NOVEMBER 2008 | VOL. 14, NO. 6 LEGACIES Honoring our heritage. Embracing our diversity. Sharing our future. LEGACIES IS A PUBLICATION OF THE JAPANESE CULTURAL CENTER OF HAWAI`I, 2454 SOUTH BERETANIA STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96826 NEW BOOK AND EXHIBITION Annual REPort 2007 – 2008 TO HIGHLIGHT Please see our new format for CALIFORNIA HOTEL’s the JCCH Annual Report HAWai‘i ConneCTION (See insert). 2454 South Beretania Street hen University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Professor Honolulu, HI 96826 Dennis Ogawa heard about a friend’s father’s tel: (808) 945-7633 last request, his interest was piqued: upon fax: (808) 944-1123 W hearing he had only weeks to live, the man requested that he be taken to the California Hotel in Las Vegas OFFICE HOURS despite his weakened state. How had the California Monday - Saturday Hotel become such a central part of the life of this 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. man and thousands of others in Hawai‘i like him? GALLERY HOURS The product of years of research, Dr. Ogawa’s new Tuesday - Saturday book provides the answer. Written in collaboration 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with John Blink, one of the founding executives of the California Hotel who was mentored by Sam Boyd, RESOURCE CENTER HOURS California Hotel and Casino: Hawai‘i’s Home Away from Wednesday - Friday Home tells the story of the hotel and its link to the 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Islands. Based on oral history interviews with Blink Saturday by appointment and many of the key figures in the hotel’s history, the book largely tells the story in the words of the GIFT SHOP HOURS principals. A new exhibition based on the book will Tuesday - Saturday also be featured in the Japanese Cultural Center of 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Hawai‘i’s Community Gallery. Continued on page 4 Mission Statement: To be a vibrant resource, strengthening our diverse community by educating present and Thursday, future generations in the evolving November 13 Japanese American experience in Hawai‘i. We do this through CALIFORNIA HOTEL relevant programming, meaningful EXHIBITION OPENING community service and AND BOOK LAUNCH innovative partnerships that 10:30 am enhance the understanding and JCCH TERUYA celebration of our heritage, COURTYARD culture and love of the land. To guide us in this work we draw from the values found in our Japanese American traditions and the spirit of Aloha. ai ofL the centerove Dear Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i Ohana, and businesses, please thank them for their Dear Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i ‘Ohana: commitment to helping the Cultural Center. We are very pleased to report on a terrific year for our With the holiday season quickly approaching, the organization in terms of what our staff and volunteers Mahalo to Barbara Kawakami and University of Cultural Center continues to diligently work on many worked on tirelessly (the Honouliuli Pilgrimage and Hawai‘i at Mānoa Art Gallery Director Emeritus great programs and family friendly events including Internment Summit in March 2008 was 10 years in Tom Klobe for fabricating the Pride and Practicality: the Shichi Go San keiki kimono dressing and the New the making) to present to visitors and our greater Japanese Immigrant Clothing in Hawai‘i exhibit. Year’s ‘Ohana Festival – both helping to share a unique Hawai‘i ‘Ohana. For a recap of our accomplishments Mahalo also to the Sekiya of Fukuoka Hawai‘i aspect of our rich culture and heritage of the Japanese and finances from July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008, please Endowment, Nancy Frazier, and David and Bonnie American experience in Hawai‘i. see the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i’s Annual Andrew for sponsoring the exhibit. Pride and Report insert in this issue. We offer to you this new Practicality: Japanese Immigrant Clothing in Hawai‘i Planning of these events was underway even before format for our November Legacies – a separate Annual was especially meaningful to so many elementary the Cultural Center’s Celebration of Leadership and Report surrounded by our newsletter – and welcome school children currently studying immigration, as Achievement Dinner in September. It was wonderful your feedback! it allowed them to see the actual clothing worn by to see so many supporters that evening. This year 850 Japanese immigrants. One of the highlights of the past two months has people attended the Cultural Center’s annual gala been the addition of Marisa Takahashi to our staff October hailed the return of an evening of chicken event, which honored those who have gone beyond ‘ohana as our new Public Relations and Membership skin as we presented Obake Odyssey ghost storytelling the call in their civic duty and community service. The