JCCIH December 2016 Oshirase News

JCCIH Office Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

President Message

By Russell M. Arikawa, President

Aloha!

By the time you receive this, your stomach will already be filled to the max with Thanksgiving goodies. Turkey, ham, and don't forget the sashimi and poke. Hawaiian style Thanksgiving is not duplicated anywhere in the world. Lucky you live in Hawaii!

Before I talk about JCCIH happy happenings, I do want to note how saddened we are at two recent big losses for the Chamber - State Rep. and Past President Clifton Tsuji and Past President Barry Mizuno . Both were incredible community servants and great friends to so many of us. Our condolences go out to their families.

In October, my wife, Carol, and I had the honor of attending the famous Sake Matsuri in Higashi Hiroshima. The members of our sister chamber, Higashi Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry, excelled in hosting our group that included 1st Vice President Audrey Takamine, Past President Carol Van Camp and her husband Ron, chamber member and owners of Kuhio Grille, Sam Araki and his wife Nelline, and office staff member Lei Momi Fujiyama Pillers and her husband Colby. The weather was beautiful. Yoshio Kurata, Mayor of Higashi Hiroshima, and members of his cabinet took time out to meet with us. This year we gifted the Mayor a plaque made of milo wood and had the words "E Komo Mai" engraved on it. He told his staff that they have to make room on the wall to hang this plaque for visitors to see. I also found out that the Mayor is an avid golfer with a single digit handicap.

The next day we took part in the Sake Matsuri where over 250,000 people will eventually take part in Japan's largest, or one of the largest, sake festival. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation of sampling over 1,100 varieties of sake.

Sam Araki and I were treated to a round of golf at the Hiroshima Country Club with Chairman Kazuyuki Kihara and Vice-Chairman Matsuki Okumoto. Wearing a dress coat to the country club was a first for the both of us, but once there we changed into our super golf attire. Very interesting golf etiquette and a very beautiful golf course.

The rest of the group went on a tour and got to see the famous Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni and a great bento lunch on a "sampan" boat in the Nishiki River. A trip to the Hiroshima Peace Park was right after lunch and a little bit of shopping followed.

At the end of November we had a visit from Mr. Teruya Nakamura, the Director of the Advanced Healthy City Program in Fukuoka, Japan. It is a surprise as Mr. Nakamura had initially planned to speak only on Oahu on "Fukuoka-city's Strategy to Prepare Itself as a Super-Aging Society." He then got invited to speak on Maui. Our busy-as-a-bee co-chair for the Education Committee, Charlene Iboshi-Wagner, got word on this and put out an invitation to Mr. Nakamura to come to Hilo and he graciously accepted for the only day he was free, November 30. Charlene worked hard to set this up at the Office of Aging and our 3rd Vice-President, Stephen Ueda, planned a luncheon at Suisan. Ms. Iboshi-Wagner had scheduled site visits with Mr. Nakamura.

Our General Membership Meeting was held on December 8, and the feature presentation was with a group of energy conscious people. Jay Ignacio, President Hawai'i Electric Light Company, Michael Kaleikini, Manager, Puna Geothermal Venture, Marco Mangelsdorf, President, ProVision Solar, Inc. and David Parson, Chief of Policy & Research, Hawai`i PUC, took part in discussing "Our Island's Energy Path Forward-Availability and Reliability". The ever reliable, Sherry Bracken, provided the role of moderator.

Everyone, please have a Merry Christmas, be safe during the holidays and Have a Happy New Year!

CLICK TO VIEW OSHIRASE FULLSCREEN

In Memoriam:

JCCIH Past President, Barry Mizuno

In Memoriam:

JCCIH Past President and

State Rep. Clift Tsuji

Hawaii Rep. Clift Tsuji, 74, Past President and great friend of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, died Nov. 15. He represented House District 2 including Keaukaha, parts of Hilo, Pana'ewa and Waiākea.

Rep. Tsuji was born on Jan. 20, 1941 and raised in the Big Island's plantation town of Papaikou. A 1959 graduate of Hilo High School, he received degrees at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Washington, Pacific Coast Banking School.

Rep. Tsuji was a strong advocate of business and agriculture for the Big Island. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004 and chaired the House Agriculture Committee. In 2015, he was named the Hawaii Farm Bureau's Legislator of the Year.

Rep. Tsuji served in the U.S. Army Reserve, 442nd Infantry, Company B, Hilo, from 1959-1965.

