WAIPI'O — The stage at the Hawaii Okinawa Center was filled with dozens of T-shirt-clad, jeans-wearing kids yesterday.

With tanned cheeks and bare feet, they looked like a typical group of local kids, fidgeting and giggling while they waited for the start of the rehearsal.

But these students, all from the town of Kin in Okinawa, are in Hawai'i for the first time to perform in the annual Okinawan Festival, which kicks off today with their performance at the center in Waipi'o and lasts through the weekend with most events taking place at Kapi'olani Park.

This is the 25th anniversary of the festival celebrating all things Okinawan.

More than 50,000 people — including about 400 participants from Okinawa — are expected to attend the four-day event, which will feature entertainment, traditional Okinawan foods and crafts, and a variety of opportunities to learn more about the Okinawan culture.

Part of Toyama Kyuzo Romance Theatrical Group, these 31 children — ranging in age from 8 to 17 — will perform a series of songs and dances based on Kyuzo Toyama's struggle to persuade the Japanese government to allow Okinawans to immigrate to Hawai'i more than a century ago.

Toyama became such an important figure in Okinawa's history that a statue was erected in his hometown of Kin, his outstretched arm pointing to Hawai'i.

(There's another statue of Toyama outside the Hawaii Okinawa Center in Waipi'o.)

"There's a strong connection between Hawai'i and Kin town," said Jane Serikaku, executive director of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, which sponsors the festival. "He faced a lot of hardships trying to convince Japan to let Okinawans come to Hawai'i."

Because of Toyama's efforts, the first Okinawans — or Uchinanchu — arrived in the Islands in January 1900. Another wave of emigrants from Okinawa arrived after World War II.

Today, there are about 20,000 people of Okinawan ancestry in the Islands — and they remain a close-knit and proud group.

More than 5,000 volunteers from the association's 49 locality clubs are expected to help at the festival.

"With everyone coming together, somehow that spirit spreads," Serikaku said. "It's because of our own desire to share our culture — I think that's why (so many people) come out."

This festival is, by far, the biggest fundraiser for the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, which uses the proceeds to fund various cultural programs.

Last year the festival raised about $60,000.

But raising money isn't the primary goal.

"It's about sharing our Uchinanchu culture," said Serikaku, a nisei who's part of the Nakagusuku club.

"We hope people get out of this experience a respect for differences in cultures."

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TODAY

7 p.m. "Toyama Kyuzo: A Theatrical Performance of Okinawan Immigration," Hawaii Okinawa Center, 94-587 Uke'e St. in Waipahu. $20. Call 676-5400.

TOMORROW

5:30-7:30 p.m. Okinawan Festival Parade, from Fort DeRussy to Kapi'olani Park. Free.

7:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony, Kapi'olani Park. Free.

8 p.m. Aloha Concert featuring local artists such as Teresa Bright and Sonny Ching's Halau Na Mano O Pu'uanahulu, Kapi'olani Park. Free.

SATURDAY

9 a.m.-6 p.m. Okinawan Festival 2007 with entertainment, Okinawan foods and crafts, Kapi'olani Park. Free.

5:30-7:30 p.m. Hawaii's Largest Bon Dance, Kapi'olani Park. Free.

8-9:30 p.m. Performance by Okinawa-based Rinken Band, at the stage near the Waikiki Shell. Free.

SUNDAY

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Okinawan Festival 2007 with entertainment, Okinawan foods and crafts, Kapi'olani Park. Free.

Parking: There will be a free shuttle service to Kapi'olani Park from Kapi'olani Community College over the weekend. The pickup area will be on Diamond Head Road just outside the KCC parking lot. Shuttle bus hours will be 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

More information: www.okinawanfestival.com

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.