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 fol-
lowing 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, mark-
ing 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 Phoe-
nix, 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 Oki-
nawan descent living in the United States, with approxi-
mately half of that number residing in the State of Ha-
wai’i; 
Whereas the Okinawan community has made significant con-
tributions to government, business, the military, edu-
cation, 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 Ar-
tillery Battalion, and the Military Intelligence Service; 
Whereas, 
during 
the 
Battle 
of 
Okinawa 
in 
1945, 
servicemembers of Okinawan heritage in the Military In-
telligence Service engaged in life-saving translation and 
interpretation services to convince the local population to 
surrender to United States forces, allowing the distribu-
tion of humanitarian aid to the local population that had 
suffered greatly during the war; 
Whereas to provide further humanitarian aid to Okinawa fol-
lowing 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 diver-
sity 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, Min-
nesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Mexico, 
New York, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wash-
ington, and the District of Columbia; 
Whereas Okinawan Americans have held top positions in gov-
ernment, business, the military, and education, includ-
ing— 
(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 Com-
mander of United States Cyber Command and former 
Director of the National Security Agency, the first four- 
star General of Okinawan ancestry; 
(3) Mr. Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Ha-
wai’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 Her-
itage 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, Uechi- 
Ryu, 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 Sis-
ter City Relationship; 
(3) the 62d anniversary of the Kauai County- 
Ishigaki Sister City Relationship; 
(4) the 60th anniversary of the Maui County- 
Miyakojima Sister City Relationship; 
(5) the 39th anniversary of the Hawai’i County- 
Nago Sister City Relationship; 
(6) the 23d anniversary of the Lakewood, Wash-
ington-Okinawa City Sister City Relationship; 
(7) the 14th anniversary of the Hawai’i County- 
Kumejima 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 Friend-
ship 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 Oki-
nawa and the United States: Now, therefore, be it 
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Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the 125th anniversary of Oki-
nawan immigration to the United States and the 
historic contributions of Okinawan Americans to the 
Nation; 
(2) reaffirms the unique cultural and people-to- 
people ties between the United States and Okinawa; 
and 
(3) urges the people of the United States to 
honor the 125th anniversary of Okinawan immigra-
tion to the United States with appropriate programs 
and activities. 
Æ 
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