He was also active with the Hilo Medical Center Foundation, Hawaii Island Japanese Community Association, Pacific Tsunami Museum, Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Kumamoto Kenjin Kai.

Hanafuda Na Pua Hawaii & JCCIH Annual Shinnen Kai

By Missy Miyashiro, Social & Cultural Committee Chairperson

Have you ever played Hanafuda? Wanna learn or re-learn like me?

Join us December 14^th at the Japanese Cultural Center for a new spin on this age-old game with Hanafuda Na Pua Hawaii; Hawaiian Hanafuda!

Sign up is limited to 50, RSVP by December 12^th. Helen Nakano will be teaching us about Hanafuda and how this game can bring generations together again.

Check out December's "Living in Paradise" to see our Russell Arikawa & KTA's Derek Kurisu in a Hanafuda match-up!

Mark your calendars for January 25^th, our Annual Shinnen Kai is coming up. This year's theme is back to our roots, Japanese style! A fun night with good friends, to welcome the New Year! Food, music, and we can't forget karaoke so be ready to sing!

My first 100 days: forming a vision

By Rachel Solemsaas, Chancellor

Hawaii Community College

Aloha,

I recently passed the 100-day mark as Chancellor of Hawai'i Community College and I am happy to report that my first impressions of the campus and community continue to hold true today. Hawai`i CC is filled with faculty and staff committed to the success of students. The Hawai`i Island community shares this commitment and is incredibly supportive of the college and its mission to improve the lives of individuals and thus the wider community. Mahalo for your support.

One of my goals for the first 100 days was to meet as many people as possible, learn as much as possible, and begin to develop a vision for how to fulfill our kuleana of supporting individuals to achieve their educational goals.

Looking toward the future, it is clear from what I have learned so far, that it is our commitment to support students who then graduate and become skilled workers or innovative entrepreneurs while nurturing them to be engaged as members of our community.

In my next several columns I plan to share this vision in three parts:

The first part is focused on eliminating barriers to success so that first-generation college students, those from low-income backgrounds, and those from ethnic backgrounds traditionally underserved by higher education, are able to enroll and succeed at Hawai'i Community College.
The second involves finding ways to support the incubation of new and emerging industries and jobs that would benefit our graduates and residents of Hawai`i Island.
And the third is a vision for developing 21st century educational learning capacities so we are successfully serving all regions of Hawai`i Island, whether it is through our campus in Hilo or at Palamanui, through service centers in the north and south of the Island, or through distance (online) education.

Eliminating barriers, creating opportunities

College education is more important than ever for finding success in the workforce. Of the 11.6 million jobs added since the recession bottomed out, 11.5 million - or 99 percent - have gone to people with some college education, according to the "America's Divided Recovery," a 2016 report from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. Just 1 percent has gone to people with high school education or less.

That's a staggering figure demonstrating the importance of college in today's job market.

Yet despite the support systems that already exist, getting that college education can be incredibly challenging for students from lower economic backgrounds, first-generation college students who may not have family support, and students from traditionally underserved ethnic backgrounds like Native Hawaiians, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders.

Hawai'i CC has a very high percentage of students who fit these descriptions. For example, the way colleges and universities around the country calculate the number of students of lower socioeconomic status is by looking at the number of students receiving federal Pell grants. For fall 2016, 64 percent of Hawai'i CC students received need-based Pell grants. That's the highest percentage of any of the 10 campuses in the University of Hawai'i system.

In addition, though the cost of attending Hawai'i CC is lower than many colleges, when you compare it to the family incomes of many on this island, it's often a huge hurdle.

Despite financial assistance, students often have unmet financial need and struggle with housing, transportation, and childcare. Many of our students work and have families to care for. We have students who are homeless. When students are struggling with basic needs, that becomes the priority and academic work is sometimes forced to take abackseat, resulting in student drop outs.

Eliminating the barriers that sometimes prevent these and other students from succeeding needs to be part of our vision.

So what do we do?

One of my main goals is to increase the number of scholarships we are able to provide students. In addition, it's critical to accompany scholarships with "wrap-around" support services that students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often need.

Hawai'i CC is thrilled to have the support of community members and organizations that have donated funds over the years for student scholarships. Seeing scholarship recipients succeed, graduate and thrive is so rewarding for everyone involved.

