Okinawa Living Weekly by MCCS Okinawa

April 6, 2017 · mccsokinawa.com

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n Sunday April 16, after the kids have found every last candy egg hidden in the couch cushions, put on your Sunday best and hop over to an Easter Breakfast Buffet or Brunch at an MCCS Club or Restaurant. Our chefs are “eggscited” to offer to you a delicious brunch or buffet to offset the jellybeans and crispy chocolate eggs in your Easter basket. Taiyo Steakhouse will offer an a la carte brunch menu from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seating will be available on the balcony so you can enjoy your meal in the beautiful Okinawan outdoors. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 622-2020. The Butler Officers’ Club will be hosting a

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scrumptious Easter brunch with the Easter Bunny from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Adults can enjoy an exquisite meal for $17. Children ages 5 through 11 are $8.50 and children 4 and under are FREE. Reservations are highly recommended for this holiday treat; call 645-7530 to book your spot. Before you chomp the ears off your chocolate bunny, head to the Veranda inside Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., pile your plate high at their Easter buffet. The Habu Pit on MCAS Futenma is also hosting an “eggstra-special” breakfast buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Or maybe “hippity-hop” over to the Kinser Surfside from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for their generous Easter breakfast buffet. At all buffets, adults are $9.95,

Easter Family Fun Nights | 3 Underwater Eggstravaganza | 3 Culture Corner: Kerama Islands | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5

Spend Easter with your friends and family at your MCCS club or restaurant. children ages 5 through 11 dine for $4.95, and children 4 and under are FREE. For more information on Easter fare at MCCS Clubs and Restaurants go to mccsokinawa.com/ clubs. For the latest and greatest, follow MCCS Clubs and Restaurants on Facebook!

Pick of the Week: Child Abuse Awareness Month | 7 Military Child Storytime | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11

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livingatlarge

Easter Family Fun Nights

n Wednesday April 12, the Easter Bunny is hop, hop, hopping over to Easter Family Fun Night at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster from 5 to 9 p.m. Families can enjoy an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts and movies while enjoying a savory holiday meal. Camp Kinser will be hosting their Easter Super Family Night at the Surfside on April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. A clown will be on hand to entertain your family as you enjoy your dinners. Round out the evening channeling your inner diva for karaoke. Adults dine and enjoy the festivities for $7.95, children 5 through 11 will be $3.95 and little bunnies under 5 are FREE. For more information, contact the Ocean Breeze at 645-3666 or Kinser Surfside at 6373137. You can also look them up at mccsokinawa.com/clubs.

Chief Marketing Officer | Jim Kassebaum Managing Editor | Ryan Anastoplus Art Director | Catherine Newquist Cultural Research Specialist | Ayako Kawamitsu Graphic Arts Manager | Henry Ortega Graphic Designers | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Hector Nieves, Jongeun Spencer Editor-in-Chief | Mike Daley WRITER/EDITORS | Ashley Snipes, Shelbie Thilmony Digital marketing manager | Thomas Alan Smilie Photographer | Sarah Head Ad/Sponsorship Manager | Roy Forster Ad Sales | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Aya Chilcote, Yoriko Yamashiro, Carina Fils-Julien Distribution | Kelli Kreider Marketing Accounts Manager | Andrew Menges Accounts & Research | Marissa DeSmet, Ashley Herring, Kristen Wong, Katherine Melrose, Allison Dixon Broadcast | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya INTERNS | Chloé Stevens, Valeria Solorzano

Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

events&happenings

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Underwater Eggstravaganza

hich came first, the chicken or the egg? It’s an age-old question that’s given birth to hourlong (sometimes heated) discussions regarding creationism and evolution. On April 15, this question may or may not be answered but one thing is an absolute certainty—every-

one will enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with prizes and lots of candy at the Underwater Eggstravaganza Hunt! This Easter event will be held at the Camp Foster 25M Pool at 11 a.m. and everyone is welcome, but hunters must be between the ages 3 and 15. Hunters should be sure to bring a swimsuit,

goggles, egg sonar or whatever else they might need to give themselves an edge in the competition. Great prizes await the winners so participants should start fine-tuning on their underwater “egg-olocation” skills now. For details, call 645-7554 or visit mccsokinawa.com/aquatics.

To advertise in Okinawa Living Weekly, call 645-2245, fax 645-0975, or email sales@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. MCCS is not responsible for designing and editing outside ads. No Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps or Marine Corps Community Services endorsement of commercial advertisers or sponsors implied.

This publication printed with

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japanese phrase

culturecorner

of the week

Umi wa kirei desu ne. The ocean is beautiful.

Sarah Head

For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.

Kerama Islands

rab your fins and get ready for some fun! Tours+ is heading out to the Kerama Islands on snorkeling adventures through September. Just 20 miles southeast of Okinawa and visible from Naha Port, these islands feature some of the best dive sites in the world. This gift of nature is lush with vibrant sea life including over 250 species of coral and a stunning variety of fish. Its calm, clear waters are inviting to snorkelers of all levels. So, if you’ve yet to experience Okinawa’s world-renowned seascape, now is the time to take advantage of the island life by enjoying a fish-view of the ocean. The next Kerama Islands Snorkeling Tour will be on Saturday, April 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour includes a boat ride to two snorkeling spots. Bring lunch, hy-

dration, snorkeling set and wetsuits (if desired). Snorkeling gear will also be available for rent.

For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/tours.

If you have any burning questions about Japanese culture, please send them to OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.

