Recognizing the 125th anniversary of organized Okinawan immigration to the United States.

This resolution recognizes the historic contributions of Okinawan Americans to the United States and urges the people of the United States to honor the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to the United States.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 29 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 29

Recognizing the 125th anniversary of organized Okinawan immigration to 
                           the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2025

   Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Mr. Case, and Ms. Sanchez) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 125th anniversary of organized Okinawan immigration to 
                           the United States.

Whereas, on January 8, 1900, 26 contract laborers from the island of Okinawa led 
        by Mr. Kyuzo Toyama arrived in Honolulu, Hawai'i, aboard the S.S. City 
        of China, marking the first organized immigration of Okinawan people to 
        the United States;
Whereas the first Okinawan to arrive in the United States was Mr. Keizo Kawatsu, 
        who arrived in the United States in 1889 through Vancouver, Canada, 
        passing through Los Angeles, California, before settling in Phoenix, 
        Arizona;
Whereas the territory of Hawai'i was a major destination for organized Okinawan 
        migration in a diaspora that has since extended across North America, 
        South America, and beyond;
Whereas there is estimated to be over 100,000 people of Okinawan descent living 
        in the United States, with approximately half of that number residing in 
        the State of Hawai'i;
Whereas the Okinawan community has made significant contributions to government, 
        business, the military, education, and other sectors in the United 
        States;
Whereas, during the Second World War, American soldiers of Okinawan heritage 
        fought bravely alongside Japanese American nisei soldiers in the 442d 
        Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 552d Field 
        Artillery Battalion, and the Military Intelligence Service;
Whereas, during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, servicemembers of Okinawan 
        heritage in the Military Intelligence Service engaged in life-saving 
        translation and interpretation services to convince the local population 
        to surrender to United States forces, allowing the distribution of 
        humanitarian aid to the local population that had suffered greatly 
        during the war;
Whereas to provide further humanitarian aid to Okinawa following the Second 
        World War, Okinawan Americans gathered donations and worked with the 
        United States military to deliver shipments of clothes, medicine, school 
        supplies, and livestock to Okinawa;
Whereas Okinawan Americans have established community cultural organizations to 
        promote collaboration and diversity across the country, including in 
        over 50 Okinawan Kenjinkai organizations in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, 
        California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawai'i, Illinois, Indiana, 
        Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, 
        North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, 
        Washington, and the District of Columbia;
Whereas Okinawan Americans have held top positions in government, business, the 
        military, and education, including--

    (1) the Honorable David Ige, former Governor of the State of Hawai'i, 
the first Okinawan American elected Governor of a United States State;

    (2) General (ret.) Paul Nakasone, former Commander of United States 
Cyber Command and former Director of the National Security Agency, the 
first four-star General of Okinawan ancestry;

    (3) Mr. Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Hawai'i State Department 
of Education;

    (4) Mr. David Roberts, Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the first 
Manager of Asian heritage to lead a team to the World Series and to a World 
Series title;

    (5) Mr. Mark Taira, Chief Executive Officer and President of King's 
Hawaiian Bakery;

    (6) Mr. Roy Yamaguchi, celebrity chef and restauranteur;

    (7) Ms. Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone, Okinawan dance performer, 
choreographer, and instructor recognized by the National Endowment for the 
Arts as a National Heritage Fellow in 2012;

    (8) Mr. Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele virtuoso and composer; and

    (9) Ms. Tamilyn Tomita, actress;

Whereas Okinawan Americans have perpetuated their unique cultural identity, 
        history, and indigenous languages as recognized by the United Nations 
        Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO);
Whereas Okinawa is the birthplace of karate, and Okinawan immigrants introduced 
        and spread the martial art and its distinct styles, including Shorin-
        Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu, and Shito-Ryu, to Hawai'i, the United States, 
        and the world;
Whereas the year 2025 also marks the anniversary of many sister-State and 
        sister-city relationships between Okinawa and the United States, 
        including--

    (1) the 40th anniversary of the Hawai'i-Okinawa Sister State 
Relationship;

    (2) the 65th anniversary of the Honolulu-Naha Sister City Relationship;

    (3) the 62d anniversary of the Kauai County-Ishigaki Sister City 
Relationship;

    (4) the 60th anniversary of the Maui County-Miyakojima Sister City 
Relationship;

    (5) the 39th anniversary of the Hawai'i County-Nago Sister City 
Relationship;

    (6) the 23d anniversary of the Lakewood, Washington-Okinawa City Sister 
City Relationship;

    (7) the 14th anniversary of the Hawai'i County-Kumejima Sister City 
Relationship;

    (8) the 12th anniversary of the Redondo Beach, California-Itoman City 
Sister City Relationship; and

    (9) the 5th anniversary of the Honolulu-Kin Friendship Agreement; and

Whereas Okinawan Americans will continue to perpetuate and share their unique 
        cultural identity and heritage and foster deeper relationships between 
        the peoples of Okinawa and the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 125th anniversary of Okinawan 
        immigration to the United States and the historic contributions 
        of Okinawan Americans to the Nation;
            (2) reaffirms the unique cultural and people-to-people ties 
        between the United States and Okinawa; and
            (3) urges the people of the United States to honor the 
        125th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to the United States 
        with appropriate programs and activities.
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