Honouliuli National Historic Site: Dream or Reality? - Japanese ...

Dear JCCH ‘Ohana,
Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!
I hope you had a wonderful
holiday season and have
made several meaningful
resolutions for 2011
including one related to
appreciation for culture
and the arts. One of my
resolutions is to not only
seek out the beautiful shodo -
(Japanese calligraphy) that
surrounds us but also take
the time to inquire about
the meaning. I hope you will
consider doing the same!
In the Cultural Center
office behind the receptionist’s
desk is a framed
shodo - of four kanji (Chinese
characters used in Japanese
writing). You may have noticed it but, unless you can
read kanji you would not know its meaning. It has a
lovely translation which I’d like to share and I hope
that the next time you visit, you will take a moment to
admire this masterful shodo - .
Minako Song, a long time volunteer in our Resource
Center, kindly provided a translation. The four kanji
read “Peace, Face, Love, Words.” We, your Cultural
Center staff, have resolved to make this our customer
service goal - to serve each other and every visitor
with a peaceful face and loving words. Our staff and
volunteers wish to make everyone’s visit to the center
a pleasant and rewarding one.
Aloha!
Lenny Yajima Andrew
President & Executive Director
2
Today’s ThoughT:
Life’s imporTanT
words
Norton Mockridge said:
The six most important words in
our language are: “I admit I made
a mistake.”
The five most important words:
“You did a good job.”
The four most important words:
“What is your opinion?”
The three most important words:
“If you please.”
The two most important words:
“Thank you.”
The single most important words:
“We.”
The least most important word: “I.”
aloha!
Shinnen Akemashite Omedetō Gozaimasu
(congratulations on the opening of the
New Year)! 2011 celebrates the Year of
the Rabbit which officially begins on
February 3. Three words can describe
the Rabbit: calm, gentle, and persistent.
People born under the sign of the Rabbit are reasonably
friendly individuals, but also need their own space. They
also enjoy being in the company of good friends. My
younger son Aden was born in the year of the Rabbit and
exemplifies all of these traits.
2011 is likely to be a relatively calmer year over 2010.
Shrewd and active new business partnerships will be
formed to benefit everyone. One such partnership is
with Hawai‘i’s own, Hawaiian Airlines. I was fortunate to
represent all of you on the inaugural flight to and from
Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. It was a whirlwind
24 hours which started in Honolulu on November 17. As
your chairman, I spoke about the long standing relationship
between Japan and Hawai‘i and how our Cultural Center
has played an integral part of solidifying this important
relationship. This year marks the 125th anniversary of
the Kanyaku Imin and Japanese immigration. My greatgrandfather
Kosaburo Nakamura along with his wife
Ie, were part of the first group who traveled to Hawai‘i
in search of a new life. Four generations later, neither
Kosaburo nor the other thousands of immigrants could
have imagined that a local airline would make history by
becoming the first U.S. carrier to fly to Haneda.
During our brief visit to Tokyo, we visited some of Japan’s
treasures including Tsukiji Market, Asakusa and its temples,
and the famous Ameya Yokocho. Our group included past
board chairman Colbert Matsumoto, Jeffery Watanabe,
and Chuck and Cheryl Furuya. We toured and walked for
hours, getting a first hand glimpse of Japan’s vibrant culture.
Of course, the visit wouldn’t be complete without eating
fresh sushi and sashimi from Tsukiji Market as well as
world class soba and ramen in Ameya Yokocho! Mahalo
to Hawaiian Airlines for your friendship and support of
the Cultural Center this past year!
2011 promises to be an exciting year for your Cultural
Center beginning with our annual New Year’s ‘Ohana
Festival on Sunday, January 9. We are also planning a
special Celebration of Leadership and Achievement
Dinner this year on Saturday, July 23. I hope to see you
at this year’s special event which will once again be held
at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa in the
Tapa Ballroom.
On behalf of your board of directors, Happy New Year
and we look forward to serving all of you in 2011.
Aloha,
Curt Otaguro
Chairman of the Board