Official getaway spot offers recreational services for SOFA personnel

Jet ski rentals are among the many popular activities at the Okuma Joint Services Recreation Center. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett).

Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett

OKUMA, Okinawa (July 11, 2008) -- Whether planning a day or a week of fun in the sun or simply some rest and relaxation, one place to consider is the Okuma Joint Services Recreation Center.

"We provide a necessary getaway for military members and their families during their stay on Okinawa," said David Harris, the deputy commander of Okuma. "They deserve any breaks they can get, and Okuma is the perfect place with all the activities and opportunities we have to offer."

Situated in the northern part of Okinawa on the tip of the Okuma peninsula, the 135-acre military recreation facility is equipped for fun, and is open to all Status of Forces Agreement personnel.

"You are never bored at Okuma, there are a lot of things to do," said Cpl. Mwenya Mundende, the Camp Kinser Single Marine Program president, who visited Okuma with a group of Marines and sailors June 20-22.

With beaches on both sides of the facility, guests can enjoy a number of water activities including jet skiing, kayaking, wake boarding and banana boat rides.

"The jet skis were the biggest hit," said Mundende, speaking for the group he was with.

Guests can also enjoy underwater fun while scuba diving or snorkeling in the reefs surrounding Okuma. If needed, gear can be rented on site for a daily fee.

In addition to the water activities, the center also boasts the Speedway Go Kart Racetrack which is open daily during the summer. There are tennis and basketball courts, batting cages, a nine-hole executive golf course, and a putt-putt golf course.

When not having fun in the sun, the Surfside Restaurant and Wave Runner Lounge offers a chance to come indoors to relax for a meal or socialize at the bar.

"With so many activities it's almost impossible to do everything in a single day," Mundende said. "The best bet for everyone is to stay for at least one night."

The facility offers a variety of sleeping quarters for patrons, including camp sites, log cabins, bungalows, even suites and a brand new private beach cottage.

The sleeping accommodations are catered to all budgets; ranging from $10-a-night campsites to the $165-a-night private cottage with convenient beach access.

With all the center has to offer, Okuma is "definitely worth going to and worth every penny," Mundende said.

For more information and directions to the Okuma Joint Services Recreation Center, call 632-4386 or visit http://www.kadenaservices.com/okuma/indexopen.html.

The Okuma Joint Services Recreation Center is located at the tip of the Okuma peninsula that stretches into the clear, blue East China Sea. With beaches on either side of the facility, guests can enjoy a number of activities such as jet skiing, kayaking, wake boarding and banana boat rides; or just relax under a beach umbrella. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett).

Far northern vistas

Story and photos by Keith T. Graff

Almost everyone stationed on Okinawa eventually makes the weekend drive to the northern reaches of the Yanbaru region. For avid photographers and others keen on ogling gorgeous landscapes, however, this popular tourist destination offers even more than meets the eye.

For vista hounds who have yet to visit Cape Hedo, or Hedo Misaki as its sometimes called, it’s a must. On clear days you’ll appreciate the fantastic views of the islands beyond the rock formations and the cobalt blue ocean below. What many people don’t realize is that there are two other nearby spots which offer equally spectacular vistas.

One of these areas is the giant “Yanbaru Kuina" that can be seen from Cape Hedo. This is a three-story replica of the Okinawa rail, a bird native to Okinawa but currently in danger of becoming extinct. It is worth the short drive to see the replica and to enjoy the view, which offers a great backdrop of the cape and the surrounding islands for taking photographs of family and friends.

Be warned, however, getting there can be tricky. As you make your way back from Cape Hedo to the main highway along the access road, you’ll notice an odd angled intersection on your left. Turn left here but go slow because you’ll need to make another immediate left turn. This narrow road will take you down to the beach. Go past the parking area and make a right turn up another hill. Shortly after ascending, get ready for a sharp left turn up another short steep hill into a small parking area.

