Community Focus

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....

Urasenke grand tea master Dr. Genshitsu Sen honored the memory and contributions of the Gannenmono by performing a special kenchashiki tea ceremony at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin on July 19. The hour-long ceremony opened with sutra chanting by Bishop Eric Matsumoto of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii and the Rev. Toyokazu Hagio, rimban....

The United Japanese Society of Hawaii installed its 2018-19 officers and directors on June 23 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. The program began with the observance of a moment of silence in memory of deceased members, particularly longtime UJSH members Roy Tominaga, who served as 2007-08 president, and Joseph Muratsuchi. Onoe Kikunobukazu (Howard....

“Celebrating the Past, Honoring the Future” was the theme of the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce’s 14th annual Inauguration and Generational Award Celebration, which was held July 18 in the Coral Ballroom on the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Large banners at the event declared the chamber’s mission: “Foster friendships, Connect B2B (business to business) and Mälama....

The Japanese Women’s Society Foundation held its annual general membership meeting and luncheon on July 29 at the Waialae Country Club. President Cathy Iwai said she enjoyed representing JWSF at so many events during the past year. The various events afforded Iwai and all of the members who participated in them an opportunity to learn....

The Honolulu Fukushima Kenjin Kai celebrated its 95th anniversary with a festive gathering at the Ala Moana Hotel’s Hibiscus Ballroom. The June 3 event started with a briefing by Fukushima Vice Gov. Masaaki Suzuki on the prefecture’s progress and current challenges following the 2011 Töhöku earthquake, tsunami and radiation disaster. Later, during the formal program,....

The Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjin Kai has launched a public fundraising campaign to support victims of the recent torrential rains that devastated Hiroshima Prefecture. In early July, heavy rains in Hiroshima and other western prefectures of Japan caused widespread flooding and landslides, claiming lives, injuring residents, and damaging homes and businesses. As of July 16, 101....

Sachie Saigusa-Sensei and her Sumie Society of Hawaii students marked the conclusion of their 16th annual exhibition of Japanese brush paintings at Honolulu Hale with an awards luncheon on April 27 at the Ala Moana Hotel. During the program, which was organized by the Makua Alii chapter, Saigusa-Sensei presented an Intermediate certificate of achievement to....

Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Hawaii, the youthful and energetic eisä taiko group, and the Pacific Cultural Interchange Association will present “Ko-Ryukyu: The Dawn of Ryukyu,” a presentation of Okinawan cultural arts and pre-Ryukyuan history, on Tuesday, July 24, at 7 p.m. at the Hawaii Okinawa Center. RMD Hawaii was founded by Akemi Martin-Sensei, who continues to....

Close to 600 people, including 44 World War II AJA veterans, turned out for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s 75th anniversary banquet on March 18 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The event, themed “Celebrating with Gratitude and Pride,” opened with the 442nd veterans filing into the Hawaii Ballroom, followed by family members of deceased veterans....