Good Times.....

As I reflect back during the past year, one proverb comes to mind, "Okage Sama De". 
What a privilege and honor it has been to have served as your 62nd President for the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii.

Hard to believe a year has passed, and we again held a wonderful Installation Dinner - this year being the 63rd annual.  

I am extremely grateful for the guidance and support I have received from my officers, board of directors, committee chairs, members, past presidents, and administration during this past year.  You can rest assured the existence of this wonderful organization will move forward on a strong foundation set by those who, for the past 61 years, put this Chamber's interest ahead of their own.

As I reminisce, there have been a number of positive experiences to reflect on.  The Chamber made great strides in membership, governmental affairs, social and cultural events, as well as logistical advancements in our newsletter, website, and marketing initiatives for the Chamber.  

We started the year out with the Mayoral Debate, which our Chamber along with other key organizations facilitated; participated in the Ireito Memorial Service at Alae Cemetery; attended the Higashi-Hiroshima "Sake Festival" in Japan; then there was the "Taste of Hilo" event which was SOLD OUT; and the Christmas Gathering at the Hilo Yacht Club was a blast.  

In the turn of the year from 2012 to 2013, the Year of the Snake was celebrated.  We participated in the Japanese Community Association of Hilo installation; had the privilege to partake in the Uresenke Tea Ceremony; attended numerous Kenjinkai and other Japanese community functions.  The Chamber's annual Golf Classic was the pinnacle event for the second half of the year - another SOLD OUT event! We are so grateful to the title sponsor Big Island Candies, and the many key supporters and special guests from the neighboring islands.  Let's not forget the entertaining and informational "Goji Kara" events supported by members and businesses in our community.

I am exhilarated and look forward to the direction this organization is heading, and I am confident in the leadership that incoming President, Ms. Carol VanCamp, will bring.  There has been so much positive energy with the many new ideas, programs and increased opportunities for relationship building within our chambers and in the community.    
 
In closing, I would like to reiterate how it has truly been a privilege serving as the 62nd President for the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai'i.  Most importantly, the success of our organization is because of the collective efforts of every hard working, voluntary, Chamber member... Kahiau Kākou!  There are so many individuals I am grateful to that I would be remiss if I tried to name everyone.  However, I must share a special Mahalo to Lei Momi Fujiyama Pillers for the significant value she has been to our organization, which includes the dedication she provides to this wonderful chamber.

Once again, thank you to all of you for allowing me the opportunity to be your 62nd President.  It has been an honor to work with you, and I ask for your continued support and participation as Ms. Carol VanCamp takes over on July 1st.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu......."Okage Sama De"

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 The Daniel K. Inouye Institute Fund gifted the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii with an award to recognize the friendship, relationship, and work that the chamber has done with him during the past years.   The award was a metal that Senator Inouye had received from the Iwakuni Chamber of Commerce many years ago.

Senator Inouye's life's work can be captured in two simple words - "Freedom and Fairness".   Through this gift, let us continue his legacy of leadership and an unwavering hope for the future to be carried forward.

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Date: June 1 to July 31, 2013

Calling all JCCIH Members....

Recruit a qualified new member from June 1 through July 31, 2013. For every qualified new member, you will receive one entry to win prizes. Drawing will be held at the August 12, 2013 Board Meeting.

Qualified new member criteria:

1. Complete & sign application

2. Submit payment for dues

3. Application & payment must be received at the JCCIH office no later than July 31, 2013 

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Casino Night was outstanding! On May 15th, 2013, JCCIH members and their guests gathered at Kamaaina Motors to celebrate their 98th anniversary, and prepare for the upcoming 100th anniversary in 2015!

Ivan Nakano and his staff treated all the Goji Kara guests to an incredible evening. Just like Vegas, they provided both the entertainment and the opportunity for newbie gamblers to learn from their staff. Seasoned players including Roland Higashi and Loren Tsugawa also gave tips to fellow JCCIH members on how to play Blackjack, Craps, Let It Ride and Roulette. 

