History Highlights

The mission of the Okinawan Genealogical Society of Hawaii (OGSH) is to promote, preserve, and perpetuate our Okinawa family heritage through education, research, and networking.

Summary view
Timeline view

Highlights of OGSH history are:

1993

  • Formed Okinawan Heritage Club with thirty-six members.

1997

  • Affiliated with HUOA.
  • Changed name to Okinawan Ken Heritage Club.
  • Renamed Okinawan Genealogical Society of Hawaii (OGSH).
  • Completed OGSH Bylaws.

1998

  • Participated in other ethnic and genealogical events.
  • Sponsored genealogical workshops.

2000

  • Began translation of Okinawan government publication of emigrant migrations of Okinawans who immigrated to Hawaii from 1900 to 1925
  • Created an initial database using data records translated by volunteers.

2001

  • Began participating in Neighbor Islands’ Okinawan Festivals.

2004

  • Began publications of short stories describing lives of Okinawans in Hawaii.

2005

  • Updated database.

2007

  • Held first Genealogical workshop at Jikoen Buddhist Temple, Honolulu, Hawaii.

2011

  • Created Ryukyuan names bookmarks.
  • Participated in the first Genealogy symposium at the 5 th Okinawan Taikai.

2012

  • Began outreach to other HUOA clubs.

2013

  • Co-sponsored the first worldwide Uchinanchu conference with the World Uchinanchu Business (WUB) and East-West Center.

2014

  • Published “Beginner’s Guide for Genealogical Research-Okinawa.”

2016

  • Participated in the second Genealogy symposium at the 6th Okinawan Taikai. Initiated collaboration with Okinawan Prefectural Library (OPL).

2017

  • Completed translation of immigrant migration to Hawaii database, currently 16,500 records. Translated by OGSH volunteers.

2018

  • Organized Heritage Tour to Okinawa.

2020

  • Created OGSH website which was linked to another website.

2024

  • Published “Genealogy Connections: Past, Present and Future.”
  • Created Instagram account.

Today, OGSH meets monthly, with speakers sharing his/her knowledge about Okinawan culture, genealogy, history, language, etc. Membership is currently more than one hundred-fifty (150).


Ippee Nifee Debiru! to the members and many others who have supported OGSH throughout its thirty-one years!