Most people, when leaving the Yanbaru Kuina area just get back on the main highway and drive down the west coast to save time or take the longer scenic drive down the east coast. However, if you go straight ahead and stay on the road for less than a kilometer, you will find one of the most scenic points on Okinawa. (You will know you have gone too far if you lose the center line on the pavement and start going down the hill.)

The name of the place is called Kayauchibanta, which when translated from the original Hogen means, “If you scatter straw to the winds it will scatter everywhere.” This is another outstanding scenic point that sits high on the cliffs above the East China Sea side. It overlooks the sleepy little village of Ginama.

If possible, I recommend visiting this spot early in the morning to avoid the sun in your face and to get the best photos. On a clear day, you can see all the way down the coast past Okuma recreation center and down to the Motobu Peninsula.

When you leave, I suggest adding one last adventure and continue on down this scenic and narrow mountain road to Ginama, the village below. Once, this road was old Highway 58 and the only road to Hedo Misaki and the village beyond that bears its name.

Ocean Expo Park offers rare peek at aquatic life

** NOTE: The captions for the photos in this article incorrectly identify the false killer whale (pseudorca crassidens) in the Okichan Theatre performance (NOT a pilot whale) & the fossil jaws of the megalodon shark (NOT of a great white).

Lance Cpl. Richard Blumenstein
okinawa marine staff

Averaging 25 feet in length, weighing up to 15 tons, with huge mouths that can open up to 4-feet wide, whale sharks are the largest fish on earth.

They are also a key attraction at Okinawa’s Ocean Expo Park, and the giant fish made a lasting impression on a group of people who visited the park during a trip to the park hosted by Marine Corps Community Services April 11.

Cpl. Matthew J. Vasquez and his wife Wilikinia both said the giant fish were the park’s most awe-inspiring attractions, and most in the group echoed their sentiment.

Ocean Expo Park, located on the western edge of Okinawa’s Motobu peninsula, is a major tourist attraction on Okinawa and is home to several subsections, including the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

One of the aquarium’s main displays, the Kuroshio (Black Current) Sea tank, is massive. It is 10 meters deep (about 33 feet), 35 meters wide (about 115 feet) and 27 meters long (about 89 feet). Aside from the whale sharks, the tank contains a number of aquatic animals native to the Kuroshio (the warm undersea ocean current that supports the Okinawa underwater ecosystem) depth region including manta rays, sea turtles and countless schools of tropical fish.

The tank is constructed with a transparent wall, 35 meters wide (about 115 feet) and 60 centimeters thick (about two feet), that allows visitors see an amazing view of the ocean life.

“The whale sharks made me seem like an ant,” said 12-year old Jariah Tolbert. “They were amazing.”

Ocean Expo Park was the site of the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition, a 1975 event concerning oceanographic cultures, technology, and marine life. The park features several areas of interest, each containing distinctive themes focused on aquatic life, history and nature. The vast park has many exhibits and shows that can keep patrons busy all day.

On the MCCS tour, visitors all started with a trip through the aquarium but then went their separate ways. Some continued to explore the aquarium in depth while others ventured off into other areas including the Oceanic Culture Museum, the Native Okinawan Village, Emerald Beach, the Tropical Dream Center and the Tropical & Subtropical Arboretum.

For most of the children, and a few others on the tour, the comical antics of dolphin species, such as the pilot whale, at the aquarium’s Okichan Theater proved to be another favorite.

“It was pretty cool when the dolphin actually came on stage and stuck his tongue out,” Army Capt. Jeremy B. Robert said. “I’d never seen anything like that before.”

Elsewhere in the park, close encounters with in the Shark Research Lab was the highlight for 6-year old Daniel Locke III.

The lab houses an aquatic tank full of various kinds of sharks and is full of shark skeletons, including the jaw of a great white shark.

“I’d never been that close to a shark before,” Daniel said. “It was cool.”

In the Okinawan Village, the Vasquezes got hands-on experience in mastering one of their favorite lullabies on a Sanshin, a traditional Okinawan instrument similar to a banjo.

“We spent most of our time in the Okinawan Village,” Wilikinia said. “They taught us how to play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’.”

