Blayne Hanagami, a 20-year servant leader with the Akaka Falls Lion Club, was installed as Hawaii’s District 50 Lions governor along with 740 other District Governors from around the world on July 4 during a special three-day centennial celebration of the Lions Club International in Chicago.
Blayne Hanagami, a 20-year servant leader with the Akaka Falls Lion Club, was installed as Hawaii’s District 50 Lions governor along with 740 other District Governors from around the world on July 4 during a special three-day centennial celebration of the Lions Club International in Chicago.
More than 30,000 Lions, families and guests converged on the “Windy City” for the event.
Since its inception in 1917 in Chicago, the International Organization of Lions Clubs is in more than 210 countries and territories. With nearly 1.5 million Lion members in approximately 46,000 clubs, the Lions Clubs International is the largest service organization in the world.
It continues to be the “Knights of the Blind” but today, its focus areas extend to combating hunger, preserving the environment, aiding global communities during natural disasters, diabetes and cancer awareness, education and prevention.
Hanagami’s goals are to increase the service impact locally and internationally; expand leadership programs for all Hawaii Lions; improve its public image; and enrich member experiences to further instill pride in community service.
“It is truly humbling and an honor to lead this incredible organization at the end of its first 100 years and at the beginning of a new century,” Hanagami said. “Our motto, ‘Honor our past; embrace our future,’ aptly reflects respecting our leaders who brought us to this point and, at the same time, welcoming change to keep our organization relevant.”
Hanagami will represent 61 Lions Clubs and nearly 1,800 Lion members across the Hawaiian Islands. For more information, visit www.hawaiilions.org.