Japanese Cultural Center Of Hawaii (JCCH) -COMING SPECIAL EVENTS/NEWS -

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Japanese Cultural Center Of Hawaii (JCCH) -COMING SPECIAL EVENTS/NEWS -
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About JCCH

What’s Happening at the JCCH

Register Your Keiki for Tanoshii Hawaiʻi

Spaces are filling up for our annual summer camp! Tanoshii Hawaiʻi invites keiki ages 8-13 to learn about Japanese and local Hawaiʻi culture through hands-on experiences in music, art, food, language, and traditions. Over five engaging days at the JCCH, campers build creativity, confidence, and teamwork through interactive workshops, games, and cultural activities while learning from skilled instructors.

NOW HIRING CAMP COUNSELORS: We are seeking enthusiastic and energetic individuals (17-23 years old) to join our Tanoshii Hawaiʻi summer camp team! Camp counselors help create a safe and welcoming environment for children to explore and appreciate diversity through engaging activities while gaining invaluable leadership experience. Applications are now being accepted through Friday, June 5, 2026.

Register Here

Camp Dates: July 20 - 24, 2026

JCCH MEMBERS: A discount code for registration was recently emailed to our members. Please email giving@jcchawaii.org if you would like to receive the discount code. You may sign up or renew your membership at bit.ly/jcchmember to receive this offer.

JCCH Featured Ikebana

Each week, our ikebana volunteers generously donate an arrangement to display in our administrative office lobby. We hope you enjoy this special design by:

Caroline Abe, Sogetsu

感謝 - With Gratitude

JCCH Craft & Collectibles Fair x Hanami

Last Saturday, we celebrated Hanami in Hawaiʻi! Our springtime celebration featured local performances and small business vendors throughout our courtyard and breezeway. Families also enjoyed a fan-making craft activity with the 74th Cherry Blossom Festival Court.

Save the date for our next craft fair on Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

Ireichō in Honolulu

The JCCH was honored to host the Ireichō Book of Names Tour, a traveling memorial dedicated to those of Japanese ancestry incarcerated during World War II. Visitors had the opportunity to engage with the sacred Ireichō book by locating and stamping a Japanese hanko (stamp) beneath the names of incarcerated individuals, creating a powerful moment of remembrance and reflection. The program brought our community together to honor these individuals and ensure their stories are never forgotten.

The family of incarceree Taichi Sato was among the many who came to stamp the Ireichō. Pictured at right (holding his photo) is his daughter, Harriet Sato Masunaga, the same person he carved into a wooden statue, which is one of the artifacts preserved in our archival collection.

View Artifact

Mahalo to Honolulu Civil Beat writer Kevin Fujii for sharing his Ireichō experience. Click here to read his article.

Irasshai 2026 Recap Video

On Friday, April 3, 2026, about 500 guests gathered at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi for an evening of Japanese street food-inspired tastings and energizing performances. Let’s take a look back at special moments from the night in our recap video.

We sincerely thank everyone who helped make this evening an unforgettable experience. The commitment and generosity of our community are what continue to make our mission possible. We hope you’ll join us at Irasshai 2027!

Please LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to the JCCH YouTube channel!

How to Subscribe:

YouTube

Click the "Subscribe” button on our

YouTube page

Click the bell to be notified when a new video is posted!

Videographer: Fernando Pacheco

Mahalo to Our Sponsors!

Community Announcements

2026 Hawaiʻi–Japan Sister State and Sister City Summit

Join the

Japan-America Society of Hawaii

for a gathering of more than 400 leaders, innovators, and changemakers at the

Hilton Hawaiian Village

. From governors and mayors to business, nonprofit, and community leaders, the Sister Summit is where connections grow, dialogue advances, and a shared Pacific future is shaped together. Tickets may be purchased online.

Learn More

May 20 - 21, 2026

Support the JCCH

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About JCCH

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i (JCCH), a non-profit organization, strives to share the history, heritage and culture of the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i. Located at 2454 South Beretania Street in Mō‘ili‘ili, the Cultural Center features a Community and Historical Gallery, Resource Center, Kenshikan martial arts dōjō, Seikōan Japanese teahouse and Gift Shop. The Cultural Center presents various programs, festivals and exhibitions throughout the year.

