The East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai will celebrate the New Year with its annual luncheon meeting slated for Feb. 28 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Sangha Hall in Hilo.
The East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai will celebrate the New Year with its annual luncheon meeting slated for Feb. 28 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Sangha Hall in Hilo.
Join the Kenjin Kai in welcoming the exciting Year of the Monkey.
A short business meeting conducted by president Eugene Nishimura is planned for 10:30 a.m. and Beiju honorees, those members who will accomplish reaching the auspicious age of 88 in 2016, will be honored before the New Year’s luncheon: Fumiko Hakoda, Emiko Hamakawa, Susan Hashimoto, Kiyoko Imada, Larry Isemoto, Sue Johnson, Kazue Kaide, Yoshiko Kaisen, Taeko Kunimitsu, Ellen Nagao, Wallis Nagareda, Yoshimi Nakayama, Norma Samson and Clara Yanabu. Family members and friends of the honorees are encouraged to attend the luncheon, which will include entertainment by singer Cary Suefuji.
Hawaii Japanese Center Executive Director Arnold Hiura will make a short presentation regarding preserving and documenting family history after lunch. A short report by the family of Eric Kagawa, a freshmen attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa who was the 2015 Kenjin Kai delegate to the Hiroshima International Youth Exchange Program, also is scheduled. Information about the program will be available during the luncheon.
Reports by East Hawaii Hiroshima Kenjin Kai 2015 scholarship recipients Erin Hakoda, who is a freshman at Dixie State University, and Dylan Ito, a freshman at Pacific University, will be given by family members. More information about scholarships for children and grandchildren of Kenjin Kai members also will be available.
Tommy Goya and Jon Arizumi, co-chairpersons of the event, along with the committee members, welcome and invite all those with ancestral roots in Hiroshima or interest in Japan to attend the luncheon and join the organization.
“Remember, it’s up to you to help preserve our rich local history and culture,” Goya said. “Please join the EHHKK organization; annual dues are only $7. We also welcome any help for the luncheon.”
Cost for the luncheon is $15 per person. For tickets or membership information, call Goya at 989-5953 or Arizumi at 896-8172.