AJA History

If you’re interested in learning more about Americans of Japanese Ancestry, especially their history in Hawaii, here are some websites to visit. Or better yet, visit in person. (Admission fees vary.)

The front of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH) on 2454 S. Beretania St.

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii: http://www.jcch.com/

From the JCCH website: To be a vibrant resource, strengthening our diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i. We do this through relevant programming, meaningful community service and innovative partnerships that enhance the understanding and celebration of our heritage, culture and love of the land. To guide us in this work we draw from the values found in our Japanese American traditions and the spirit of Aloha.

Hawaii Plantation Village: http://www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org/

From the HPV website: Hawaii’s Plantation Village is an outdoor history museum that tells the story of life on Hawaii’s Sugar Plantations (c. 1850-1950). The Village includes restored buildings and replicas of Plantation structures such as houses of various ethnic groups and community buildings.

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum: http://www.bishopmuseum.org/

From the Bishop Museum website: Today, Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs. It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world. Serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians is a primary purpose of the Museum.

On the U.S. Mainland:

Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, CA, (JANM): http://www.janm.org/

From the JANM website: The mission of the Japanese American National Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience.

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle, WA: http://wingluke.org/home.htm

From the Wing Luke Museum website: Believing that the culture and traditions of Chinese and other Asian immigrants should be preserved and taught, Wing [Luke] envisioned a place to present the history and important issues of Asian Americans. The Wing Luke Asian Museum was founded to fulfill that vision.