In addition to providing an exceptionally fun evening, the staff of Kamaaina Motors also went above and beyond to provide all the guests with a delicious dinner and drink buffet.

Located at 400 East Kawili Street in Hilo, Kamaaina Motors is a locally owned, family run business that has been doing business on the Big Island since 1905. It is still run by the same family that started it over 100 years ago. Kamaaina Motors is the oldest car dealership in Hawai'i, and one of the oldest Chrysler dealers in the United States.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Social and Cultural Committee, and the entire membership of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai'i, mahalo nui loa to Ivan Nakano, Brian Kitagawa, and the entire staff of Kamaaina Motors for hosting the final Goji Kara event of the 2012-2013 year.

 

Probably many of you already know the Japanese term "gaijin," meaning foreigner.  I thought I understood the meaning of the term until I lived in Japan, as gaijin.

The proper term for a foreigner ,"gaikokujin," means a person belonging to an outside (or strange) country.  Shortening the word to "gaijin" removes the reference to countries and makes the meaning more direct:  an outsider, a strange person.

At times in Japan I would become depressed, because no matter how long I stayed in the country, or how diligently I practiced Japanese etiquette, I would always be gaijin.  I would never be part of Japanese society.  Then one day came a revelation: gaijin are part of Japanese society.  The Japanese people had already accepted me.  They had already integrated me into their culture; as a gaijin. 

Japanese society values uniformity but accepts gaijin even though they are different.  It accepts them because they are different.  One of my professors explained it best at a drinking party, "We call you 'gaijin' because you are a foreigner, but you are Japanese."

Thank you for your hospitality in Hawai'i.  By the time you read these words, I will have left my position at the Subaru Telescope for a new job at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan headquarters in Tokyo Japan.  It is time for me to return to Japan; time for me to return to being gaijin.

The Subaru Telescope at AstroDay 2013.  At the Japanese telescope in Hawai'i, everyone is "gaijin" in one way or another.

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Aloha,

Last month was one of the most exciting times of the year at Hawai'i Community College: graduation time. That's when we get to celebrate the achievements, perseverance and talent of the students who have studied with us and who will now move on to careers and/or further education.

It's always a joy to celebrate this important occasion with graduates and their families, and this year was no exception. We had very festive and well-attended commencement ceremonies in both Hilo and Kona.

This year, over 400 students from our East Hawai'i and West Hawai'i campuses obtained either an associate degree and/or a certificate, and nearly all of these students are from Hawai'i Island. Many, if not most, of these students will continue to live on Hawai'i Island. That's one reason the education and training we deliver is so important for our community: We're not just affecting the individual students; we're also having an impact on our island community as a whole. 

Hawai'i Community College graduates smile for the camera during graduation in Hilo in May

Congratulations to all Hawai'i Community College graduates for their hard work!

 

Speaking of hard work and perseverance, on May 28 Hawai'i Community College hosted a kipaepae 'eli honua, or groundbreaking ceremony, for Hawai'i Community College - Palamanui, our new Kona campus.

Dignitaries use o'o during a ceremony to celebrate the groundbreaking for Hawai'i Community College's new Kona campus, Hawai'i Community College - Palamanui.

The Palamanui campus has been in the planning phase for nine years, and government, university and community leaders have been working to build a permanent home for Hawai'i Community College and the University Center, West Hawai'i for more than two decades. Now it's happening.

The first phase of construction - which is expected to be completed in 2015 - will result in state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facilities that include 24,000 square feet of learning space. With classroom space, science laboratories, learning kitchens, and a learning center and library, the Palamanui campus will accommodate all the programs we currently offered in rented space in Kealakekua. More information about Palamanui is available at http://blog.hawaii.edu/palamanui/.

In the Hawai'i Community College Mission Statement, we state clearly our commitment "to serving all segments of our Hawai'i Island community." This new campus will help us accomplish that goal.

 

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 Words of Wisdom

By Tommy Goya

"Life is like a book.  We must read /live it from the first page to the last page, from day one to the next day, from chapter to chapter, from milestone to milestone. There are no shortcuts.  Take the time to enjoy life's passages."