have been living at/volunteering for Yaedake Farm and Bakery this week and I’m *pooped*! If you’ve ever done farm work you’ll know what I’m talking about. Sunrise to sunset, there’s never a shortage of tasks. But what a great way [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY   Rites of passages. All cultures have them. And if you are lucky enough to know a few local people who are willing to share- you can really learn a lot. We’ve covered the cultural nuances of weddings here, so I thought I would broach another topic; death and the rituals [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY I am always excited to get an invite to a wedding. However, I have yet to be included in a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony. A local reader e-mailed us needing help on the proper etiquette that is appropriate to attend this big event. Needless to say, you won’t be printing out [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER NORDELL I want you to close your eyes and imagine the world’s largest tug of war. Imagine a rope so large that they have close down route 58 to have enough room to lay it down. Picture hundreds of hand ropes hanging from the massive main rope. Now imagine throngs of thousands [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KELLYERACE Tonight after dinner, I took Gabe out for an evening stroll. Usually we walk in the morning, but now with the heat being so intense, I’ve changed up my routine. As it turns out it’s much better now. During the day it’s pretty quiet. But in the evening it’s all action. The [...]

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