IV 

119TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 29 

Recognizing the 125th anniversary of organized Okinawan immigration to 

the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 9, 2025 

Ms. TOKUDA (for herself, Mr. CASE, and Ms. SA ́NCHEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 

Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 125th anniversary of organized Okinawan 

immigration to the United States. 

Whereas, on January 8, 1900, 26 contract laborers from the 

island of Okinawa led by Mr. Kyuzo Toyama arrived in 

Honolulu, Hawai’i, aboard the S.S. City of China, marking the first organized immigration of Okinawan people 

to the United States; 

Whereas the first Okinawan to arrive in the United States 

was Mr. Keizo Kawatsu, who arrived in the United 

States in 1889 through Vancouver, Canada, passing 

through Los Angeles, California, before settling in Phoenix, Arizona; 

Whereas the territory of Hawai’i was a major destination for 

organized Okinawan migration in a diaspora that has 


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since extended across North America, South America, 

and beyond; 

Whereas there is estimated to be over 100,000 people of Okinawan descent living in the United States, with approximately half of that number residing in the State of Hawai’i; 

Whereas the Okinawan community has made significant contributions to government, business, the military, education, and other sectors in the United States; 

Whereas, during the Second World War, American soldiers of 

Okinawan heritage fought bravely alongside Japanese 

American nisei soldiers in the 442d Regimental Combat 

Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 552d Field Artillery Battalion, and the Military Intelligence Service; 

Whereas, during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, 

servicemembers of Okinawan heritage in the Military Intelligence Service engaged in life-saving translation and 

interpretation services to convince the local population to 

surrender to United States forces, allowing the distribution of humanitarian aid to the local population that had 

suffered greatly during the war; 

Whereas to provide further humanitarian aid to Okinawa following the Second World War, Okinawan Americans 

gathered donations and worked with the United States 

military to deliver shipments of clothes, medicine, school 

supplies, and livestock to Okinawa; 

Whereas Okinawan Americans have established community 

cultural organizations to promote collaboration and diversity across the country, including in over 50 Okinawan 

Kenjinkai organizations in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, 

California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawai’i, Illinois, 


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Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Mexico, 

New York, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia; 

Whereas Okinawan Americans have held top positions in government, business, the military, and education, including— 

(1) the Honorable David Ige, former Governor of the 

State of Hawai’i, the first Okinawan American elected 

Governor of a United States State; 

(2) General (ret.) Paul Nakasone, former Commander of United States Cyber Command and former 

Director of the National Security Agency, the first fourstar General of Okinawan ancestry; 

(3) Mr. Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Hawai’i State Department of Education; 

(4) Mr. David Roberts, Manager of the Los Angeles 

Dodgers, the first Manager of Asian heritage to lead a 

team to the World Series and to a World Series title; 

(5) Mr. Mark Taira, Chief Executive Officer and 

President of King’s Hawaiian Bakery; 

(6) Mr. Roy Yamaguchi, celebrity chef and 

restauranteur; 

(7) Ms. Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone, Okinawan dance 

performer, choreographer, and instructor recognized by 

the National Endowment for the Arts as a National Heritage Fellow in 2012; 

(8) Mr. Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele virtuoso and 

composer; and 

(9) Ms. Tamilyn Tomita, actress; 

Whereas Okinawan Americans have perpetuated their unique 

cultural identity, history, and indigenous languages as 


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recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific 

and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); 

Whereas Okinawa is the birthplace of karate, and Okinawan 

immigrants introduced and spread the martial art and its 

distinct styles, including Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, UechiRyu, and Shito-Ryu, to Hawai’i, the United States, and 

the world; 

Whereas the year 2025 also marks the anniversary of many 

sister-State and sister-city relationships between Okinawa 

and the United States, including— 

(1) the 40th anniversary of the Hawai’i-Okinawa 

Sister State Relationship; 

(2) the 65th anniversary of the Honolulu-Naha Sister City Relationship; 

(3) the 62d anniversary of the Kauai CountyIshigaki Sister City Relationship; 

(4) the 60th anniversary of the Maui CountyMiyakojima Sister City Relationship; 

(5) the 39th anniversary of the Hawai’i CountyNago Sister City Relationship; 

(6) the 23d anniversary of the Lakewood, Washington-Okinawa City Sister City Relationship; 

(7) the 14th anniversary of the Hawai’i CountyKumejima Sister City Relationship; 

(8) the 12th anniversary of the Redondo Beach, 

California-Itoman City Sister City Relationship; and 

(9) the 5th anniversary of the Honolulu-Kin Friendship Agreement; and 

Whereas Okinawan Americans will continue to perpetuate 

and share their unique cultural identity and heritage and 

foster deeper relationships between the peoples of Okinawa and the United States: Now, therefore, be it 


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1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the 125th anniversary of Oki3 nawan immigration to the United States and the 

4 historic contributions of Okinawan Americans to the 

5 Nation; 

6 (2) reaffirms the unique cultural and people-to7 people ties between the United States and Okinawa; 

8 and 

9 (3) urges the people of the United States to 

10 honor the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigra11 tion to the United States with appropriate programs 

12 and activities. 

Æ 


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