July 17 and 18 – Jikoen (Honolulu) Bon Dance: Half the year has flown by and summer is already upon us. Jikoen Bon Dance will be here soon, July 17/18! Thanks to the graciousness of Jikoen, we will once again be doing our Okinawan food booth as our fundraiser. We will once again be having Kandabaa Juushi, Nmu(poi) mochi, and Jiimami (peanut) tofu etc.

We are looking for volunteers to help prep and cook on Thursday, July 16th from 9-12.

Also we need volunteers to help at the booth and cook the mochi on Friday and Saturday. Shifts for both days are as follows:

• 3:30pm-5:30 set up and sales
• 5:30-7:30pm
• 7:30-closing/breakdown & clean up

If you can stay for only a certain time or all the way through, please let us know.

Head covering and aprons are required, and you will also be given hand gloves. Ukwanshin will provide dinner for our volunteers. Those of you with Ukwanshin T-shirts , please wear them on that day. 

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Jikoen. This is our only fundraiser for the year as we promote traditional Okinawan foods.

Please let us know if you will be able to help.

Yutasarugutu Unigeesabira!
Eric

Aug 1 and Aug 22 – Big Island & Maui Bon Dances: Ukwanshin Kabudan and the Young Okinawans of Hawai`i will be assisting again at the Kohala bon dance on August 1 (Saturday), and the most famous Maui Rinzai Zen all Okinawa bon dance on August 22, (Saturday).

We are making airline arrangements so if you would like to join us, please let me know as soon as possible. I will need your names as it appears on ID, date of birth, and airline frequent flyer number if you have any.. We usually leave mid morning and come back Sunday in the late afternoon. Ukwanshin has a Hawaiian Airlines corporate account which allows you 2 check in luggage for free and change of reservations without any fees.
You may also make your own reservations on Island Air through our corporate account there. Please feel free to use the account at anytime should your travel needs call for a visit to one of Island Air’s destinations. Here is the information for you for Island Air:

• 10% discount on published fares
• flexibility with changing/changing reservations without fees
• 1 free check-in
• Pre-boarding
• morning coffee service in the terminal
• excellent in-flight service and refreshments
• no long lines and convenient parking
• Personal access for your reservations through our corporate account
• Convenient, secure payment through your credit card on the Island Air website

For reservations on Island Air, please log in to:

• https://webres.islandair.com/VIBE/ukwanshinkabudan
• Type in user name ukwanshin.flyislandair
• type in password uchinaa808

Maui has the only 100% Okinawa bon dance in the state, and draws about 1000 people. They have one of the best pig’s feet soup, and Okinawa plates at the bon dance. Special Hotel accommodations will be made at the Maui Seaside Hotel for $85 a room double occupancy inclusive of breakfast. Please let us know if you would also like book a room.

Nov 10 – Nov 23 – Okinawa Tour: We would like to announce a few openings for the tour this year to Okinawa. We will leave on November 10 and return on the 23rd. Cost for our tour is $2900 per person and includes most meals, air, hotels, transportation, admissions, and special visit to 2 islands in Yaeayama. Our tours are grass roots, and go to places that connect us to our history, language and culture while having the opportunity to listen and learn first hand from the artists and Okinawa people. There is a $1000 deposit to confirm and hold the seats, and balance will be due at the end of September. If you would like to join us, please send your name as it appears on your passport , date of birth, address, email, and frequent flyer number. Yutasarugutu Unigeesabira!