Education

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i seeks to educate people, especially teachers and students, interested in learning about the Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i and the Japanese culture.
 
Educational Packages
 Educational packages combine Historical Gallery tours and Discovery Box interactive sessions. Available are three distinct packages to choose from that are meaningful to various grade levels.
 
Discovery Box Options
On-site: Grade levels of classes may arrange for a field trip to the Cultural Center. While half of the students and adults take a guided tour with docents of the Historical Gallery (Okage Sama De), the other half of the group will experience the Discovery Box of your choice. Tour and Discovery Box sessions are then repeated. Length per session varies with age of children: 30 – 60 minutes.

Outreach: The classroom teacher may invite Cultural Center volunteers to bring a Discovery Box to the classroom. There, they present a lesson, share artifacts and documents and enrich student learning through hands-on and/or interactive activities.

Rental: The classroom teacher may rent a Discovery Box to use as a supplement with students for a period of no more than two weeks. The teacher must understand the loan conditions and agreements stated on the rental form. There is a deposit of $10 that is refunded when the Discovery Box and its contents are returned intact and in good condition. The Discovery Box must be picked up and returned by the teacher in a timely manner.

Discovery Box Programs

The Discovery Boxes offer lessons and activities that are researched and developed to challenge and stimulate inquiry in K-12 students and are aligned to the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards. Each Discovery Box is related to the Cultural Center Historical Gallery Okage Sama De and offers primary and secondary sources such as:

  • Collections of cultural artifacts
  • Dated Photographs
  • Historical documents
  • Non-fiction and fiction books
  • Videotapes
  • Display materials
  • Cultural kits

Discovery Box Topics

  • Immigration and Plantation Life
  • Picture Brides
  • Kid Time Toys and Games
  • New Year’s Festival
  • Girl’s Day Festival
  • Boy’s Day Festival
  • Star (Tanabata) Festival
  • Obon Festival
  • The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II
  • Hawai‘i’s Nisei Soldiers

General Tour Information

  • At least three weeks reservation notice prior to visit is required.
  • Tours are limited to 60 students with one adult per 15 students.
  • Cost: $3 for Adults and $2 for Students. Payment is due on visit.
  • No food or beverages in the Gallery.
  • No photo taking in exhibition area.
  • Optional: Students may use the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i courtyard area to eat their home lunches (lunches may be stored in the Gallery during tour).

For further inquiry, please contact the Cultural Center at (808) 945-7633 Ext. 25 or email at iwata@jcch.com.  Click here to download an Educational Program Request Form.

Tours of the Historical Gallery

The Historical Gallery is located on the first floor, and is open to the public, Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It features the permanent exhibit entitled Okage Sama De – I am what I am because of you. From the 1800s to today’s multicultural Hawai‘i, it chronicles the history and legacy of Japanese Americans from the first immigrants to statehood. This exhibit is meaningful at various levels, and can be revisited with renewed focus or with a different purpose.

Guided tours of the Okage Sama De Historical Gallery exhibit are available to public and private schools, colleges and universities and visiting out of state organizations. Maximum of 60 students with at least two adults, from grades K-12 and college level audiences. Includes the 15-minute video Ganbare about the Japanese in Hawai‘i during World War II. Tours can be conducted in English or Japanese. Tour time is approximately 75 minutes. Customized tours are also available.

Please contact the Cultural Center for further information or to obtain a reservation form at (808) 945-7633 Ext. 25 or email at iwata@jcch.com.  Click here to download a Group Tour Request Form.

Education