Rob Kajiwara Bio

Quick Bio

Robert Kajiwara is a Ryukyuan (Okinawan), Nahua Hawaiian singer-songwriter, writer, and baseball player. He has been featured in over 60 news and media publications in more than 15 countries, including The Associated Press, BBC World, The South China Morning Post, Japan Times, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and many others. He is president of the Peace For Okinawa Coalition and a Special Envoy of Ke Aupuni O Hawaii (the Hawaiian Kingdom) to the Lewchew Islands (Ryukyu) and China. Kajiwara has spoken at numerous venues, including the United Nations, the United States Capitol Hill, the Japan Diet, Yale University, Okinawa International University, University of the Ryukyus, and many more.

Education:

PhD in History - Manchester Metropolitan University (in progress)
- MA in History - University of Nebraska at Kearney ('19)
- MA in Asian Studies, Inter-Asia focus - University of Hawaii at Manoa (in progress)
  - BA in History, Asia/Pacific focus - University of Hawaii at Manoa ('15)
    - AA in Teaching, Certificate in Global Studies - Leeward Community College ('14)

Published Writings:

Kajiwara has been an outspoken human rights advocate, particularly for peace, environmental, and indigenous rights. On December 8, 2018 he started a petition calling for a halt to the construction work of a new military base at Henoko, Okinawa. The petition quickly garnered international attention, amassing over 100,000 signatures within just 10 days, and currently has over 211,000 signatures, including from many notable celebrities. He has traveled extensively to advocate for the rights of Ryukyuans and Hawaiians.

Names

Full name: Robert Adam Takamasa Wei Xiao Chang Fija (Higa) Hernandez Kajiwara
English: Robert Kajiwara
Hawaiian: Lopaka Kapiwala
うちなーぐち：比嘉孝昌ロバート
日本語：梶原孝昌ロバート
中文：魏孝昌

Owing to his multicultural background, Rob is known by various names in different parts of the world. In the the continental United States, he is mostly known as Rob Kajiwara. Amongst Hawaiian and Hawaiian Pidgin speakers, he is known as Lopaka Kapiwala. In Ryukyu he is known as 比嘉孝昌、or simply as ロバート。Among Chinese speakers, he is known as 魏孝昌。

Honors and Awards:

Awarded the University of Hawaii at Manoa Asian Studies Program Achievement Scholarship. (2019)
Named a Special Envoy for Ke Aupuni O Hawaii (the Hawaiian Kingdom). (2018)
Named a Cultural Representative for Nakagusuku Village, Okinawa. (2017)
Graduated summa cum laude from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. (2015)
Awarded the Sunshine Brooks Scholarship. (2013-2014)
Awarded the University of Hawaii at Manoa Student Scholarship (2013-2015)
Graduated with honors from Leeward Community College. (2014)
3x Member of the Dean's List at Leeward Community College. (2012-2013)
Nominated to the Golden Key Honors Society. (2015)
Nominated to the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. (2014)

Rob KajiwaraAbout

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Rob Kajiwara
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