Monthly Archives: November 2018

Meeting Chiaki Maehara – Director of Okinawa AMICUS Intl.

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One important means of strengthening ties between the Okinawan homeland and the Okinawan diaspora is through educational exchanges.  Chiaki Maehara, Director of Okinawa AMICUS, was in town networking with leaders of the Hawaii Uchinanchu community.

Standing: Chiaki Maehara – Director of Okinawa AMICUS with Gregg Takara – incoming WUB Hawaii President; Sitting Left to Right: Courtney Takara – HUOA 2018 President, Robert Arakaki, Cyrus Tamashiro, David Arakawa, Yuichiro Harry Masuda, Jo Ige – HUOA 2019 President, John Tasato, and Bob Nakasone

East-West Center grantee, Yuichiro Harry Masuda, wrote:

It was a great first step for AMICUS to make connection with Hawaiʻi Uchinanchu.

I hope AMICUS can build a connection with Hawaiʻi and send students to Hawaiian schools after their graduation from AMICUS. Or launch some educational program with students/people in Hawaiʻi.

I believe that AMICUS can also help Uchinanchus in Hawaiʻi in many ways, such as becoming a host school when Hawaiʻi students go to Okinawa for short stay program or becoming translating/interpreting volunteer when Hawaiʻi Uchinanchus make contacts with relatives in Okinawa, especially during the World Uchinanchu Festival period.

 

Okinawa AMICUS campus

 

Okinawa AMICUS educational philosophy is:

Developing global citizens who can think, learn and act independently
in a learning environment where students forge their own paths for the future.  Link

 

Okinawa AMICUS middle school students on outing

 

 

Gregg Takara Recognized

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Incoming WUB Hawaii President, Gregg Takara, has been making the news. Congratulations Gregg!

Meg Obenauf, Gregg Takara, Rhonda Griswold, and Alan Okamoto

The Trust for Public Land: Congratulations to our long-time Hawaiʻi Advisory Board member and environmental champion, Gregg Takara, on being honored with the Hawaii Community Foundation‘s Outstanding Professional Advisor in Philanthropy award! We are so grateful to have your guidance and support all these years.

 

Celebrating the acquisition of 2,900 acres for the Helemano Wilderness Recreation Area,

Mahalo to Governor David Ige, the State Forestry & Wildlife Div, Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Representative Lei Learmont, the U.S.D.A. Forest Legacy Program, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Program, Kawailoa Wind Project and D.E. Shaw, the State Legacy Land Conservation Program, Dole Food Company, and Andres Albano Jr RL Est Devlopr and our own Hawaiian Islands Advisory Board (shout out to Gregg Takara) for making possible the purchase ($15.1 million!) and protection of nearly 2,900 acres of land in Central O`ahu, the Helemano Wilderness Recreation Area, for watershed protection, forest and habitat restoration, and recreation (camping, hiking, hunting).

Gregg Takara with Gov. David Ige

 

 

 

Gov. Denny Tamaki – WUB Network Honorary President

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WUB Network President Steve Sombrero and Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki

WUB Netwrok is happy and honored to announce that Mr. Denny Tamaki, Governor of Okinawa, has officially accepted to be WUB Network Honorary President.

On behalf of all WUB members, outgoing WUB Network  President, Steve Sombrero,  presented a letter of request to Governor Denny and he accepted it at the meeting.
Vice Governor, Mr. Tomikawa, also joined the meeting which made us even happier.

Governor Denny is very approachable and values WUB’s worldwide network.

Mariko Kuniyoshi
WUB Network, secretary
WUB Network website

 

Gov. Denny Tamaki meeting with WUB officers

Shaka!  WUB Network President Steve Sombrero and Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki