The Okinawa Association of America (OAA) will host their sixth annual Okinawan Craft Fair on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the OAA Center’s parking lot, 16500 S. Western Ave. in Gardena. Free admission.
Featuring 26 vendor booths with creatives from across Southern California as well as Colorado, Northern California, Oceanside, and Temecula, the event will also include a white elephant sale, used books, and plants.
This outdoor boutique stands out in that it always features Okinawa-themed items such as accessories, art prints, bags, buttons/pins, ceramics, clothing, greeting cards, jewelry, post-cards, stickers, and more. The OAA hopes that this will be a big draw, as Okinawan items are rarely available at local stores, festivals, and other fairs.
The organization also hopes that the event will provide an unintimidating, community-based platform for youth artists, independent creators, and hobbyists to showcase their talents.
The Okinawan Craft Fair was originally pitched in 2018 by then high school student Melissa Oshiro Tran, who has consistently volunteered at OAA activities since childhood. The first-ever “mini” craft fair was held in December with a humble six vendor tables. Due to its success, 2019 saw vendors and crowds nearly double.
The OAA’s first large in-person event after the pandemic lockdown was the 2022 fair, which was scheduled for spring and held outdoors for safety purposes. Due to an overwhelmingly positive response, it was decided to keep the fair as an outdoor spring event.
Last year marked the first time featuring a vendor from outside of California.
“Growing up, I didn’t have a strong connection to Okinawan community, so being here now feels incredibly special,” says Becca Doll-Tyler (Ninazuma Pottery), who traveled from Colorado to participate and plans to return on May 3. “The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming, and I was inspired by how deeply attendees connected with handmade art and Okinawan culture.”
In addition to highlighting Okinawan culture through art and design, the fair has become a place for creatives with Okinawan roots to meet, bond, and inspire each other.
“[I love] all the great and wonderful people I’ve met over the years,” says Jody Lake (Jootoo Clothing), who drives from Temecula to participate almost every year. “The stories behind [everyone’s] crafts – it motivates me to continue and work harder. I feed off their passion for our culture!”
“I feel so grateful to meet and bond with people who share similar histories,” says Doll-Tyler. “Each interaction felt meaningful – whether it was someone sharing why the hajichi or inscription [in my pottery] resonated with them or telling me who they were gifting a piece to. It was a beautiful exchange, filled with generosity and connection.”
Limited parking available across the street at Faith Works Church. Pets not allowed (service animals permitted). For more information: (310) 532-1929, oaamensore.org/craftfair, Facebook/Instagram @oaamensore
Great Leap to Present 'The Air We Breathe' in Long Beach
An Afternoon with the Master
Valley Judo Institute Spaghetti Fundraiser
Taking It to the Streets
First Presbyterian Church Hosts Fall Festival
‘Taste of Miyazaki: Shochu’ at JACCC
SEJSCC Hosts Pancake Breakfast, Holiday Boutique
Japan Foundation to Screen ‘Speak Low’
Watanabe Returns to 'Extraordinary Chambers'
Virtus.pro head to Spring Final semis over Astralis
Karl Nobuyuki: A Leader and a Lineman
Terror in Little Tokyo
Japan Foundation to Screen ‘Speak Low’
Screening of 'Flo's Bus' at GVJCI
BNE mount T
Valley Judo Institute Spaghetti Fundraiser
‘Ono no Komachi’ Program at USC
‘Yojimbo’ at Vista Theatre on Sept. 15
Anne Namba Trunk Show at JACCC
Naomi Hirahara to Discuss ‘Iced in Paradise’
Salt Typhoon hack: AT&T and Verizon give 'all clear'NYT Strands hints, answers for December 29Spotify users are seeing porn videos in search resultsGen Z is shopping more on Snapchat than TikTok or Instagram, study showsVolkswagen leak exposed location of 800,000 electric car drivers for monthsA look at LG's awardWhy this Michigan school district is suing Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snapchat10 of the highestColts vs. Giants 2024 livestream: How to watch NFL onlineLos Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs livestream: Watch online See the world change over nearly 40 years in Google Earth's new timelapse feature 15 best tweets of the week, including wind breakers, Cody Rigsby, and Four Loko Sir Anthony Hopkins pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman in Oscar acceptance speech The $149 Luxe is Fitbit's most attractive fitness tracker yet How to watch Apple's spring event on 420 How to change Siri's voice in iOS 14.5 Apple's $29 AirTag Bluetooth trackers will be available April 30th Edward Snowden's NFT 'Stay Free' just sold for over $5 million 'Jeopardy's new guest host lineup includes LeVar Burton, as it should Sony is giving away 'Horizon Zero Dawn' for free on PS4 and PS5
0.2166s , 9914.0078125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【порнографию ролик двоя парнеи пощитили девушку на улице и изнасилования】Gardena Craft Fair Highlights Okinawa,Feature Flash
