Okinawa (pop. 1.38 million) is the largest of 47 populated islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Okinawa is 67 miles long by 2-17 miles wide, with an area of 454 sq. miles (larger than Moloka'i, smaller than Kaua'i). Naha (pop. 313,498) is the capital; Itoman harbor is south of Naha on the southern end of the island. Okinawa's highest point is Mt. Yonaha at 1634 feet.

From 1900 to 1908, over eight thousand laborers arrived in Hawai'i from Okinawa to work on the sugar plantations. Today, Hawai`i has the largest community of Okinawan ancestry outside of Okinawa. The thriving community celebrated its 100th anniversary of immigration in 2000. Okinawa has been a sister state of Hawai'i since 1985.