This paper explores the significant influence of Japanese culture on contemporary Hawaiiansociety, tracing its roots from the arrival of the first wave of Japanese immigrants in 1885 tothe present day. Japanese traditions such as Obon celebrations, Buddhist temples, New Year customs, and food culture have become deeply integrated into Hawaii’s multicultural identity.Additionally, the paper examines how values like reciprocal obligation, known as giri, havepermeated local practices. By analyzing these cultural elements, this paper demonstrates the enduring role of Japanese heritage in shaping the daily life and collective identity of Hawaii, thus creating a distinctive cultural intersection between East and West.
Shigeto Sato (Fri,) studied this question.