Aloha mai kakou,

The last two months and whole first quarter of year 2012 have swiftly come and gone.  The New York Giants won the 2012 Superbowl and the Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA college basketball championships.  Many activities have kept our chamber engaged since our February issue of Oshirase.

On February 19, I had the honor to represent our Chamber in participating in the 45th Annual Meeting and Shinnenkai with the East Hawai'i Hiroshima Kenjin Kai.  Outgoing president

Kenneth Ikemori and incoming president Delbert Nishimura were in attendance.  One of the highlights of the event was the recognition of 14 members who attained the revered status of Beiju (88th Birthday Recognition).  Congratulations!  Dignitaries in attendance included Mayor Billy Kenoi, Consul General of Japan, Yoshihiko Kamo, Japanese Community Association president Kenji Kawai and Claudia Chang of the Kona Hiroshima Kenjin Kai.

On Sunday March 11th, I was honored to attend and provide a congratulatory message at the Hawai'i Shima Kumamoto Doshi Kai.  This was the 85th anniversary and interim president Dwayne Mukai was sworn in as the president.  There were exhibitions of Taiko Drumming and Kendo.

Our Chamber held a general membership meeting at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on March 15 where the order of business was acceptance of the Officers and Directors for the upcoming fiscal year.  The meeting featured Mayor Billy Kenoi as he discussed our island's economic outlook.   

I'm really enjoying working with all of you in continuing our Chamber's mission.....To promote the well-being of our community through business and personal relationships that embody the values of Kahiau and Okage Sama De.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu     

 

Our 13th Annual Big Island Candies Golf Classic Tournament was held on a beautiful day, March 7, 2012 at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course. Plans were made for rainy conditions but Mother Nature provided us with fantastic weather and all of the players enjoyed themselves in one of our major fundraising events.

A GREAT BIG ARIGATO GOZAIMASU goes out to all of the players, donors, sponsors and volunteers, and a special THANK YOU goes out to our outer-island friends who flew in to participate in both golf and the camaraderie afterwards. Due to the tremendous support that we received, once again we were able to ensure that each player and volunteer received a generous bag of mahalo goodies.

 

Sake Toasting "Banzai"

This year we were blessed to have Big Island Candies as our Title Sponsor.  Mahalo to Mr. Allan Ikawa, President of Big Island Candies, for his generosity. Mahalo also to the major sponsors: (1) KTA Superstores; (2) Hawaiian Airlines; (3) Creative Arts Hawai'i; (4) HPM Building Supply; (5) Kama'aina Motors, Inc.; (6) Big Island Toyota; (7) Puna Geothermal Venture; (8) HMSA; (9) Y. Hata & Co., Ltd.; and (10) Kuhio Grill/Encore Restaurant. We would also like to thank the many hole sponsors who not only made generous donations but also participated in the tournament. A special thank you and appreciation to Naomi Menor, Naomi's World Travel Service, who donated a trip to the West coast for a greenie prize on the 13th hole. 

Congratulations to Dale Tokuuke - prize winner of a Panasonic 32" flat screen TV

A very special thank you goes out to Clayton Honma, Deputy Director of County of Hawai'i Parks & Recreation, who was instrumental in

Congratulations to Gerald Kosaka - prize winner of an interisland round trip for two

reducing the required minimum amount of golfers that were needed for this tournament.  A huge thank you to JCCIH Executive Assistant, Lei Momi Fujiyama, who was the glue that held this together and put in countless hours to ensure that this tournament was a success.

Finally, thank you to the golf committee, who once again made this tournament one of the best ever. The JCCIH hopes that you will continue to give your support to make sure that this tournament will continue to be one of the most successful golf tournaments in the County of Hawai'i in the years to come.
 

Arigato Gozaimasu

 

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Last month, I had an opportunity to visit Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture.  A little more than a year has passed since the massive disaster in Tohoku (north-eastern) Japan. A magnitude 9 earthquake off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture created a huge tsunami, which lead to a malfunction of a nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, abutting the south of Miyagi. The other side of Miyagi to the north is Iwate, another devastated area. In Hawai'i, we are no strangers to tsunami - and this tidal wave was no exception as it traveled across the Pacific Ocean to assault the western side of this island.   

The number of lives lost, or unaccounted for, is over 19,000.  320,000 remain in temporary housing. To put things in context, imagine if all the people on this island, times two, were displaced. Not only did these displaced people lose their loved ones or friends, but a significant portion also lost their homes, schools, and jobs. They managed to move into a little more stable and private accommodations after spending days or months in emergency shelters such as the schools or community halls. 

