Considered by some to be the crown jewel of the many AAFES operations around the world, the Okinawa Exchange offers plenty of excellent shopping opportunities to meet the needs of its diverse customer base, from Camp Kinser in the southern portion of this beautiful Pacific island to the northern facilities at Camp Hansen.

     The Okinawa Exchange serves more than 24,000 military members and Defense Department civilians as well as over 31,000 other authorized customers on this small island. The number of Exchange Facilities is equally impressive, with more than 31 retail facilities such as shoppettes and main stores, 7 theaters, 160 concessionaires, 8 service stations, over 92 food facilities and 5 Military Clothing Sales Stores.

     The Kadena Base Exchange and the Camp Foster Post Exchange are the two biggest main store operations on the island. In fact, the honors for the largest post exchange in the Pacific belongs to Kadena Base Exchange.

     The Kadena main store is definitely a plus for people who shop or visit. No wonder people flock here to shop with all the offerings available within the store. From two entrances and 15 checkout lanes, Kadena is truly one of the best places to find merchandise. From major brands in electronics, an inside-the-store BookMark, a great selection of clothing for the entire family Kadena is a classy place to spend some time.

     While a lot is going inside the store, it is only the hub of a vast shopping area that offers a wide variety of goods and services. Customers can find out about Internet access through AT&T, New Car Sales, hairstyling for the family, some of the best island craftsmanships by our concessionaires, and even a large assortment of merchandise for active outdoor lifestyles and hobbies. And, if you get hungry, stop by either Anthony’s Pizza, Frank’s Franks or the Burger King Express located conveniently within the food court. Be sure to top off the meal with a scoop of some of the world’s finest ice cream at Baskin Robbins.

     Not far away is another truly worthwhile operation, the Foster Post Exchange. You’ll find an excellent assortment of merchandise in this spacious store, and plenty of parking in front and the rear. With its frequent sales event, Fosteris a great store to shop in. It also forms the hub for a complex that’s hard to beat. A mall packed full of concessions PowerZone, BookMark, a major theater, a service station, and food facilities that include Burger King, Charley's Steakery, Pretzel Mania, RobinHood deli, Anthony’s Pizza all combined to make this one of the best places to shop on Okinawa.

     Want a snack at 2 o'clock in the morning, or need to pick-up some milk on the way home from work? Check out the two 24-hour Shoppettes located at Kadena and at Camp Foster, which also has a Taco Bell Express with a drive up window.  In addition to a great selections of snack foods and convenience items, both offer copy machine service. The Foster store even has almost 4,000 video titles available for rent.

     The Okinawa Exchange also offers one of the biggest and best furniture stores that AAFES has to offer. Located at Camp Lester, the store has recliners, beds, dining room sets, carpets, sofas, lamps and plenty more. With all there is to choose from, it's no wonder that people flock here to find some of the best in furniture from quality manufacturers.

     Want more? Try out the many opportunities brought to you compliments of the Okinawa Exchange Services branch; Eye exams, contact lens fittings and ordering, computer repair, advance photo processing at several one-hour photo locations, LP gas for your BBQ grills and diesel fuel are just some of the many services and products available.

     With all the traveling that can be done visiting the various exchange operations, it's no wonder that many people choose to have their car care needs taken care of at the Car Care Center on Foster. This is AAFES's only Government of Japan certified garage and it can handle minor or major repairs as well as provide GOJ inspection and registration service. Because of the costs associated with this vehicle inspection that insures compliance with Japanese laws, don't forget to consider using your Deferred Payment Plan to spread the cost over several months rather than making a single payment.

     The Vending Branch of the Okinawa Exchange is among the best in the world and offers the entire family a wide variety of beverage and snack products along with amusements and other services for all ages. Car washes, stamp machines, prepaid telephone calling card vending machines, pay telephones and coin-operated laundries are among the many services and products you can find here. Our biggest and best amusement centers are located at the Kadena and Foster Services Mall as well as the Food Court on Camp Hansen and Camp Schwab.. Video game lovers will find the latest from the amusement world at these and other locations, with a constant flow of new games coming to dazzle your senses and challenge your skills. People on the island can also go to several places for their laundry needs. Coin-operated laundry facilities are available at Kadena and Torii Station, Camps Courtney, Camp Hansen, Camp Foster, and Camp Schawb. While Kadena is the most popular because of its central location, they offer 24-hour convenience.

     Food operations are also plentiful on the island as the Okinawa Exchange boasts one of the busiest in AAFES. Something for just about every taste is available, from the top sales leaders in the world, Burger King and Popeyes, Taco Bell, Baskin Robbins, to the delicate flavors of the Orient at Royal Chopstix. Also, be on the lookout for the many "Manager's Specials" at all food locations, these make the food deals an even better bargain.

     One of the other reasons our customers like it here is because many choose to join the AAFES family, from the fast-paced food facilities to customer service positions in one of our many retail stores. Applications can be turned into the Okinawa Exchange headquarters, Camp Foster , Bldg. 490, on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or you can place them in the drop box in front headquarters at any time. Some AAFES facilities will even accept your application directly, but remember passports, ID cards and a copy of your sponsor's orders are needed to process all applications.

     Finding out what's new at the Okinawa Exchange couldn't be easier, thanks to the addition of a Base Exchange section within the Kadena Air Base Home Page at www.kadena.af.mil. Just follow the "Base Exchange link" on the "What's Happening" page for the latest information on movie schedules, facility hours, home delivery and even school lunch menus.

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