Hawaii’s Back Yard Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi

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Paddlers’ parade links Okinawa with Hilo

You might say Hilo's Haari Boat Festival began with an Okinawan government official's fascination with flowers.

"Yutoku Toguchi, a mayor of Nago city in northern Okinawa, used to come to Hilo often because he loved seeing all the beautiful greenery we have here," recalled former Hawaii County Councilman Jim Arakaki. "I met him on one of his visits in the mid-1980s, and because of his close ties to Hilo, we talked about making it the sister city of Nago city. He thought it was a good idea, and so did Dante Carpenter, who was the Big Island's mayor at the time."

HAARI BOAT FESTIVAL » Place: Wailoa State Park, Hilo, Big Island » Date: Aug. 16 » Time: Races will run from about 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Awards will be presented as each division winner is determined. Afterward, a special "mayoral race" will be held, featuring the teams of three Big Island mayoral candidates: Billy Kenoi, Lorraine Inouye and Stacy Higa. A pupu party will end the festivities. » Admission: Free » Call: (808) 895-0994 » E-mail: matori58@msn.com » Web site: www.haariboatfestival.com » Notes: The pupu party is open to the public. Cost is $10 per person (free for children under 10). Reserve by Aug. 2 via email to elaineyamaguchi@hotmail.com. Mail your check to her at 171 Hoonanea St., Hilo, Hawaii 96720. » About Hui Okinawa: The nonprofit Hui Okinawa was founded in 1946 to preserve and perpetuate the Okinawan culture by disseminating information and sponsoring educational programs, athletic events and social activities. One of the Big Island's largest cultural clubs, it has 450 member families comprising about 700 individuals. It is part of the Hawaii United Okinawan Association, numbering 50 clubs statewide, with 40,000 members.

The Hawaii County Council approved the sister city resolution on April 9, 1986, and on June 13, officials from Nago city did the same. A delegation from Hilo attended that ceremony, which, coincidentally, occurred during a 10-day study tour of Okinawa that 107 members of the United Okinawan Association (now the Hawaii United Okinawan Association) were enjoying.

The group's visit included participation in an open-ocean "haari" (boat race). John Tasato was among those making the trip, and in 1988, when he became chairman of the celebration commemorating the 90th anniversary of Okinawan immigration to Hawaii (held in 1990), he suggested that Hilo host a haari festival because of its ties to Nago city and its large, active Hui Okinawa club (see sidebar).

Tasato, Arakaki and a few other leaders of Hawaii's Okinawan community went to Nago city in early 1989 to ask its new mayor, Tetsuya Higa, to donate three "sabani" (wooden fishing boats) for this new festival.

To their surprise, Higa consented and commissioned a master boat builder to construct the sabani. In the summer of 1989, Tasato, Arakaki and Hui Okinawa President Mel Kaneshiro returned to Nago city to arrange for shipment of the 4-foot-wide, 28-foot-long vessels.

On Jan. 9, 1990, the Kaiho Maru, an Okinawan maritime training ship, sailed into Hilo Harbor with the three boats on board. The following day, Higa formally presented the boats to Big Island Mayor Bernard Akana, and on Aug. 18, Hui Okinawa sponsored the first haari races using the new sabani.

"It was a blast, with boats going around in circles because of the inexperience of the Hawaii steersmen," recalled Margaret Torigoe, chairwoman of the 2008 Haari Boat Festival, set for Aug. 16. "The fun went on all day -- both before and after the haari races -- just like it does in Okinawa."

"The Haari Boat Festival strengthens the bond between Hilo and Nago City, two seaside cities that are 4,000 miles apart." Margaret Torigoe Chairwoman of the 2008 Haari Boat Festival

SINCE THAT inaugural event, Hui Okinawa has held the festival in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

"It doesn't happen every year because it depends on our club's resources," said Torigoe. "As you might imagine, it takes a lot of money and manpower to do it. We try to plan it every couple of years, although it has been six years since we put on the last one."

This year's festival will be bigger and better than ever. Twenty-four teams will compete in three divisions: Novice, HUOA clubs and Open (for skilled paddlers).

"For safety reasons, we are providing steerspeople for all Novice and HUOA teams so that our boats don't end up crashing into a bank," said Torigoe. "Haari is similar to Hawaiian canoe paddling, but the paddles we use are thinner. Also, unlike the Hawaiian canoes, the sabani don't have outriggers and there are usually two paddlers sitting on each seat, so they only paddle on one side; they don't switch. There are single seats at the ends of the boat, and the people sitting there can paddle on both sides."

One team member is assigned to beat a gong to help paddlers synchronize their strokes, thus increasing the boat's speed.

Nago city's current mayor, Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, will be attending this year's festival with an entourage of more than 30 people, including the Piichiku Paachiku haari team, formed a decade ago, which will be competing in the Open division.

Another team to watch will be Crew Okuma Chu from Okinawa, Oahu, Maui and Hilo. Beating their gong will be 84-year-old Stella Okuma, matriarch of the Okuma clan.

Hilo's three sabani --18 years old but still in excellent condition -- will be used for each heat on the 720-foot Wailoa River course.

"They are smaller than the 18-person boats used in Okinawa," said Torigoe. "There will be eight to 10 paddlers in each boat, plus a person to hit the gong."

Prior to the races, teams will parade in costume around the festival site. Prizes will be awarded for the most unusual, attractive and traditional costumes.

Attendees also will enjoy Okinawan cultural displays and delicacies such as andagi (doughnuts) and soba (noodles) in a hot broth topped with shoyu pork, fish cake and green onions.

"The Haari Boat Festival strengthens the bond between Hilo and Nago city, two seaside cities that are 4,000 miles apart," said Torigoe. "Also, those who aren't familiar with Okinawan culture will be able to experience it, and those who are of Okinawan ancestry will feel renewed pride in their heritage. It's a day of celebration for everyone!"