“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 8–June 13, 2025
Hours: Sunday 2pm–4pm; Monday–Friday 8 am–2:30 pm
Coordinating Club: Hui Okinawa
Director: Robert Kaneshiro
Registration: $100 per child (Members), $110 (Non-Members)
Discount for siblings available
Number of campers: 48
Ages: 8–13 (2nd–7th grade)
Contact: Robert Kaneshiro | rskanesh@outlook.com | 808-315-1421

HAWAII – Kohala
Location: TBD
Date of Camp: June 2–June 4, 2025
Hours: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Coordinating Club: Kohala Okinawa Kenjin Kai
Director: Kathy Matsuda
Registration: $25 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 3-6, 2025
Hours: 9 am – 3 pm
Coordinating Club: Maui Okinawa Kenjin Kai
Directors: Ruth Murata, Donna Tamashiro, Janet Miyahira, Elaine Fujita, Christine Hondo
Registration:

Number of campers: 30
Ages: Entering Grade 1–Grade 8
Contact: Janet Miyahira: miyahirajan63@gmail.com ; Christine Hondo: christine.sue525@gmail.com, Ruth Murata: ilimamurata@gmail.com

OAHU
Application forms
Location: Hawaii Okinawa Center
Dates: June 3 – June 6, 2025
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
Application Deadline: Friday, May 2, 2025 or when 60 children are enrolled.
Number of campers: 60
Ages: 8–13 (Child must be 8 years old by December 2025), Junior Leaders: Ages 14-18 (must be 14 years old by December 31, 2025)
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.