Auditions underway for play inspired by Hawaii’s Okinawan community

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii’s Okinawan community recently celebrated 125 years of immigration from the southernmost prefecture of Japan.

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Now, a new play chronicles how Okinawans acclimated to their newfound home.

“Our Okinawan Ohana” is a new theatrical production that Playbuilders Hawaii has been working on by sitting down with small groups to discuss what it’s like to be an Okinawan living in Hawaii.

“So basically we spent the last two years collecting local Okinawan stories — stories from the local Uchinanchu community,” said playwright Lee Tonouchi, “and then my job as the playwright now was trying to combine all these stories that we would collect.”

It all started in late 2024, when Terri Madden of Playbuilders first approached Tonouchi prior to conducting the interviews and asked him to do a play with her group.

“I said … what kind of community would you like to work with?” asked Madden, “and he said, well, Okinawan, of course! No, he said, Uchinanchu, of course! And I said, well, what’s Uchinanchu? And he said, Okinawan. So that’s how it began.”

Madden assembled a team to conduct story gatherings or circles, and over the next few months, 80 individuals shared their experiences.

They talked what their parents went through leaving Okinawa, what it was like growing up in the plantations and working long hours while trying to find a better way of life and retain their Okinawan culture.

Sean Joseph Takeo Kahaokalani Choo, who is directing the play, said, “There’s a sense of let’s come together and share who we are, share our culture, play our music, the kachashi (an Okinawan stringed instrument), you know, hang out and support each other.”

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With auditions now underway, Choo encourages interested actors to be part of the production, inspired by real-life characters.

“I feel like the theater is a way, or performance is a way where you can show how the heart is painted, because we’re becoming the flower. We’re becoming a character. We’re becoming like our ancestors as it were,” Choo said.

“So when you speak these words, you’re not just speaking the words from the imagination of Lee Tonouchi. You are speaking the truth that has been shared by actual community members. So it’s truly an honor to participate in the play,” Madden added.

“Tight now my biggest worry is, oh, we need actors,” Tonouchi said. “So if you’re Okinawan, you better show up, bro. We need you!”

The next auditions for “Our Okinawan Ohana” take place July 22 and 27 at 6.p.m. at the United Church of Christ on Judd Street.

Whether you are an experienced thespian or have never been on stage, everyone is encouraged to attend.

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