Jonathan Y. Okamura

Jonathan Okamura is professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii Manoa, where he worked for most of his 35-year academic career, 20 years of which were with the Department of Ethnic Studies. He taught courses and published books and articles on Japanese Americans, Filipino Americans, and race and ethnicity in Hawaii. He continues to research, write and lecture on problems and issues concerning race and racism. Opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat’s views. You can reach him by email at jokamura@civilbeat.org.

Jonathan Okamura: Hawaii Doesn’t Have Political Leaders Like Patsy Mink Anymore Submitted: Gwendolyn Mink/1993

Jonathan Okamura: Hawaii Doesn’t Have Political Leaders Like Patsy Mink Anymore

The longtime public servant is being honored by the U.S. Mint, so it's a good time to look back at a remarkable career of firsts and adherence to principles.

Jonathan Okamura: UH Needs To Provide More Support For Samoan Students Who Don’t Play Football Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Jonathan Okamura: UH Needs To Provide More Support For Samoan Students Who Don’t Play Football

Underrepresentation of Samoan and Pacific Islander students in the UH system persists despite three decades of effort to address the issue.

Jonathan Okamura: Ethnic Stereotypes Are Difficult To Eradicate, But We All Need To Try Courtesy: Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Jonathan Okamura: Ethnic Stereotypes Are Difficult To Eradicate, But We All Need To Try

There are simple things we can each do to challenge racism, discrimination and inequality in Hawaii.

Jonathan Okamura: UH Needs To Remain Committed To Diversity Despite National Backlash Screenshot/University of Hawaii

Jonathan Okamura: UH Needs To Remain Committed To Diversity Despite National Backlash

A push by Republican lawmakers across the U.S. to ban DEI programs at public universities would have disastrous effects in Hawaii.

Jonathan Okamura: Chinatown Is A Cultural Showcase But Doesn’t Typify The Chinese Experience In Hawaii Jonathan Okamura/Civil Beat/2024

Jonathan Okamura: Chinatown Is A Cultural Showcase But Doesn’t Typify The Chinese Experience In Hawaii

While many recent Chinese immigrants work in Chinatown, the real center of gravity for Hawaii's long-time Chinese community can be found a few blocks away on King Street.

Jonathan Okamura: Remembering Kekuni Blaisdell For His Aloha To Others Provided by Jonathan Okamura

Jonathan Okamura: Remembering Kekuni Blaisdell For His Aloha To Others

Blaisdell staunchly advocated for the health needs of Native Hawaiians and was an early and strong supporter of their independence.

Jonathan Okamura: Local Identity Means A Lot More Than Eating Plate Lunches And Wearing Rubber Slippers Christian Razukas/ Wiki Commons

Jonathan Okamura: Local Identity Means A Lot More Than Eating Plate Lunches And Wearing Rubber Slippers

As a group, haoles are not viewed as local by locals, but many are in Hawaii because they love the islands and its people.

Jonathan Okamura: A Report On The Economic Returns Of A UH Degree Fails To Address Ethnicity Courtesy: University of Hawaii News/2023

Jonathan Okamura: A Report On The Economic Returns Of A UH Degree Fails To Address Ethnicity

Ethnicity impacts whether students from different Indigenous and ethnic groups are admitted to the UH system, whether they graduate and their future employment.

Jonathan Okamura: Mochi Pounding Helps Japanese In Hawaii Maintain Their Ethnic Identity Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023

Jonathan Okamura: Mochi Pounding Helps Japanese In Hawaii Maintain Their Ethnic Identity

The New Year's Eve tradition is among practices and associated meanings that are unambiguously Japanese in origin.