Although we have seen increases in scholarship contributions, the fact remains that last year Hawai'i CC received the lowest amount of private donations of all the campuses in the University of Hawai'i system. So, we have some of the highest need and some of the lowest private financial support. That's a gap I hope we can close, so that we are doing everything we can to ensure students enroll, succeed and graduate with the skills and credentials that will help them thrive in the post-recession economy.

Next month, I look forward to sharing my vision to establish Hawai'i CC as an institution that is capable of incubating emerging industries and helping existing industries adapt in order to develop more good paying jobs for Hawai'i Island residents.

Mahalo.

OMKM: Dedicated to Stewardship

By Stephanie Nagata, Director

Office of Mauna Kea Management

As 2016 comes to a close, I thought I would reflect on how the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) has advanced its mission since our formation in 2000. The priority at OMKM has, and continues to be the protection of Mauankea's unique cultural, natural, and scientific resources for generations to come. The successful management of the large, diverse, and remote acreage on Maunakea under OMKM's care is the result of a deliberate process involving the Hawaii Island community.

Knowing very little about the resources, what they are and where they occur over a vast acreage of about 12,000 acres, OMKM needed to first identify the resources and establish baseline data to be used to assess the status of the resources over time. Surveys, each involving multiple years of field work, were put into action. We now have baseline data for archaeological sites, w ē kiu bug, other native arthropods, botanical resources, and weathering/erosion processes.

Following the establishment of baseline line surveys, OMKM conducts annual surveys to monitor the status of the resources. OMKM conducts annual monitoring of the archaeological sites, w ē kiu bug, native and alien arthropod species, as well as invasive species.

In addition, OMKM has funded numerous studies of the w ē kiu bug including: a study of the bug's life history; characterization and mapping of the bug's habitat; habitat restoration; as well as how weather and terrain influences the distribution of the w ē kiu bug's food. We are developing a climate modeling program for the next 50 years to evaluate impacts on the summit ecosystem and participating in a weather networking system to assess climate change. We are currently studying the effectiveness of our invasive species prevention methods. This year begins a multi-year study to determine the presence of seabirds and bats and an inventory of forest birds in the upper elevations of Maunakea.

To help guide us in the management of the protection of the resources is the comprehensive management plan based on OMKM's natural resources and cultural resources management plans. Compendiums to these plans are the burial treatment and long-term monitoring plans to assess the status of the archeological sites and burials. OMKM has perhaps the most stringent invasive species prevention and monitoring plan in the state, but it is critical to protect the mountain's fragile and unique resources.

After 50 years of astronomy on Maunakea, there comes a time when a telescope needs to be dismantled. The process is not simply taking a wrecking ball to a facility. The decommissioning of a telescope follows a methodical process described in a decommissioning plan that involves the community in the process, in particular the extent to which a site is to be restored. The first to go through this process is the Caltech Submillimeter telescope.

The decommissioning plan, like the CMP, natural and cultural resources plans, are not collecting dust on a shelf, but are actively being used to guide OMKM in its management functions.

Finally, the OMKM ranger program, created in 2001, a year after OMKM was established has grown from two to nine full-time, and two part-time rangers. The rangers are on duty year-round assisting and educating visitors about the significance of Mauankea, how to enjoy their visit and how to do it safely. They provide first-responder first aid, search and rescue efforts, traffic management, invasive species control and litter pick-up. They are truly the University's ambassadors on Maunakea.

Collectively, OMKM has a combined 13 field seasons of baseline survey work, 33 field seasons of monitoring, plus years invested in resource studies, program development and implementation. During this process, OMKM produced one PhD, seven master's degree students, and additional post docs! OMKM nurtured two interns who are now pursing graduate degrees with one more planning to follow suit. This in turn produced great Maunakea research for OMKM.

Whew! And this isn't all that we've done, but when you look back, that's a lot we did for a government agency in just 16 years!

Leadership Takes Many Forms

By Sandra Dawson, Hawaii Community Affairs Manager,

Thirty Meter Telescope

TMT is very proud to be a part of several exciting events happening in East Hawaii in the coming months. A December 3 inaugural event, "Preparing TMT Future Science and Technology Leaders: A workshop for graduate students and postdocs," was held at the Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. Participants from all TMT partner countries and institutions, including from the University of Hawaii were involved. Events included visits to the observatories on Maunakea and cultural orientations.

In January, the Hawaii High School VEX Robotics State Championship is being held for the first time on the Island of Hawaii Thursday, January 5, 2017 at Keaau High School. TMT is delighted to be a major sponsor of this event, which will include 32 Hawaii high schools. TMT has sponsored robotics tournaments on Hawaii Island for several years and we are happy that the state tournament is coming here, which will allow more local high schools to participate - without the cost of airfare or hotels!