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more info

For more information on Child Abuse Awareness Month events, as well as the support groups and classes offered by the program, call the Behavioral Health Family Advocacy Program at 645-2915 or visit mccsokinawa.com/ familyadvocacy.

pickoftheweek

Child Abuse Awareness Month

hild abuse prevention programs in the military community succeed because of strong partnerships created among Family Advocacy Programs, commanders, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, medical treatment facilities and individual service members and their families. Prevention is everyone’s responsibility. The Behavioral Health Family Advocacy Program is hosting Operation Golden Ticket events throughout April to engage the community in discussions about child abuse and spread awareness by offering informational resource bags. The bags offer the opportunity to receive golden tickets, which can be redeemed for prizes. Also to increase awareness, children attending schools throughout Marine Corps Base, Camp S.D. Butler are encouraged to participate in the “Children Thrive in Safe, Stable, Nurturing Homes” Poster Contest.

Participants will design a poster that represents activities they do with their families to promote a nurturing home. Submit your entry via email at fapprevention@okinawa. usmc-mccs.org by April 17. The MCCS Family Advocacy Program is hosting a Parent Café, an opportunity for parents to discuss hot-button issues. On April 21 from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Dr. Laverne Dowling, MCCS Community Counseling Center Manager, will speak on the

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photooftheweek

Catch a breath-taking sunset from the Kerama Islands with MCCS Tours+, or check out Sunset Yoga at the Habu Pit.

topic of about setting appropriate behavioral limits from early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence. On April 14 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Agent Gilbert Moreno from the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) will speak with parents about maintaining cyber awareness and protecting children online. Both discussions will take place at the Camp Foster Community Center Auditorium.

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spotlight

information

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For more information on Military Child Storytime and other library offerings, go to mccsokinawa.com/libraries.

Military Child Storytime

he Month of the Military Child is a time when we pay tribute to the important role children play in the Armed Forces community. In 2016, there were approximately 2 million military children, ranging in age from newborn to 18 years old; an additional 1.3 million military children are school-aged. We at MCCS understand how special our military children are, and want to bring everyone together for an evening of camaraderie and fun. In honor of Military Child Month, MCCS Libraries on Camps Courtney, Foster and Kinser are inviting youngsters to Military Child Storytime on April 28 from 6 to 7 p.m. Children will enjoy songs and stories, then color their own patriotic visor. The Courtney, Foster and Kinser libraries also offer a variety of children’s programs, such as Tales for Tots, Lapsit, Preschool Storytime and

Stories by Starlight. MCCS Libraries also offer a variety of materials on military life for both children and adults, including deployment from the perspective of the active-duty member, parent, and child. In addition to the fun activities MCCS has planned for our little service members this year, “Purple Up! For Military Kids” will be celebrated

on April 21st. This is a day for DoDEA Communities to wear purple to support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military–Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue.

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tours+

adventure begins here Sweet and Salty Tour* April 8, 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Adults $21, Children (3–11) $14, Children (under 3) FREE See the processes behind two of Okinawa’s traditional trades. Visit a sugarcane Factory to learn how Okinawa’s healthy brown sugar is made, then head to a sea salt refinery to find out how salt is produced. Tea Ceremony with Kimono Dressing* April 9, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $49, Children (3–11) $38 Take part in a traditional tea ceremony that includes the preparation and presentation of matcha, the customary powdered green tea served in Japan. Afterwards, we will travel to Naha Main Place for lunch and shopping.

Battle Sites Tour* April 9, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $28, Children (3–11) $18, Children (under 3) FREE Visit the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters and end the day at Peace Memorial Park. Urashima Dinner Theater April 14, 5:30 p.m.– 9:30 p.m. Adults $68 with half lobster; Adults $54 without lobster, Children (4–12) $38; Children (under 4) FREE with no meal Savor the varied flavors of Okinawan cuisine while being entertained by traditional music and dancers.

*Bring yen for additional food, drinks and/or purchases. For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster 646-3502 | Camp Hansen 623-6344 | Camp Kinser 637-2744

off-baseevents get out and explore

Japanese Cutting Art (Kirie) Exhibition April 6–16, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Urasoe Art Museum Urasoe City Adults ¥900, Children 13–18 ¥700, 7–12 ¥500

Athletics/Adult Sports

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645-3521/3522

Aquatics 645-3180 Courtney Ironworks 622-9261/7297 Futenma Semper Fit 636-2672 Gunners Fitness Center 645-3985/2235 Hansen House of Pain 623-5558/4831 Health Promotion 645-3484/3910 Kinser Fitness Center 637-1869/1114 Schwab Power Dome 625-2654/2442 Taiyo Golf Club 622-2004 Tsunami SCUBA 645-9500 Youth Sports 645-3533/3534

Ryukyu Kaiensai (Fireworks) April 8, 3:30 p.m. (fireworks start at 7:30 p.m.) Tropical Beach Ginowan City ryukyu-kaiensai.com

Ogimi Art Exhibition April 7–9, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Ogimi Rural Environment Improvement Center Ogimi Village FREE

upcoming semperfitevents Northern Camp Commanders Cup Softball Tournament April 14-16 Camp Courtney Softball Field Register at any MCCS Fitness Center by April 10 at 1 p.m. By-laws and tournament bracket schedule for this event will be emailed. Top two teams will receive awards. Details: 622-7297.

Bench Press Competition April 15 Camp Schwab Power Dome Register at any MCCS Fitness Center for $20 by April 10 at 1 p.m. Late registration is $25. Weigh ins will take place 8 to 9 a.m. on day of event. Individual awards will be awarded to top three in each weight class, as well as overall female and male winners. Details: 625-2654.

classof theweek Zumba This class mixes body-sculpting movements with dance steps derived from Latin backgrounds. It targets areas such as the glutes, legs, arms, abdominals and the heart. Dancing skills are not necessary. Camps Courtney, Foster, Hansen and Kinser For a full group fitness schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.