Hawaii Nikkei Legacy Exhibit

A photographic exhibit covering the history and culture of Japanese Americans in Hawaii will be on display at Kukui Grove Center, Exhibition room (next to Regis Salon) from Sept. 7-23, 2018. It was shown in several locations in Japan in 2017. The narrative text and captions of the photo panels are in both English and Japanese.

In 2018, the exhibit will be shown around the State of Hawaii jointly by the Nisei Veterans Legacy and the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu as part of the 150th anniversary commemoration of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.

The exhibit covers the initial immigration of Issei (first generation immigrants) from Japan in the late 1800s to modern day Hawaii, showing how the Nikkei (overseas Japanese) in Hawaii have merged their Japanese cultural values with the blend of cultures in Hawaii. Prominent Japanese Americans from Hawaii are displayed along with the prefectures in Japan that their ancestors emigrated from.

The intent of the exhibit is to educate people on the story of Hawaii’s Nikkei and to promote goodwill between Japan and the United States through deeper understanding of the cross-cultural values and customs between Japan and Hawaii.

The exhibit is from Sept. 7-23 from Thursday-Sunday. Hours: Thursday 11 am-3 pm; Friday, Sept. 7 from 6:30-8:30 pm; Friday, Sept. 14 and 21 from 11 am-8:30 pm; Saturday 11 am-3 pm; Sunday 11 am-2 pm. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

County of Kauai Office of Economic Development and Kauai Japanese Cultural Society with support from Kukui Grove Center are collaborating to host this exhibit which is part of Gannenmono Hawaii commemoration, 150th anniversary of the first immigrants to Hawaii.

For information on the 150th anniversary commemoration of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, please visit: https://kizunahawaii.com. For information about the exhibit, please contact Art Umezu, Kauai liaison for the exhibit and Gannenmono Hawaii at aumezu@kauai.gov