A century ago, the Rev. Takie Okumura, an immigrant from Japan, established the Makiki Christian Church.
Exhibit honors Japanese
immigrant minister
The life of a Christian minister from Japan, who came to Hawaii in 1894 to serve immigrant plantation workers, is celebrated in an exhibit that was to open today at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.
The Rev. Takie Okumura made contributions to the early Japanese culture and history in Hawaii beyond his role as pastor. He started the first Japanese-language school here and was a founder of the AJA (Americans of Japanese Ancestry) baseball league. He established the Okumura Boys and Girls Home, to provide affordable housing for young adult immigrants. Before his death in 1951, he published a Japanese-language newspaper and wrote extensively about his experiences.
Takie Okumura: He is shown here at age 29 when he set sail for Hawaii in 1894
The exhibition of photos and his journals was prepared in his hometown of Kochi, Japan, and was originally shown there.
The show, which will continue through May 29, commemorates the centennial of Makiki Christian Church, which Okumura established in 1904. The landmark church building at Pensacola and Elm streets was built on the model of a Japanese castle.
The show "Living in the Light with the Hawaii Community" will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays in the gallery at 2454 S. Beretania St. Admission is free.
Okumura was 29 when he sailed to Hawaii to be minister at Japanese Christian Church, the predecessor of Nuuanu Congregational Church, where he served until 1902. He was brought here by the Hawaiian Evangelical Association.
A book on Okumura's life and accomplishments, "From Tosa to Hawaii: The Footsteps of Takie Okumura," is on sale for $15 at the cultural center gift shop and at Makiki Christian Church. Written by Fusa Nakagawa, of Kochi, Japan, it is in English and Japanese. Proceeds from the book sale will benefit Makiki Christian Church.
The founding pastor's granddaughter Hiroko Okumura and the Rev. Saku Kuroda, Makiki Christian Church's current Japanese-language pastor, were to speak at the exhibit opening at noon today.
The Hawaii Community Foundation Okumura Family Fund is sponsor of the exhibit.
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