The village replicates Ryukyuan dwellings found on Okinawa during the 17th and 18th centuries and presents visitors with a chance to experience ancient Okinawan culture and explore the ancient homes.

There is no fee to enter Ocean Expo Park, but aquarium tickets are ¥1,800 for adults and ¥1,200 for high-school students. A few other attractions in the park also have admission
fees. A complete list of attractions, show times and admission fees are available on the park’s
Web site at http://www.kaiyouhaku.com/en/index.html.

To get to the park, take the Okinawa Expressway north to its final exit near Nago City. Exit on Highway 58 and follow the signs to the park.

Kadena Services Weekly Highlights - 2 May

We’re live!
Check out Okuma’s new and improved website.
Virtual tours, room reservations and more!
http://www.kadenaservices.com/okuma/index.html




This one’s gonna make you BIG!
Get Fit Casting Call
Military, get into your PT gear and civilians into your workout gear and
show us your best moves. We wanna put you on TV.
3 May • 9 am – 11 am
Risner Fitness Center




Five forks, four spoons and a fab night
Gourmet Night
8 May • 6 pm
Delight in a five course meal and a fine dining experience.
Kadena Officers’ Club • 634-3663




Shots of luv
Monthly Vaccination Clinic
3 May • 8 am – 12 pm
Vet Clinic • 634-1362




Like to Superman?
BMO Music Fest
1 June
Okinawa Ginowan Outdoor Theater
Featuring: A-Team, Get Money Boys, Fabo
Hurricane Chris, Bobby Valentino, Ginuwine
Soulja Boy and more...
Purchase your tickets from ITT
Call 634-4322.

Log on to www.kadenaservices.com for complete
details on all Kadena Services events, programs, and activities.

off-base events (May 2)

May 2, 7 p.m.
Okinawan Classical Dance Performance
Okinawa Folk Theater, Naha City
Tickets: 2,500 yen

May 3—5
Naha Hari (Dragon Boat Race)
Naha Shinko Port, Naha City

May 3—6, 9:30 a.m.—6 p.m
Okinawa Kodomo-no-Kuni Festival
Okinawa Zoo, Okinawa City

May 3—11, 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Nago Orchid Festival
Neo Park Okinawa, Nago City

Lily Festival on Ie Island

Have ever witnessed a sight so spectacular that you transcend time and space and lose yourself in that moment? The tropical island on which we live provides us with many of those opportunities, and only a ferry boat ride away lies another paradise—le Island. On Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., MCCS Tours+ will take you to that paradise.

Each year, le Island blooms a blanket of teppoyuri, or Easter lilies, during which locals celebrate the Yuri Matsuri (Lily Festival). “This is a famous festival that many people come from around Japan to see," says Heather Allen of Tours+. “People should not miss the chance to go see this festival while living right here on Okinawa.”

Board a ferry to le Island, and spend the day enjoying the awesome view at Lily Field Park, which is filled with more than a million of these lilies in full bloom. Also enjoy a variety of local entertainment, including drum shows, Japanese music, and Ryukyu dance.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy. "For children, there is the petting zoo," Allen says. “There will also be lots of good food and games. It is a terrific time to meet new people and experience one of the more famous festivals of Okinawa." Bring yen for food and spending money. Tour prices are $32 for adults, $18 for children ages 6 to 11, $11 for children ages 3 to 4, and $5 for children ages 2 and under.

For more information, call Foster Tours+ at 646-3502 or Hansen Tours+ at 623-6344.

Monument of shame

Story and photos by Keith T. Graff

Betrayal in love can have consequences that last a lifetime. In at least one case, however, the effects were literally monumental, serving as a timeless reminder to passersby.

On the northern outskirts of Nago City along the East China Sea is the little village of Genka. Turn right onto Highway 14 and cross over the island into Higashi Village and you will see a solitary monument near the crest of the ridge.

This little remembrance is marked by a lone sign. Many people will pass right by without paying it any mind. There isn’t much of a parking area and it doesn’t look well kept. However, there is a legend behind it that is as intriguing as its name - Hajiusui no to, or the monument of shame.

