Community Focus

“Remembrance, Honor & Celebration” was the theme of the Oahu AJA Baseball League’s annual awards banquet on April 26 at Natsunoya Tea House. The event also celebrated the league’s victory in the 84th Annual Hawaii State AJA Baseball Championship Tournament, which was played at the Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo on April 6 to 7.....

Jodie Chiemi Ching On March 16, Lauren Akemi Sugai was crowned the 67th Cherry Blossom Festival queen at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, marking the climax of the 2019 festival, sponsored by the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce. In an interview with The Hawai‘i Herald, Sugai shared her Cherry Blossom Festival experience. When her name....

The Hakuoh University Handbell Choir shared its amazing handbell music at a friendship luncheon hosted by Hakuoh vice president and board chair Joji Kamioka on Feb. 19 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. The choir also presented free concerts at Central Union Church, Windward Community College and Leeward Community College.

Jodie Chiemi Ching In celebration of their centennial anniversaries, Aloha United Way and Servco Pacific Inc. are teaming up to honor their legacies of service to the community with a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing the root causes of Hawai‘i’s systemic and persistent social welfare issues. The initiative is titled the Hawaii Social Impact Project.....

Erin Tanaka, a 15-year-old sophomore at Seabury Hall, was crowned queen of the 66th Chrysanthemum Festival last Dec. 8 at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku. Tanaka is the daughter of Lori and Kirk Tanaka of Wailuku. Selected as princesses were: • Lannie Hisashima, 16, of Ha‘ikü, a junior at King Kekaulike High....

Jodie Chiemi Ching For the first time in over 50 years, a presentation of Japanese kabuki will be staged in Hawai‘i. “Kabuki in Hawaii 2019” is being presented in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Honolulu Festival and the 150th anniversary of the 1868 arrival in Hawai‘i of the Gannenmono, the first Japanese immigrants....

Hawai‘i’s Little League Baseball World champions were guests of honor at a special dinner at Agu Ramen restaurant at Ala Moana Center on Sept. 24. Agu Ramen owner and president Hisashi Uehara hosted the championship team to congratulate the young champs. The ‘ukulele duo, Heart and Soul, also performed for the champs.

Chanterelle Couture, ‘Iolani and Ari South headlined Hui Makaala’s 49th annual Scholarship Fund Luncheon and Fashion Show on July 22 in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The three are all top-tier Hawai‘i designers who have been very successful in their careers. They shared a variety of their designs with the audience, showing....

The Rotary Club of Hiroshima South in Japan presented a $20,000 check to its sister club in Hawai‘i, the Rotary Club of Hilo, to support the Puna relief efforts resulting from the ongoing Kïlauea volcano eruption. The donation was made at the Rotary Club of Hiroshima South’s meeting on June 1. The funds will be....

The Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii recognized five individuals for demonstrating excellence and high standards of achievement in their respective fields at its “Living Treasures of Hawai‘i” program on Feb. 10 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The Living Treasures luncheon also served as the closing activity of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii’s 106th annual....