By James Arakaki
The beginning of Haari Boat Races in Hawaii started with a dream when members of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association (HUOA) went to Okinawa on a study tour and paddled in the Itoman Haari Boat Race in 1986. On April 9, 1986, the Hawaii County Council approved a sister city resolution between Nago City and Hawaii County. On June 13, 1986 a delegation from Hilo joined the HUOA tour to Nago to attend the sister city ceremony in Nago City.

John Tasato, who paddled in Okinawa never, forgot his experience in Itoman and when he became chairman of the 90th Okinawa immigration celebration he said, Hilo should be the host city for a Haari Festival. John suggested that James Arakaki go to Nago City and ask mayor Tetsuya Higa to donate three sabani boats for this festival. In early 1989, Mel Kaneshiro, James Arakaki joined John Tasato to visit Mayor Higa to ask for the boats.

Much to their surprise mayor Higa asked them how many boats they wanted. They asked for 3 boats and he agreed. Mayor Higa commissioned master boat builder, Renichi Oshiro, to build the boats with new lumber imported from mainland Japan.

In mid-1989 a delegation went to Okinawa again to arrange the shipment of the sabani boats on the Kaiho Maru, captained by Captain Shimoji. The Kaiho Maru sailed into Honolulu Harbor on Sunday January 7, 1990, after a rough winter crossing the Pacific Ocean. Captain Shimoji went to the hospital to check on his ulcers which flared up over his concern for the sabani boats. Captain Shimoji said he felt that he couldn’t return to Okinawa if anything happened to the boats because he was sent to deliver the boats by Governor Nishime.

Tuesday January 9, 1990 the Kaiho maru entered Hilo Harbor and on Wednesday January 10th, Mayor Higa of Nago City made a special trip to present the three sabani boats to County of Hawaii Mayor Bernard Akana. Governor Nishime of Okinawa sent a message and the flag of Okinawa. The boats were unloaded with care much to the relief of Captain Shimoji.

On May 19, 1990 the sabani boats were launched at Wailoa River and all Hui Okinawa members were invited to try it out. On August 18, 1990, the first Haari Boat race was held at Wailoa River. Mayor Higa sent his championship men and women teams along with talented youth sanshin and koto performers. The first Haari Festival was a blast with boats going around in circles because of the inexperience of the Hawaii steersman. The fun never ended as the party started before and at the end of the races just like they do in Okinawa.

The sabani boat house was completed by the County of Hawaii in 1991 at the Liliuokalani Park and dedicated by Mayor Higa and Mayor Lorraine Inouye. Hui Okinawa club member Morris Nakaishi designed the plaque holder and became the loving care taker of the boats. The plaque appropriately describes the friendship and value of the boats in our sister city relationship.

The plaque reads,
”On January 10, 1990 these sabani boats were given as a gift from the people of Nago City, Okinawa, whose Mayor was Tetsuya Higa, to the people of Hilo whose Mayor was Bernard Akana, may these boats bridge our friendship between two seaside cities, Nago City and Hilo City. May the people of Hilo enjoy the safety from the sea and its bountiful harvest.”

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