Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau
Wonder Okinawa Digital Archives
Those are just a couple of links with information about Okinawa.
There are many hostels in Okinawa to stay at and one does not have to rely purely on pensions either.
Here is a list of
Hostels and
more hostels .
One should try to keep in mind that the climate of Okinawa is not conducive(sp?) to the traditional Japanese Ryokan. There are literally thousands of hotel rooms that run from the top end 4 or 5 star resorts to bed and breakfasts.
One could easily find a room to fit their budget, but watch out for prices to rise during the peak vacation seasons.