Haarii festivals with their dragon boat races are said to have come into Okinawa from China in the 14th century. Haarii festivals are major traditional events held from April to July on the lunar calendar at various fishing ports in Okinawa to pray for good catches and the safety of fishermen. The haarii at Itoman, a bustling fishing port, is the biggest and grandest. The sight of the young oarsmen paddling for all they are worth and making the spray fly is truly stirring.

The Naha dragon boat races pit crews from the Tomari, Kume, and Naha districts of Naha City against one another and include company teams and also crews of foreign rowers, and the Naha haarii has become a very lively festival indeed. Ever since olden times, people in Okinawa have said, "When the haariigong sounds, the rainy season is over."