The most popular version of the legend rivals the tale of “Romeo and Juliet.” Like the Shakespeare version, a boy and a girl were in love but their families were dead set against any union. Unable to be apart, each night they sneaked out of their homes and met along the mountain path.

One night, the young woman did not appear. After a long wait, the young man thought she had spurned him and became very angry. He returned to his village where in a fit of jealous rage got drunk and made merry with other young ladies.

Later that same evening, his true love finally broke away from her home and ran to the rendezvous place. When she arrived and didn’t see him, she became concerned for his safety. She hurried down the path in great haste only to see him drunk and frolicking with some strange ladies! Feeling betrayed by the man she loved, she went back to their meeting spot and took her life.

The next morning, he felt bad about making such a rash decision and set out to see her. He found her lifeless body hanging in a tree. Realizing that he had played the fool, that his unfaithfulness was why she committed suicide, and to show his remorse, he built a monument to put his shame on display.

island tours - April 18

EXPLORE OKINAWA
WITH MCCS TOURS+

Fun Day at Marriott Resort
Saturday, April 19; 10 a.m.—4 p.m.
Adults, $45; Children (6—11), $26; Children (3—5), $11; Children (0—4), $5
Enjoy the ultimate in Okinawan beach relaxation at this resort. Enjoy the garden pool (with water slide), training room, and sauna. Bring yen for lunch and spending. Note: No children under 3 will be allowed.

Extreme Tunnel Rats
Saturday, April 19; 9 am.—5 p.m.
Adults, $18; Children (7—11), $11
Come join the explorers of Tours+ on a tunnel tour of a lifetime. We’ll explore numerous caves that served as bunkers and shelters during WWII. Included in the tour is a stop at the Battle of Okinawa Historical Collection. Bring dollars for lunch. Note: Participants should wear old clothing and sturdy, comfortable shoes and bring a hat, flashlight, and gloves. This tour is not recommended for children under 7.

Hedo Point & Kongou
Sunday, April 20; 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults, $24.50; Children (3-11), $15; Children (0-2) $5
Hike among the amazing rock formations and banyan tree roots of this beautiful park. After lunch at Hedo Point, enjoy a trip to Banta precipice. Note: Hiking can be strenuous and is not recommended for individuals with health problems.
Okinawa World/Himeyuri Noto
Sunday, April 20; 9 a.m.—5 p.m.
Adults, $29; Children (3-11), $16; Children (0-2), $5
Tour Gyokusendo, then enjoy an eisa drum show, a glass-blowing demonstration, a pottery village, and an awamori shop. Also tour the reptile museum (Y600). Visit Himeyuri Noto to hear the history of the Student Nurse Corps from WWII (Y300). Bring yen for lunch, purchases, and admission fees.

For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster, 646-3502 | Camp Hansen, 623-6344 | Camp Kinser, 637-2744

island tours - April 11

EXPLORE OKINAWA WITH MCCS TOURS+

Okinawa: Back to the Future
Saturday, April 12; 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $18; Children (3—11), $11; Children (0—2), $5
Visit the new Okinawa Prefectural Museum and learn about the island’s past, present, and future. After enjoying the museum, we’ll visit Naha Main Place Shopping Center to enjoy lunch and the modern Japanese shopping experience. Bring yen for lunch, admission (400), and purchases.

Hiji Falls & Okuma
Saturday, April 12; 8:30 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $18; Children (3—11), $11;
Children (0—2), $5
Enjoy a hike to Hiji Falls and work up an appetite. After the hike, we’ll have a late lunch at Okuma. Bring yen for admission to Hiji Falls (200) and dollars for lunch. Note: Hiking can be strenuous and is not recommended for individuals with health problems.

Okinawa Highlights
Sunday, April 13; 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $18; Children (3—11), $11; Children (0—2), $5
Visit some of Okinawa’s top tourist destinations, including Zakimi Castle ruins, Bob Point, an Itoman glass blowing factory, and Peace Prayer Park. Bring money for lunch and yen for admission fees (800) and purchases.

