(OAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote Okinawan culture and to contribute to local and international cultural exchanges. The OAA was formed by Okinawan immigrants 110 years ago and has since grown into a multigenerational organization that provides cultural, educational, and social programs for its members and the larger community. Although the OAA has changed its name, structure and mission to reflect the changing times, the basic goals of mutual aid and retention of Okinawan identity have remained the same. During the period between 1896 - 1900, the first Okinawan settlement in the continental U.S. An Okinawan kenjinkai (mutual aid organization) was founded in 1902, but the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 prompted many Okinawans to move to Los Angeles, joining about 30 others who had settled there from Mexico. In 1909, the two groups united to form the Nanka Okinawa Kenjinkai, the predecessor to the OAA. During World War II, organizational activities were halted as most of the members were placed in American internment camps. Returning from the camps to Los Angeles after the war, the Okinawans started not only rebuilding their own livelihood but also organizing relief efforts to aid war-devastated Okinawa. From 1945 to about 1953, activities were almost entirely devoted to helping their homeland rebuild. The OAA found a permanent home in 1999 with the opening of the OAA Center in Gardena. A number of volunteer-run groups within the OAA work hard to serve the organization’s mission: Cultural and event committees are in charge of creating programs and coordinating performances; different clubs host social and informational gatherings that are geared toward seniors, women, and young people; special committees are tasked with managing membership, preserving the OAA’s history, and developing the center’s growing library of Okinawa-focused books. The organization also presents annual high school scholarships and Okinawa Prefecture-sponsored study abroad opportunities for young members of Okinawan descent. The OAA leadership believes that the issei (first generation) pioneers would be proud to see how dynamic and diverse the community has become. Factors like an increase in programs, an active Internet presence, and the strengthening of local and international connections have helped the organization reach a wider audience. With over 900 members and more young people taking an interest in their heritage, the OAA continues to abide by the theme of their 100th anniversary, “Ichi nu ichimadin: from generation to generation,” ensuring that the Okinawan culture will live on for generations to come.
