December 2019 President’s Message
Happy Holidays, Lions!
We had a very interesting speaker in Jacce Mikulanec of JCCH whose mission is to share the history and heritage of the Japanese American experience and preserve Japanese culture. His presentation on the Honouliuli internment camp was educational. Roy Aoki and Eric Kimura shared that their parents were at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas. Roy was there as a young child. Japanese sent to Honouliuli were targeted individuals who were in prominent occupational positions or social standing. Jacce offered an invitation for us to sign up for a tour of Honouliuli. Contact Sandy Gomes if interested in the tour.
Who said “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” On November 7th Merv had his first Facetime new member induction of Marissa Okada who is in Mountain View, California. Kendrick and Alvin helped with the audio/visual support.
Also, welcome to transfer member Bernard “Chip” Abbadessa who recently moved to Hawaii Kai. CJ Kalapodes of the Kaneohe Lions club and his sponsor introduced Chip who has been a Lion for 15 years and will be a benefit to our club. Please introduce yourselves and make Chip feel welcome. Chip has his own chiropractor business.
About ten Pearl City Lions visited our club at the November 21st meeting. Cynthia Chun prepared a Thanksgiving dinner which everyone enjoyed. They were impressed with the organization and number of volunteers and participants for our holiday parade when Ken Nishibun presented the final instructions and assignments. They enjoyed our convention fundraiser as they won a lot of the prizes.
About ten Hawaii Kai Lions woke up early Sunday morning and joined other volunteers to assist with the Ka Iwi Coast Run & Walk race. Over 2,700 participants made this annual run to benefit the Hui Nalu O Hawai’i Canoe Club. Thank you, Eric Kvick for organizing this project.
On Thanksgiving eve, five Lions volunteered to assist with the Lunalilo Home Ho’omaika’I Kalua benefit. We were tasked with directing traffic as people came to drop off over 300 turkey, ham, and beef briskets to be cooked in an imu. Several of us brought our turkeys and had kalua turkey for Thanksgiving. Thank you, David Iwana for organizing this project.
A BIG “Shout Out” to Ken Nishibun and Eric Kimura for a successful Holiday parade! Their team posted parade signs around Hawaii Kai, got East Oahu newspaper to publicize the parade, got parade participants, put up A-frame signs along Hawaii Kai Drive, compiled manpower assignments, and made sure everyone had a great time marching in the parade.
Hope everyone has fun at the Lunalilo Christmas party at Lunalilo Senior home and club Christmas dinner at 3660 on the Rise in December.
Wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas!
Ells.