Battle Sites
Sunday, April 13; 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Adults, $23.50; Children (3—11). $13; Children (0—2), $5
Visit the Battle of Okinawa Historical Collection on Camp Kinser. Then relive the battle with a history lesson. Explore the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Prayer Park. Bring dollars for lunch and yen for admission fees. Note: Participants should wear comfortable, non-skid shoes and bring a hat and flashlight.

For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster, 646-3502 ; Camp Hansen, 623-6344 ; Camp Kinser, 637-2744

A walk back in time

Story and Photos by Keith T. Graff

In Motobu Town, right next to the Expo Park sits the quaint and sleepy little village of Bise. It’s a step back through time, offering a small glimpse of what Okinawa used to be like. Here, even on a busy day, life moves in low gear.

What makes Bise so unique is not only its serenity, but all the houses are surrounded by a very important form of protection known as the "fukugi” tree. By having the ability to bend with the wind, they protect homes from the many typhoons that frequent the region.

Many of the streets in Bise, if you want to call them that, are more like paths. Most are very narrow and unpaved. The fukugi trees surround virtually every home and as a result, also line all of the quaint little streets that give the village its ambiance. Adding to this charm, is the cleanliness. Here, the residents take great pride in their neighborhood and daily sweep the streets themselves.

You’ll find a few houses that have been converted into coffee houses or “kissaten’s” and a few small parlors offer ice cream and cold drinks to provide relief from the sweltering summer heat. If it’s too hot for a stroll, for a small fee you can ride old fashioned style on pony-drawn cart.

A smart way to see the village is to incorporate it into a visit to Expo Park where the parking is free. Once inside the park you can ride the tram or take a leisurely stroll and follow the signs to Emerald beach on the north end of the park. Just past the beach area is where you’ll find the back gate to the park which just so happens is right next to the main thoroughfare leading into Bise.

Turn left; the road is the only one that is paved. Go straight and once you start seeing the old style Okinawan houses surrounded by fukugi trees, you’ll know you are there.

Be sure to get off the main road and walk the shaded side streets, check out the seawall and whatever you do, be careful not to hurry. This is a place to relax and enjoy yourself; civilization will still be waiting for you when you get back.

Expo Park: For the kid in all of us

Story and Photo by Keith I. Graff

The weekend is here and the weather is nice. So why not pack up the whole family in the car and go to the Expo Park in Motobu!

The Churaumi Aquarium is the first stop for most folks and an excellent choice. You and your kids can not only see all of the aquatic life on display in relative comfort, but there’s even a few interactive displays where they can get their hands wet and touch the sea life or even pose for a photo in the gigantic jaws of a prehistoric shark.

Afterward, most folks make their way clown the hill to the whale and dolphin shows at the Okichan Theater. If there is any wait for the show to start, ice cream and snacks are on the menu and readily available.

After the show, chances are that you will have a bunch of kids who are excited from the visual stimulation — and a highly toxic sugar overdose. So what can you do to keep the kids from bouncing around like a pack of raging hyenas on the long drive back in bumper—to—bumper traffic?

A new play land recently opened just up the hill from the Churaumi Aquarium. While the temptation will be great, quickly whisk the kids past this area and visit it last on your agenda. After you’ve had the chance to see all that you want to see first; then you can turn them loose to burn, pillage and destroy.

The play land is chock full of equipment for little ones up to age 12 and there is plenty of room to roam. Virtually everything there is padded including the ground in some areas. And for added safety, parents are required to stay and observe their children. Shaded areas are provided.

With the kids all burned out and exhausted for the ride home, you might even be able to concentrate on the traffic or hold a coherent conversation with your spouse or friends. It’s a win—win situation for the whole family. But, don’t just take my word for it. Go to the Expo Park in Motobu and check it out for yourself.

Marines, Okinawans support aging local sugarcane farmers

Kaori Tanahara

During their tour of duty on Okinawa, Marines often seek unique opportunities that they can only experience here. While helping the local community, Marines from Camp Hansen recently participated in such an experience.

