About Us
Brief History of Okinawan Migration to Hawaii
In the late 1800s, Okinawa's people were struggling to survive under heavy taxation imposed by the Japanese government and the sometimes harsh weather conditions that destroyed crops and the land's natural resources. Having heard of the thriving agricultural economy flourishing in Hawai'i, 26 Uchinanchus from various sons (regions) in Okinawa left their homeland in search of a better life. Three of these 26 Uchinanchus originated from Oroku-son.
The men arrived in Hawai'i on January 16, 1900 and were sent to work at the 'Ewa Plantation fields, working 10 hours a day for $15 per month. The work was hard and the lunas (overseers) were harsh. Housing was poor and inadequate. No help was offered from the Japanese from the northern prefecture who had arrived 15 years earlier; they looked down on Okinawans, considering them inferior because of their language and cultural differences.
When Hawai'i was annexed to the United States, contract labor was abolished. The Okinawans became free immigrants. Most of the original group of Uchinanchus returned to Okinawa and shared stories about their experiences in Hawai'i. But rather than being discouraged, Okinawans saw opportunity in Hawai'i's thriving economy. Outward migration to Hawai'i began in 1903 with a group that went to work on the Big Island's Honoka'a Plantation, with more groups arriving each year thereafter. By 1924, the Japanese government stopped emigration and only issued passports to those Japanese and Okinawans with family already in Hawai'i.
The majority of the immigrants Isseis (first generation) from Oroku Aza and Tabaru Aza (Oroku's "cousins") arrived in Hawai'i during the 1905 to 1915 period. Brides, arranged by families and including "picture brides," followed.
The success of the Okinawan people to put down roots and thrive in Hawai'i can be attributed to a pledge they made to each other. The Isseis, upon leaving Oroku, vowed they would support each other in their new land.
From Mrs. Ushi Uyehara: Before leaving Okinawa, the original group of immigrants from Oroku pledged to help each other in their new life in Hawaii. The keeping of that promise was the beginning of the Oroku Aza Jin Club, which originally began in Hilo, Hawaii, in April of 1924. Later, the Teruya family of Aloha Grill exemplified that supportive spirit and, by opening their home for wedding receptions and other occasions, were very instrumental in keeping the people of Oroku together.
Oroku Azajin Club (formerly Kyusai Kai)
When the Okinawans first came to Hawai'i, they faced many challenges in the form of discrimination, language, cultural differences, and lack of financial support. As the last major ethnic group migrating to work in Hawai'i's agricultural industry, Okinawans were at the bottom of the pecking order.
In 1923, seven families in Hilo joined together to create a club called Kyusai Kai. The name was later changed to the Oroku Azajin Club. As they had promised, these families opened their homes for wedding receptions and special events, a true reflection of the supportive bond that kept the people of Oroku together in Hawai'i.
From Lawrence Uyehara: Prior to World War II, the Oroku Aza Jin Club had a prefabricated clubhouse in which wedding receptions were held. In those days, no invitations to the receptions were made. Since there was a strong kin-like feeling, the Aza-Oroku people just came as members of the clan.
After World War II, the club aided Aza-Oroku, Okinawa, by sending items such as clothes, sewing machines, farm tools, books and school supplies and by donating $10,000 to rebuild the elementary school and the clubhouse. The aid was not forgotten by the people of Aza-Oroku. In 1979, when Lawrence Uyehara, then president of the Oroku Aza Jin Club, visited Aza-Oroku, he was given a welcome dinner. At that occasion, he was told how grateful the people of Aza-Oroku were: the wartime relief had come when they were hungry and without clothes.
Today, the four sons (regions) that make up Okinawa's Capitol City of Naha are Oroku, Shuri, Mawashi and Naha as shown on the map. Also shown on the accompanying map, Oroku-son or region consists of 12 azas (villages). The Oroku Azajin Club continues to maintain close ties with the people of Aza-Oroku, and "cousins", Aza-Tabaru, Okinawa.
The present membership of the Oroku Azajin Club is some 430 families.