Of course, much of our attention is on the TMT Conservation District Use Permit contested case process which is entering the second month of evidentiary hearings. I would like to highlight one witness, Native Hawaiian Hokule`a Captain and Navigator Chad "Kalepa" Baybayan and a few of his quotes from his testimony.

"As explorers, Hawaiians utilized island resources to sustain their communities. The slopes of Maunakea contain a record of how, for generations, a very adaptive and intelligent people utilized the mountain as a vital resource. They excavated the thin-aired slopes of Maunakea for high quality durable stone to produce the best set of Neolithic tools in the Pacific.

"The Maunakea adze quarry, the largest in the world, offers conclusive evidence the ancients recognized the importance of Maunakea's rich resources and its ability to serve its community by producing the tools to sustain daily life. They ventured to Maunakea, reshaped the environment by quarrying rock, left behind evidence of their work, and took materials off the mountain to serve their community, with the full consent and in the presence of their gods.

"Using the resources on Maunakea as a tool to serve and benefit the community through astronomy is consistent with the example of the adze quarry. To value astronomy and its work on Maunakea, you have to value the importance of 'ike' knowledge and its quest for a greater understanding of the universe we live in.

"The science of astronomy helps us to advance human knowledge to the benefit of the community. It teaches us where we have come from, and where we are going. Its impact has been positive, introducing the young to the process of modern exploration and discovery, a process consistent with past traditional practices.

"I firmly believe that the highest level of desecration rests in actions that remove the opportunity and choices from the kind of future our youth can own."

Our contested case hearings process is scheduled to last at least through January. All of us at TMT appreciate the support of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii membership.

Re-defining Active Aging

By Charlene Iboshi, Education Committee Co-Chair

With contributions from Tony Anthony, Community First

Community First and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hawaii with the support of Hawaii County and the Blue Zones Project presented an educational and cultural exchange November 30 ^th , at the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Hilo, and another JCCIH presentation for the Board, Economic and Education Committees on the same day.

Speakers included Takuya Nakamura, director of the Advance Health City Program in Fukuoka City; Cullen Hayashida, PhD, Aging Service Advisor at St. Francis Healthcare System; Roann Okamura, Director of Elderly Activities Division and Dr. Kimo Alameda, executive director for the Office of Aging, our aging experts from the County of Hawaii, along with Carol Ignacio and Jana Ortiz-Misiaszek, Blue Zones Project Team.

For the JCCIH group, Hawaii Fire Department Captain Jesse Ebersole presented on a pilot project for fall prevention, reducing readmissions of elders through integrated services follow-ups. 50% of emergency response system calls involve elders.

Community First recognizes that the Silver Tsunami has begun, and has several "grass roots" initiatives to prepare our community. The number of residents age sixty or older is projected to increase from 40,000 to 79,000 by 2030. The World Health Organization reported that to create a positive experience for individuals with longer lifespans, active aging should be, "the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age."

"We will create an environment where various generations take active rolls as supporters in the community based on their willingness and abilities," Nakamura said. The presentations provide an overview of active, positive aging as a way to address the increasing shortage of healthcare workers and the high cost of long-term care.

Hawaii's sister city, Fukuoka, Japan is trying to achieve this goal. According to Nakamura, Fukuoka City and Hawaii face similar challenges. The population of older individuals living alone will more than double from 83,000 to 176,000 by 2040, and elderly healthcare costs in Fukuoka City are the highest in all of Japan. His hope is that there can be deep exchange between Fukuoka City and Hawaii in the field of aging.

Nakamura joined Dr. Hayashida on site visits at the Kamana Senior Center, the ADRC, Hawaii Island Adult Day Care and the Mohouli Residential Housing. Nakamura participated in a Zumba dance at Kamana.

Hayashida spent his career in elder care education and administration. "We can no longer think of elders as non-contributors. Older Adults want to be useful. They have lots of experience, knowledge, and contacts," he said. The Fukuoka City model seeks to satisfy elders' continued need for meaning and purpose. "They must find their song to sing."

The Blue Zones Project Team and Hawaii County Experts shared information about many county initiatives that provide the opportunities for active aging through purposeful activities, healthy social and recreational activities. Our community continues to pursue healthy, purposeful aging.