On a cold and rainy March morning, seven Marines from Camp Hansen Camp Services and more than 20 Okinawan residents and staff from Reimeinosato, a home for the mentally-disabled in
Uruma City, worked together in two sugarcane fields belonging to elderly farmers who are no longer capable of doing the work themselves. The team gathered and placed bundles of approximately four-foot long sugarcane stalks into small piles, preparing them for collection and processing by a nearby sugar refinery.

For more than 15 years, Marine volunteers from Camp Hansen and Reimeinosato residents and staff have been assisting aging Okinawan farmers by providing a much-needed supplemental workforce to help sustain Okinawa’s staple crop, according to Yasuko Yonashiro, a Reimeinosato staff member.

“Each year during the harvesting season from January to March, we help with the last and probably the physically hardest work of harvesting sugarcane,” said Yonashiro. “Marines from Camp Hansen have been part of our effort for many years, and we always appreciate their help.”

“It was a great chance to get out and experience the life of Okinawa,” said Lance Cpl. Devlin Murray. “We learned about the historical role of sugarcane in Okinawa’s economy, and we got to know more about the people from the home. They are hard workers and great motivators.”

After finishing their work, Marines and the residents took a break together at a nearby park, where the home’s staff provided sugarcane and brown sugar candies for the Marines to taste.

“I never knew you could actually cut it up and eat it this way. It’s very sweet and tasty,” said Lance Cpl. John Graczkowski, who recently arrived in Okinawa. “It was actually my first time off base seeing Okinawa. I’m glad to do something to help out the people here and experience something new. I’ll always remember this whenever I see a sugarcane field.”

“Despite the rain and hard labor, the work was more enjoyable for us with the Marines joining us,” said Yasuhiko Yoza, a Reimeino Sato resident. “It was a job well done.”

Nago Cherry Blossom Festival attracts thousands

Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
OKINAWA MARINE STAFFThousands of festival goers searched for the first signs of spring in the blossoms of cherry trees lining the streets of Nago City and Nago Central Park during the 46th Annual Nago Cherry Blossom Festival Jan. 26-27.

Some of the festival highlights included performances by local schools’ brass bands and cultural performers such as Eisa dancers and taiko drummers. Parades, competitions, karaoke, carnival games and food vendors were also attractions for the visitors.

A popular activity at the festival was “hanami,” or flower viewing. Festival goers toured the park, where they had a scenic view of approximately 20,000 pink Taiwanese cherry trees blooming.

Lance Cpl. Anette Tran, a motor transportation mechanic with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Battalion, joined others at the festival who walked the hundreds of steps up to the Nago Castle ruins in Nago Central Park. Once at the top, she was rewarded with a scenic view of the trees and Nago’s coast.

“It was definitely worth going up so many stairs,” Tran said. “Most of the trees are starting to get to full bloom up there. The further you walked, the more beautiful it got.”

The blossoms have been celebrated for many centuries and are a prominent tradition in Japanese culture. Many festivals around Okinawa involve them as the center for celebration. The Nakijiin Castle Cherry Festival and the annual Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival, which last until Feb. 10, are just a handful of the other locales where festivals are being held.

The festivals’ peak blossoming period is projected to last from Jan. 26 to Feb. 10 depending on where you visit. Typically, the trees bloom from north to south on Okinawa during the Sakura Zensen, or cherry blossom front.

The blossoms, however pretty, have a short season. Once the first few blossoms open, it takes roughly one week for them to be in full bloom. About a week later, and sometimes less due to weather conditions, the blossoms begin to fall.

In addition to the blossoms, the Nago festival was a stage for many service members to experience the Okinawan atmosphere.

“Along with the cherry blossoms, it’s great being out in the culture, checking out the entertainment, and being in such a friendly environment,” said Pfc. Diogo Delgado, a customer service representative with the Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Supply Office.

Those wishing to go to the Nago Castle ruins should take the expressway north until it turns into Highway 58. Follow the signs on 58 to Central Nago and turn right at the Nago Central Park sign.