These numbers are well documented in the newspapers and other media. What I discovered is that there are three distinctly different areas: recovered or at least cleared, still waiting for clearing, and unreachable areas. 

Access to inland portion of Iwate and Miyagi are reasonably restored. Sendai Airport, Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train system), and the highways (interstate class) are serving as important life support system. Thanks to the sturdy structures, most of the buildings in Sendai survived the earthquake itself. Therefore, the infrastructure in the inland part is now back to the level as before.

Then there are areas which are difficult to gain access. I was trying to get to an intermediate school located in northern part of Ishinomaki in the coastal area, north of Sendai. My colleague in Tokyo told me it is one and half hour drive from Sendai. Since I was not confident in driving the wrong side of the road, I did not take his advice. Then found out that the local railway is not in service because there are no rails! Taxi service? Forget it. If the logistics are that bad, who am I to visit the school now? I did not feel it was appropriate to visit the school at this time. 

Then I took a tram to visit Sendai Airport near the coast. Last year, that area was severely damaged by the tsunami. One might recall a video showing the airplanes, choppers and the cars gliding by the airport passenger terminal due to the shear force of the wave. The first floor of the building was completely inundated. The runway was severely damaged. Rubble piled up on top of another. For awhile, a U.S. aircraft carrier served as a base for the aircraft during the rescue effort, then

later was used to deliver bare minimum necessities.

One year later, I could see some sense of normalcy return to the Sendai area. But how do you rebuild a community where so many residents are gone?  A way of life departed, not to mention the industries that can sustain the lives of residents within a community? The 1961 tsunami destroyed the general Hilo Bayfront area; but what if the entire Hilo area all the way up to Keaau were gone?   

My last meal in Sendai was at a Sushi restaurant. There was a celebration of first shipment of a special fish from the badly damaged fishing village. Sure, I ordered that special plate. Slowly the fishermen are restoring their boats, equipment, boat ramps, and the way of life.

 

I bought a wristband created by the women in the coastal area, using the remnants of fishing net. They lost their jobs, but their capable hands continue to produce something to connect people. I admire their resiliency. And this wristband will continue to remind me of Kizuna, a caring network of people, people throughout Japan and people throughout the world.   

Thank you very much for your immediate and continued support for my home country.

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HawCC Update

By Chancellor Noreen Yamane

In an effort to extend our gratitude, Hawai'i Community College invited the Taste of Hilo Committee members to a Spring Buffet Luncheon at the HawCC Bamboo Hale Dining Room on February 22.

Our second-year Culinary Arts students prepared Italy-themed entrees consisting of Stuffed Calamari on Arugula, Hamakua Mushroom and Chicken Terrine, Fresh Zucchini Salad, Marinated Mushrooms, Tomato Salad with Fresh Mozzarella, Green Salad Fennel Vinaigrette, Focaccia, Sauteed Shrimp and Asparagus Red Pepper Pilaf, Roast Leg of Lamb with Merlot Jus, Roasted Cauliflower, Polenta, Tomato and Leek Braised Chicken with House Made Fettuccini and Seared Broccoli with Gremolata.  The finale was a decadent dessert of Vanilla Panna Cotta with Orange Consomme.

At the luncheon, Dr. Pamela Scheffler, HawCC faculty member in the Tropical Forest Ecosystem and Agroforestry Management program and recipient of a grant partially funded through the JCCIH to promote international education at HawCC, shared her experience at Zamorano University in Honduras.  Through Dr. Scheffler's efforts, HawCC and Zamorano University in Honduras entered into an agreement that will allow HawCC students to participate in a Study Abroad program this summer.

Proceeds from A Taste of Hilo made it possible for JCCIH to award a $10,000 donation to Hawai'i Community College for student scholarships.  Pictured here are HawCC Chancellor Noreen Yamane and JCCIH President Mike Kaleikini

The JCCIH scholarships assist our students in achieving their educational goals as well as relieve some of their financial burdens.  Scholarship recipients for the 2011-2012 academic year were Michelle Baldwin, Nicole Talisay, and Kara Nelson.  The  'Ohana Scholarship was also awarded to a student who had a financial challenge.  At the 2011 Student Recognition Ceremony, we awarded 85 students with gift certificates in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.   Student appreciation awards were also given to five carpentry students who participated at the State Career Technical Education Conference on Oahu. 