Director. Marisa – we are very excited to have you on in memory of Dr. Glen Grant, and kindly sponsored by Cultural Center recognized Jean Ariyoshi, the first Asian board and look forward to seeing your talents take us Nippon Golden Network and Ben Franklin Crafts. We American gubernatorial First Lady in the United States; to a higher level in your area of expertise over many are thankful to Mōili‘ili Community Center for Dr. George Suzuki, a pioneer in gastroscopy techniques years. Please see Marisa’s welcome on the next page allowing us to participate in Discover Mōili‘ili, and also that provide early detection of stomach cancer in and the nice article in the Hawai‘i Herald 10/03/08 the Kaua‘i Japanese Cultural Society for letting us take the United States; Matsuo Takabuki, a financial and issue, and welcome Marisa when you see her in the part in the Matsuri Kaua’i in October. political leader in the community and corporate office or at events. honoree Armstrong Produce, a locally-owned, family In November we are very excited to release a Japanese run wholesale produce company established by Harold I am writing this in the days following our annual Cultural Center of Hawai‘i publication California Celebration of Leadership and Achievement Dinner, and Hotel and Casino: Hawai’i’s Home Away from Home by Teruya. Thank you to all of the esteemed honorees am still touched by the inspirational stories shared Dr. Dennis Ogawa and John Blink,assisted by Mike for going beyond the call, for continually serving the by our honorees: Jean Ariyoshi, Dr. George Suzuki, Gordon. The corresponding historical exhibit on the community, and for your tremendous leadership in Kristen Yamamoto who spoke on behalf of her California Hotel is one that all Vegas enthusiasts inspiring others to greatness. grandfather Matsuo Takabuki, and Mark Teruya of must see! Please help support the Cultural Center by We also greatly appreciate our volunteers, sponsors Armstrong Produce. One of our service providers at purchasing multiple copies of the book which is timed and donors. Even during the tough economic times, the dinner said that as a student at Kamemameha perfectly for Christmas giving during the holiday these companies and individuals generously stepped Schools, he was very familiar with the name “Matsy season. With drive-through pick-ups scheduled up to help the Cultural Center share our mission to Takabuki.” He and his fellow students had a general for book orders every Saturday and Sunday from share our history and heritage with present and future idea of why Mr. Takabuki was such a prominent November 15 to December 21, we are making it as generations, while embracing our diverse community. figure at Kamehameha Schools, but until he saw the convenient as possible to acquire first editions of the video, he had no idea of the depth of Mr. Takabuki’s California Hotel book. The Board of Directors would also like to welcome its contributions to Hawai‘i. Similar feedback from newest member Ken Niimura. Ken is the President of guests on how much they enjoyed the event, and We would like to dedicate Today’s Thought (see page 3) to the Boyd family – who continues ITO EN (USA) Inc. His leadership, experience and passion learned about these leaders’ impact on Hawai‘i for the Japanese culture will make a great addition to makes all the personal time the planning committee Mr. Sam Boyd’s legacy of keeping aloha alive at the California Hotel. the Board’s already strong commitment to serving the (led by Susan Kitsu and Tyler Tokioka), as well as community. staff and volunteers, gave to the event even more And to all you parents of seven, five and three year worthwhile. Mahalo to you, our supportive members, olds, don’t forget to sign up for Shichi Go San kimono To all of you, our wonderful members, I wish you a safe Board of Directors and Board of Governors, and the dressing and Shinto blessing on November 9. and happy holiday season surrounded by friends and hundreds of family, friends and business associates family. of our honorees, who came from neighbor islands, Happy Holidays to you all and mahalo again for your the mainland, and Italy to help us celebrate. Our treasured membership! silent auction was a huge financial success thanks to Aloha, Waynele Yu and her team of volunteers who came on multiple weekends and evenings to coordinate the Aloha, auction. Please take a moment to peruse the article on the gala dinner which includes our committee, and the Kansha section listing our supporters, including Eric K. Martinson silent auction donors. If you know these individuals Lenny Yajima Andrew Chairman, Board of Directors President/Executive Director 2 JAPANESE CULTURAL CENTER OF HAWai‘i Today’s INTRODUCWelcomeING BOARD MEMBER ThoughT KEN NIIMURA Please welcome Ken Niimura to the Japanese Cultural Center “ALOHA” “It is of Hawai‘i ‘Ohana as its 19th member of the Board of Directors.