On July 20, the Okinawa Association of America, Inc. (OAA) hosted their annual picnic at Whittier Narrows Group Picnic Area in South El Monte.

The day was filled with games, live performances, raffle drawings, the only Okinawa Bon Odori in Southern California, and an awards ceremony for the organization’s high school scholarship recipients.

A tradition dating back to the 1950s, the OAA recognizes and rewards graduating high school seniors of Okinawan descent in Southern California. OAA family membership is required to apply and the selection process is based on the students’ academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and community contributions; transcript; letters of recommendation; financial need; and essays (including the prompt, “What does being Okinawan mean to you”). Spe

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