Our Faculty and Staff Development program also benefited from your contribution which helped to sponsor a national expert on assessment, institutional effectiveness, and accreditation to provide training for our faculty in preparing for program and unit outcomes.

Our Digital Media Arts program was awarded funds to create a mural on the exterior wall of our Manono Cafeteria.  The students under the direction of instructor Tobias Brill will complete this project by the end of this Spring semester.  We welcome you to come and see the new mural as well as enjoy a delicious meal at our HawCC Manono Cafeteria when they resume service in the Fall.

We wish to thank the JCCIH and "A Taste of Hilo" committee for your continued support of our various college activities and programs.  We look forward to the next "A Taste of Hilo" event.

Mahalo to the JCCIH A Taste of Hilo committee!

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In late November the public portions of the Thirty Meter Telescope's Contested Case Hearing, which included witness testimony, ended and all documents were turned over to Hearings Officer Paul Aoki. He has been reviewing all witness testimony and evidence and we expect he will render a decision on whether the Thirty Meter Telescope meets the eight criteria for a project proposed for a Conservation District soon.

 
Aoki's decision will trigger another State of Hawai'i Land Board meeting whereby the Board of Land and Natural Resources can accept, deny or modify his report.

TMT has continued forward.

SEE-IT Hawaii Science and Engineering Exposition grand opening for the public is set for April 4. SEE-IT was launched during the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC). TMT, the University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy and Keck Observatory are participating exhibitors. Please stop by and visit the SEE-IT exhibit at the Hawai'i Convention Center next time you are on Oahu.

It was just announced that Giant Magellan Telescope Organization (GMTO), TMT's next-generation telescope U.S. competitor, is not planning to participate in the current National Science Foundation (NSF) competition, leaving TMT as the likely sole U.S. competitor for NSF funding. 

TMT's public Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process has been called one of the best the State has ever seen. TMT has been transparent and open and we have aimed to do the right thing. TMT has followed the rules and the process to get to where we are today.

In addition to giving significant viewing time to the University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy TMT will be contributing $1 million per year to an educational fund - The Hawai'i Island New Knowledge (THINK) Fund for island schoolchildren. The education fund will be managed locally by the Hawai'i Community Foundation and the Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation.

Everyone affiliated with the Thirty Meter Telescope is thankful for the support that the community has given to us in this long and arduous process to build an observatory.

With everyone's continued support, our island children will soon have the opportunity to reach for the stars. 

I could not be more pleased to announce that

Stephanie Nagata has been appointed director of the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) on a permanent basis. UH Hilo Chancellor Don Straney made the official announcement last month after it was approved by UH System President M.R.C. Greenwood.     

 

As readers of this column know, Stephanie has served as Interim Director of OMKM for nearly four years now, as she regularly updates JCCIH members of important developments affecting Mauna Kea. However, I'm not sure that everyone knows how well qualified Stephanie is for the job. Stephanie holds both an M.B.A. from UH and an M.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. She has extensive experience in both public and private sectors, coordinating programs, conferences and events, as well as research and feasibility studies.   

Director of the Office of Mauna Kea Management, Stephanie Nagata

It is, quite simply, a tough job, and Stephanie has proven that she is up to the task. While still on interim status, she led OMKM through the daunting task of completing the Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), including several critical studies needed to develop both Cultural and Natural Resources management sub-plans.  And, although we still await the final word from the hearings officer on the contested case, the CMP was completed and approved by the BLNR in a timely fashion against formidable odds.

Dear Uncle Tom,

It is evident that we do not say "thank you" enough, especially to you.  Throughout the year, you do so much for us; attend almost all of our general meetings, advise countless projects, share with us valuable knowledge, and help us become better people.  So thank you, for being the world's best Kiwanis Advisor, mentor, and the one and only Uncle Tom.

Thank you for coming to every one of our general meeting that you can and being the Advisor for countless projects each month.  We know that sometimes the projects are rather last minute but we appreciate you making time in your busy schedule to be there for us.  Whether it is at the general meetings or during a service project, we can always count on learning something new.  You have taught us about the issues going on in our community, manners, recognition, the benefits of bananas, and so much more.

Although "thank you" is not enough to sum up our gratitude and appreciation, thank you for everything.  

Love,
Members of the 2011-2012 Hilo High School Key Club