Motto

Honoring our heritage. Embracing our diversity. Sharing our future.

Vision

We aspire to co-create a society where a deeper knowledge of one's heritage and a profound understanding of oneself will enable enlightened connections among all people.

Mission Statement

To be a vibrant resource, strengthening our diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i. We do this through relevant programming, meaningful community service and innovative partnerships that enhance the understanding and celebration of our heritage, culture and love of the land. To guide us in this work we draw from the values found in our Japanese American traditions and the spirit of Aloha.

History

The seeds of thought and planning which had since developed into the solid concrete of Phase I and the working committees of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i were sown over two generations ago. Minds and hearts of Issei and Nisei (first and second generations) forebearers set themselves to the tasks of survival, later to national heroism, and later still to the responsibility of restoring the concept of cultural pride in themselves and their community. Emotions generated by the Kanyaku Imin (125 Years of Japanese In Hawai‘i) celebration in February of 1985 spurred the devotion of major Japanese groups in the community to initially conceptualize the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i.

In 1986, The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce (HJCC) initiated the Japan-Hawaii Cultural Center project, "The Dream," for the purpose of bringing together related organizations in Hawai‘i to work in a common effort to preserve the legacy and history of the pioneers who came to Hawaii from Japan, and whose sacrifices and contributions made it possible for the younger generations to become integral members of American society. It was planned to be a legacy where future members of our community could look back and be fully conscious of their roots. The Center would also foster relations by promoting harmony and mutual understanding between Japan, Hawai‘i, and the United States.

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce was willing to accept the enormous responsibility of immortalizing and cultivating the legacy of the Japanese in Hawai‘i by making a commitment to plant and nourish the seedling. Many community organizations supported the creation of a Japanese cultural center, as indicated by a survey to assess the need and expectations for a center.

Courses of action plans were implemented to create Ad Hoc Committees composed of the various Japan related organizations, and to organize a fund-raising organization to raise funds from the community within the State of Hawai‘i as well as in Japan. Committees set in motion to carefully plan, develop, and research in establishing the Cultural Center. The inception of some committees were: Steering, Planning, Public Relations, Historical Research Program, Program, Membership and Property Management. A schedule of "Milestone" tasks for these committees were implemented to prepare for the tremendous work that lay ahead in the formation of the Cultural Center.

On May, 28, 1987, the birth of a new direction and a new step toward the dreams of our forefathers emerged as the Cultural Center was incorporated under the laws of the State of Hawai‘i as a non-profit corporation to develop, own, maintain, and operate a Japanese cultural center in Hawai‘i. As an independent entity, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i would play a most crucial role in perpetuating the cultural heritage we inherited from our Issei forefathers into the lifestyles and values of our children's children.

Revamped, Revved and Ready... the Cultural Center Boards and staff moves forward with great aspirations

The Board of Directors consists of 15 community leaders from O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i counties who lead the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i by establishing policies and strategic direction. Each Director either chairs and /or is a member of the Executive Committee, Governance Committee, Membership Development Committee, Fundraising Committee, Facilities & Operations Committee, and Budget & Finance Committee. The Board members are elected by the membership as a whole.

The Board of Governors currently has forty (40) members who advise and make recommendations to the Board of Directors, and oversee the implementation of programs and activities of the Cultural Center. The Board of Governors also assist and maintain the fiscal well-being of the Center by supporting its fundraising activities. The Board of Governors are appointed by the Board of Directors.

The staff of nine full-time and two part-time employees is led by the President & Executive Director who administers the day-to-day operations of the Cultural Center.

The Board of Directors, Board of Governors and the staff, and volunteers work in unison to carry out the many exciting plans at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. When put together these individuals, though all unique in their background, create a dynamic, capable and passionate group who are dedicated to the Cultural Center's mission of sharing the history, heritage and culture of the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i.

HOURS

Historical Gallery & Gift Shop: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Resource Center: By Appointment Only

Administrative Office: By Appointment Only

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

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Japanese Cultural Center Of Hawaii (JCCH) -COMING SPECIAL EVENTS/NEWS -

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