Community Focus

Hui O Laulima recently awarded $15,000 in grants to 10 organizations for specific projects aimed at perpetuating Okinawan culture. “Each awardee demonstrated potential to promote and expand the influence of our vibrant and colorful Okinawan culture,” noted HOL cultural grants committee chair Karen Fuse. Hui O Laulima, which is a member-club of the Hawaii United....

The year 2020 will mark the 120th anniversary of the arrival of the first Okinawans in Hawai‘i. A project to commemorate that milestone is currently in the works, with the final product being a multimedia collection of original works about Okinawan heritage in Hawai‘i. The theme is “Our Okinawan Heritage in Hawai‘i.” Submissions are being....

Daiso, the popular Japanese value store, opened its first Hawai‘i store on Dec. 12 at the Pearl City Shopping Center with a festive grand opening celebration, including taiko drumming by Kenny Endo and the Taiko Center of the Pacific. Daiso opened in the old Sanki location next to Ben Franklin. In Japan, Daiso is known....

Gwen Fujie has been selected as executive director of the Hawaii United Okinawa Association, succeeding the late Jane Serikaku, who held the post for approximately 12 years before passing last summer. Fujie assumed the position on Jan. 2. Fujie’s ancestral roots in Okinawa are in Oroku and Yomitan. She is a member of Yomitan Club,....

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....

The Okinawan Genealogical Society of Hawaii celebrated 25 years since its formation with a party at the Hawaii Okinawa Center on Nov. 3. “Keishoo: Passing On to the Next Generation” was the theme of the celebration, which was dedicated to OGSH’s surviving charter members. Current president Rodney Kohagura reviewed some of OGSH’s accomplishments, including its....

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....

Jacce Mikulanec has been selected as the new president and executive director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, succeeding the retiring Carole Hayashi- no. Mikulanec’s first day on the job will be Jan. 1, 2019. In a press release, JCCH board chair Ken Hayashida said Mikulanec’s “enthusiasm for JCCH’s mission, leadership in the community,....

The United Japanese Society of Hawaii held its an- nual “Tsukimi no Kai,” or moon-viewing celebration, on Oct. 25 on the Great Lawn of the Bishop Museum. This year’s event, co-chaired by UJSH members Frances Nakachi Kuba and Cyrus Tamashiro, was open to the general public and included food booths and food trucks with a....

The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui is seeking nominations for its 2019 Nihon Bunka Award. The award is presented to individual(s) in the Maui community who have dedicated their lives to perpetuating Japanese culture or have shown excellence and contributions to the Japanese arts and/or culture. They have also selflessly shared their talents with the....