“Warabi Ashibi” is an Okinawan term meaning “children at play,” and is the name for the anticipated cultural summer program of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association.

First established in 1996 on Oahu, this program was designed to provide a fun and educational experience for children, while learning about our Okinawan culture in a day camp atmosphere. In 2001, HUOA received a grant from the State of Hawaii – State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, which allowed HUOA to expand this program to the neighbor islands. Camps co-sponsored and organized by our neighbor island clubs allowed the program to expand to Kauai, Maui and Hawaii.

For additional and updated information, please call contact Caro Higa at caro.h@huoa.org.

Listing of Camps and General Information:

HAWAII – HILO
Location: Hilo Higashi Hongwanji
Dates: June 6–June 14, 2024
Hours: Sunday | 1 pm–3 pm; Monday–Friday | 8 am–2:30 pm
Coordinating Club: Hui Okinawa
Director: Robert Kaneshiro
Registration: $100 per child
Discount for multi-child households available
Number of campers: 48
Ages: 8–13 (2nd–7th grade)
Contact: Robert Kaneshiro | rskanesh@outlook.com | 808-315-1421

HAWAII – Kohala
Location: Kohala Resilience Hub Barn
Date of Camp: June 3–June 5, 2024
Hours: 9:00am – 2:30pm
Coordinating Club: Kohala Okinawa Kenjin Kai
Director: Kathy Matsuda
Registration: $20 per child
Number of Kids: 24
Ages: 7–10 (2nd–5th grade)
Contact: Kathy Matsuda | kathy@northkohala.org (808)895-2025

MAUI
Location: Maui Okinawa Cultural Center
Date of Camp: June 4-7, 2024
Hours: 9am–3pm
Coordinating Club: Maui Okinawa Kenjin Kai
Directors: Elaine Fujita, Janet Miyahira, Christine Hondo, Sonya Toma, Ruth Murata
Registration: $125 for MOKK members, $155 for non members (includes one year membership in MOKK)
Discount for multi-child households available
Number of Kids: 30
Ages: Entering Grade 1–Grade 8
Contact: Elaine Fujita | gfmaui50@hotmail.com; Janet Miyahira | miyahirajan63@gmail.com; Christine Hondo | christine.sue525@gmail.com, Sonya Toma | sonyatoma @gmail.com; Ruth Murata | ilimamurata@gmail.com

OAHU
Application forms
Location: Hawaii Okinawa Center
Dates: June 4 – June 7
Hours: Tuesday–Thursday | 8:30 am–2:30 pm; Friday | 8:30 am-Noon
Director: Caro Higa
Registration: $125.00, discount for multi-child households available
Number of campers: 60
Ages: 8–13
Contact: Caro Higa | caro.h@huoa.org | 808-621-1223

Note: Kauai and Kailua-Kona camps have been facing challenges as their long-time volunteers can no longer help.

Warabi Ashibi is supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the State of Hawaii Legislature or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.