Home / Islands / Hamahiga Island
Hamahiga Island 浜比嘉島
| Island group | Yokatsu Islands |
|---|---|
| Prefecture | Okinawa |
| Region | Okinawa |
| Municipality | Uruma |
| Area | 2.09 km² (0.81 mi²) |
| Highest point | 79 m |
| Coordinates | 26.32083° N, 127.95806° E |
Getting there: the article below outlines this island's usual ferry and flight routes. Timetables change with the season and sailings are cancelled in rough weather — always confirm the current schedule with the operator or the municipality before you travel.
Hamahiga Island (浜比嘉島, Okinawan: Bamahija-shima) is an island located in the Yokatsu Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Its administered by the city of Uruma and is located near the Katsuren Peninsula. The island has an area of 2.09 square kilometers.
Hamahiga has a total population of 600 people. There are two villages on the island, Hama (浜) to the north and Higa (比嘉) to the south.
History
During the Sanzan period, Hamahiga and the rest of the Yokatsu Islands were under the control of Chūzan. By the 15th century, Chūzan had united the Okinawa Islands, forming the Ryukyu Kingdom.
In 1879, Japan annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom, turning it into Okinawa Prefecture. Hamahiga was a part of this prefecture until the end of World War II, when Okinawa in its entirety were placed under the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands from 1950 to 1972. After the Okinawa Reversion Agreement, Hamahiga was once again placed under the administration of Japan.
Culture
Hamahiga Island is notable for its preservation of Okinawan culture. This can be seen in the widespread usage of both traditional cuisine and architecture.
In the Ryukyuan religion, it's believed that the creation goddess, Amamikyu, and her partner, Shinerikyu, lived in a cave in southern Hamahiga after creating the Okinawa Islands. Amamikyu's tomb is also said to be in Hamahiga. Utaki dedicated to them are found on the island.
Text adapted from the English Wikipedia article Hamahiga Island by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Population, area and location facts from Wikidata (CC0); figures Wikidata does not carry are taken from the Japanese Wikipedia article's data table (CC BY-SA 4.0).