Footprints in Paradise

<p> The economic imperative of sustainable tourism development frequently shapes life on small subtropical islands. In Okinawa ecotourism promises to provide employment for a dwindling population of rural youth while preserving the natural environment and bolstering regional pride. <em>Footprints in Paradise</em> explores the transformation in community and sense of place as Okinawans come to view themselves through the lens of the visiting tourist consumer and as their language landscapes and wildlife are reconstituted as treasured and vulnerable resources. The rediscovery and revaluing of local ecological knowledge strengthens Okinawan or <em>Uchinaa</em> cultural heritage despite the controversial presence of US military bases amidst a hegemonic Japanese state.</p>