This is primarily an online event, but community members with limited access can watch at the OAA Center in Gardena, CA

Register for Zoom or in-person:
tinyurl.com/findingokinawa24

Watch live on YouTube:
oaamensore.org/live

FREE talk featuring authors and artists of Ryūkyūan/Okinawan descent!

• Jami Nakamura Lin (Illinois)
  The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir
• Shō Yamagushiku (British Columbia)
  Shima: Poems
• Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai‘i Okinawan Literature with Lee A. Tonouchi, Mistee N. Uyehara, Daniel Akiyama, Delaina Thomas, Nicki Uechi, Ashley Nakanishi, Grant Kagimoto (Hawai‘i)

---

On May 18 (Saturday), 1:00 - 3:30 p.m., the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) in Gardena will host a multi-author talk in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM).

The free event will be online via Zoom and YouTube. For community members without internet access, an in-person viewing will be at the OAA Center in Gardena. Registration is required for Zoom and in-person: tinyurl.com/findingokinawa24, (310) 532-1929. Watch live on YouTube: oaamensore.org/live.

While admission is free, the gathering also serves as a fundraiser for the OAA’s Kamiya Library. The library was established in 2002 and contains several English- and Japanese-language books about Okinawan culture, history, and diaspora.

Titled “Finding Okinawa,” the event will feature writers of Ryūkyūan descent across North America. Jami Nakamura Lin (Illinois) and Shō Yamagushiku (Victoria, British Columbia) will share their latest works, “The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir” and “Shima: Poems” respectively, in part 1.

Part 2 will focus on “Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai‘i Okinawan Literature” with Lee A. Tonouchi, Mistee N. Uyehara, Daniel Akiyama, Delaina Thomas, Nicki Uechi, Ashley Nakanishi, and Grant Kagimoto (Hawai‘i).

All speakers will be participating online from their respective locations.

The goal of this event series is to inspire a deeper interest in Okinawa by showcasing creatives who explore their roots and identity through contemporary projects. The first was held in 2019 with local documentary filmmaker Gena Hamamoto, illustrator Flor Kaneshiro (Argentina), and the late author Jon Shirota (Hawai‘i).

Registration is required for Zoom and in-person: tinyurl.com/findingokinawa24 (Zoom link will be emailed on the day of; please check spam/promotions folder). For community members with limited internet access, the OAA Center’s Yamauchi Bldg. is located at 16500 South Western Avenue, Gardena 90247 (on-site parking accessible behind the buildings off 165th Place). Questions: (310) 532-1929, oaamensore@gmail.com.

Awarded as one of 2023’s California Nonprofits of the Year, the Okinawa Association of America, Inc. (OAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving and promoting Okinawan culture. Formed by first generation Okinawan immigrants (issei), the OAA has grown into a multi-generational organization that hosts numerous events throughout the year including cultural lectures, performances, social gatherings, and senior-focused activities. 2024 marks the organization’s 115th anniversary as well as the 25th anniversary of the OAA Center in Gardena.

Nifee deebiru (thank you) to community supporters Ichariba Choodee Podcast (shimanchupodcast.com) and Shima Playlist (tinyurl.com/shimaplaylist).