Lynn Miyahira “Two Worlds: Cultural Exchange at Home and Abroad”  Watch Video Yonsei Lynn Miyahira has always been immersed in communities where she is reminded of her cultural identity. In Hawaii, she is “Japanese Okinawan”, in the US Mainland, she is “Asian.” And in Japan, she is “Japanese American”. Yet through the depiction of the contrasting lifestyles of her two Japanese American parents, Lynn illustrates that even people of the same cultural identity can have distinct upbringings. Learn how Lynn’s experiences in Hawaii, Oregon, and Japan have shaped the way she grasps the fascinating concept of identity and the importance of understanding your own identity to better promote cultural exchange. Presentation Outline and Highlights Same Japanese Americans, Completely Different Lives Lynn’s father (descendant of Okinawan immigrants) was raised in Maui’s sugar plantations compared to mother (descendant of incarceration camp survivors) who grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois Mainland vs Hawaiian Japanese Americans – totally different cultures and histories Grew up in Hawaii, a multicultural community, learning Japanese Okinawan culture with a Hawaiian twist Moving to the US Mainland – Oregon, a Predominantly White Community Being “Asian”, not “Japanese” The experience provides the motivation to become a master of her cultural heritage Working in Okinawa to Learn the Authentic Heritage Different professional manners and cultures - the challenges of assimilating in a Japanese workforce Embrace your unique identity and ways of thinking Speaker Biography Lynn Miyahira is a yonsei, born and raised in Hawaii with ancestral roots in Okinawa and Izu-Oshima. She is an account director at iQ 360, an integrated communications and marketing firm, where she manages client relationships and specializes in public affairs, business consulting services and integrated marketing campaigns. In 2020, Lynn was the president of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, a 40,000 member organization whose mission is to promote, perpetuate, and preserve the Okinawan culture in Hawaii.   Lynn received her BA in politics from Willamette University and her MBA from the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She is a member of the U.S. Japan-Council’s ELP class of 2014 and also co-chaired the U40 Summit in Hawaii in 2019.