Our community's government, providers and leaders had the chance to hear strategies and ask questions of experts on Super-Aging and Healthy Aging Strategies from Japan and Hawaii. JCCIH and Community First recognizes that plans from thirty years ago made our ADRC and integrated elder healthy aging and continuum of care systems. This was an example of "Okage Sama De."

Na Leo recorded the presentation at the Aging and Disability Resource Center and powerpoints will be made available to JCCIH members and attendees.

Current Benefits for Members

Please check out the current benefits and discounts that you can take advantage of as a JCCIH member by presenting your membership card at any of these participating businesses.

Gina Tanouye, Allstate - Speegle Insurance Agency is dedicated to providing outstanding service with Aloha for your auto, home, renters, life insurance and financial service needs. For every referral the office receives, the member will receive a $10 gift card for allowing them to provide an insurance quote. Contact Gina Tanouye at 969-7767 or tgina@allstate.com

BOB'S JEWELERS, INC.

Amelia Hayashi, Bob's Jewelers is offering members 30% off watches; 30% off gold jewelry (Po Son Hon collection excluded); and 30% off sterling silver jewelry. Contact Amelia Hayashi at 935-8434.

AL KONISHI

Offering up to 25% off legal services depending on case. Contact Al Konishi 960-4072.

Diann Horita - With an office in Hilo, Eyewear Hilo has been serving Keaau, Papaikou, Kurtistown and Waimea for more than 4 years. Prior to Dec. 2008, the staff was employed by Eyewear Hawaii, Inc. and that same respected service is found at Eyewear Hilo. When you desire superior cutting edge lens technology.

Members will receive a 20% discount.

Contact Diann Horita at 935-1119.

Joy Madriaga, Hawaii Petroleum, Inc., HPI offers dependable bulk fuel and lubricant delivery services to all districts of the island. HPI's proprietary gas card program - Hawaii Fueling Network - provides a convenient, cost saving for businesses and consumers to fuel. Sign up for membership with Hawaii Fueling Network (HFN) and receive a discount per gallon on your gas purchases at any Big Island location. With Fuel Up Do Good, when you buy Fuel at any of our Island wide Ohana Fuels retail locations, a portion of your purchase goes to a Non-profit that serves our community. Contact Joy Madriaga at 969-1405 for further questions. Applications are available at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii.

Jieyu Sheparo, Kitchen & Beyond, LLC., offering 5% discount on items in store. Contact Jieyu Sheparo at 935-2167.

LIKO LEHUA CAFE

Dawn Kanealii, Liko Lehua Cafe, offering 15% off entire bill. Contact Dawn Kanealii at 936-9823.

OFFICEMAX RETAIL CONNECT PROGRAM

Save up to 60% off a core list of more than 650 commonly purchased items. Additional deep savings on over 3,000+ items in OfficeMax's "Work Essentials" catalog. Most other items will receive a 5% discount both online and in the store (excluding furniture and technology). Contact Chamber office at 934-0177.

Thank you for choosing Wilson's Trophies for your awards and signage needs! Please call Sandy Wilson at 969-7077 to take advantage of their special Chamber offer.
Wilson's Trophies, provides awards for sports and academics; signs and banners; corporate awards and recognition, gifts & recognition; custom and personalized products (made to order); wood and acrylic crafting (laser engraving and designs); special occasions (Valentine's, Christmas, etc.); jewelry items (earrings, pendants, hair picks and more), also advertising promotional items. Members will receive awards discounts.

December 2016

In This Issue

President's Message

In Memorium: Barry Mizuno

In Memoriam: Clift Tsuji

Hanafuda Na Pua Hawaii & JCCIH Shinnen Kai

Hawaii Community College Updates

OMKM: Dedicated to Stewardship

TMT Observatory Update

DOE Area Superintendents Provide Encouraging Update

Current Benefits for Members

2016-2017 JCCIH Leadership

Welcome New Members!

CLICK TO VIEW OSHIRASE FULLSCREEN

What's Happening

Thursday, December 8, 2016

General Membership Meeting -

'Imiloa Astronomy Center,

Moana Hoku Room

11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Monday, December 12, 2016

Board of Directors Monthly Meeting

Hilo Yacht Club

11:30 am

Monday, December 26, 2016 &

Monday, January 2, 2017

Office Closed in observance of Christmas & New Year holiday

Monday, January 9, 2016

Board of Directors Monthly Meeting

Hilo Yacht Club

11:30 am

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Golf Classic Tournament

Hilo Municipal Golf Course

more information forthcoming