March 6, 2020

On Feb. 8, at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i, Leilani Okuda was inducted into the President William McKinley High School’s Hall of Honor. She was honored for serving the softball community locally, nationally and internationally. Her many honors include:

Deidre Tegarden has rejoined Maui’s Nisei Veterans Memorial Center as executive director, a position she held from 2016 until 2018, when newly elected Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino selected her as his chief of staff. Tegarden will replace former state Sen. Jill Tokuda, who will now serve as NVMC’s director for external relations, leading the....

Frances H. Kakugawa Hawai‘i Herald Columnist Omoiyari . . . Think of others first and good karma will return to you. — Frances H. Kakugawa Dear Readers, I have some good news to share with you. You may have noticed that questions and interactions from readers have been on the decline in recent months. That....

Departing Cherry Blossom Queen Lauren Sugai Inspired to “Pay It Forward” Jodie Chiemi Ching In two weeks, the 67th Cherry Blossom Queen Lauren Sugai will pass her crown and scepter to one of 15 contestants who have fulfilled various phases of the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce 68th Cherry Blossom Festival. In an “exit....

[caption id="attachment_20392" align="alignnone" width="240"] Taylor Date[/caption] TAYLOR LILIA DATE High School: Punahou School College/Degree: Seattle University, Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications, minor in Journalism Occupation: Marketing assistant Hobbies: Searching for cute cafes, playing soccer and watching k-dramas. How do you live “kaizen,” continuous growth/improvement, in your daily life? “Just over a year ago, I....

[caption id="attachment_20387" align="alignnone" width="240"] Jewel Mahoe[/caption] JEWEL KAHIWALANI MIYUKI MAHOE High School: Kamehameha Schools Kapalama College/Degree: University of Northern Colorado, Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, minor in Reading; Vanderbilt University, Master of Education in Special Education; and University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa Occupation: Preschool special education teacher Hobbies: Running, reading, learning to sew from....

[caption id="attachment_20382" align="alignnone" width="240"] Jaylin Petersen[/caption] JAYLIN KAIKO TERRY PETERSEN High School: Roosevelt High School College/Degree: University of Hawai‘i at Mänoa, Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; John Hopkins University Occupation: Special education teacher Hobbies: Dancing (ballet, contemporary and hip hop), reading, outdoor activities and spending....

Hawai‘i’s Space Science Teachers Extraordinaire Melvin Inamasu and Violet Harada Courtesy: Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i Growing up in Hilo, Art Kimura aspired to be either a marine biologist or a pilot. Instead, his career took a life-defining turn when he earned a degree in zoology and became a high school science teacher. After a....

Ryan Tatsumoto Hawai‘i Herald Columnist Like the famous 80s television sitcom “Cheers,” the staff and regulars at Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar always know our names. We enjoy the food and wine there so much that you could say it’s like our home away from home. But, since it moved across the breezeway at....

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY By Jane Yamamoto-Burigsay