okinawa hai!

Bokunen Exterior 2 CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK For me, moving to Okinawa has been, for a variety of reasons, both a wonderful opportunity as well as a tremendous challenge. I have studied and loved art for many years and left behind a support group of fellow artists in the states. “Art doesn’t happen in a [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY CASSANDRA ABEL DIY Sign If you have ever driven south on 58 towards Naha or live on Kinser I’m sure you have see this store before and wondered what it is. I visited it recently and it is one of my new favorite stores. DIY Storage This Do-it-yourself store has everything from hardware [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY KHURSTEN CORNWALL Chikyu Exterior If you’re looking for a last minute gift, something unique and worldly, quaint and cute, or just a great thing to do on a Saturday afternoon, I’ve got a treasure for you! Last week a friend of mine called me up and invited me to join her on a [...]

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We aren’t certain we are getting this info to you in time!  But on the off chance that some stores are still offering these, we are adding it now.  We will be sure to re-post it late in December again… CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH PHILLIPS Fukuburo Toys R Us Since childhood I’ve loved the excitement and [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK rakuten purchasesII As holiday season approaches, time, patience, and energy are all beginning to run short, while social commitments and gift lists increase with each passing day. For those of you who have already completed your holiday purchases, congratulations! Obviously you are very good at planning ahead, or you secretly harbor [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY SARRA MCMILLAN Perhaps you’ve seen it while strolling along Kokusai Street, the large, colourful letters adorning the side of the building, screaming “OPA”!! But have you ventured inside this huge shopping mall, investigating the world of Japanese fashion and accessories? The window shopping is a cultural experience and it is an ideal place [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY ERIN SCHALK Koza Gate Pottery In my case, finding Koza Gate Apartment, a combined boutique and art gallery, could be best described as a happy accident. Earlier this summer, I had agreed to meet my friend and Japanese teacher there for a private lesson and good conversation. As with many storefronts in Okinawa, [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH FORTE Kadena Gift Front Where do you buy gifts for friends and family back in the States? I, for one, suffer from the self-imposed pressure of needing to buy something unique and—preferably—Asian. If I’m sending something from Japan, it doesn’t seem right to send something they could have gotten from Walmart. Am [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER GELORMINE I don’t want to alarm anyone but THE HOLIDAYS ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!  *ahem* (I think my panic and unpreparedness are showing.)  Unless you’ve already put in your order for our fabulous 2011 Okinawa Hai calendars, you may still be scrambling around, looking for local gifts for all those special [...]

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CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER SHUE Digging through some of the old Okinawa Hai posts, I came across an entry for ETWS. I didn’t even know that it was on Okinawa Hai and I’ve been reading this site regularly for about a year and a half now! But the five sentence review didn’t scratch the surface of [...]

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