2023 Heritage Tour

As part of the 2023 Heritage Tour, Oroku Aza Jin members or those with an affiliation to Oroku Village were treated to an 18 site in depth tour (a combination of walking and micro bus riding) of two of the 12 azas that comprised Oroku-son, which is now consolidated with Naha-shi. We also had many members from our sister club, “Aza Oroku do Aza Tabaru of Brazil” from Sao Paulo, Brazil visiting for the Naha Tsuna Hiki at the time. This tour was memorialized in a special booklet, complete with photos and explanations that each of the tour members got to keep! More impressive was the coordination of the two azas (Aza Oroku, Aza Tabaru) to put together this tour. At each of the 18 sites, was a team of community members (of all ages) waiting to guide all of the visitors to each site – several of them utaki (sacred sites). They provided written and verbal explanations in English, Japanese and Portuguese. Altogether approximately 180 volunteers coordinated this tour which culminated in an exciting aloha party at a nearby hotel. We all had so much fun and thoroughly enjoyed the food and entertainment – especially since we were able to finally hear Kenton Odo sensei of Afuso Ryu perform in Okinawa! 

More touching was the generous monetary donations presented by Aza Oroku and Aza Tabaru to assist with the relief effort for those still recovering from the devastating fires on Maui. These donations were received by HUOA's Yuimaaru Maui Fund and will be sent to the Hawaii Community Foundation - Maui Strong Fund.