Category Archives: Activities

WUB at Governor’s Proclamation Ceremony

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John Toguchi and Regina Toguchi with Governor Josh Green 5-January-2024

Regina Toguchi and John Toguchi were in attendance at the Governor’s Proclamation Ceremony for the Chamber of Commerce last Friday, January 5. The proclamation declared January 15 to January 19 as “Chamber Week” in honor of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and its affiliate chambers.WUB is a longtime member of Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

WUB was one of the affiliate chambers in attendance at the signing ceremony. It is also one of the many chambers that make up Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

  • Japanese Chamber of Commerce
  • Hawaii Rainbow Chamber of Commerce
  • Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce
  • Maui Chamber of Commerce
  • Kauai Chamber of Commerce
  • Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce
  • Worldwide Uchinanchu Business – Okinawan Chamber of Commerce

As WUB’s incoming president, Regina noted:
We hope that this will be the start of closer partnership with not only the CCH but other chamber groups.
I will be posting this on our Instagram account.

Text of the Governor’s proclamation

Worldwide-Uchinanchu-Business-Association–International-Proclamation-2024-late-1-2Download

WUB Network in São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023

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WUB Hawaii is one of the many chapters that make up WUB Network. Every year the Board of Directors meet to make decisions about the running of WUB. In addition to holding business meetings, WUB Network also use the time to do business tours, recognize the accomplishments of WUB members, and have fun!

The Hawaii delegation consisted of Bob Nakasone, Steve Miyashiro, Gregg Takara, and Yumi Inamine.

Below are some pictures taken by WUB Network board member, Flavio Minei, of their August 4-6 meeting in São Paolo, Brazil. Obrigado Flávio! It may come as a surprise to some that the Uchinanchu community in Brazil is larger than the one in Hawaii. Where Hawaii’s Uchinanchu population is 50,000, Brazil’s Uchinanchu population is 187,000. The Brazil Uchinanchu community is definitely much livlier and energetic. It has been said that the future of the Uchinanchu diaspora can be seen in Brazil.

Group shot of WUB Network Conference in São Paolo, Brazil – August 4-6, 2023 – Location: Cofema
Another shot of the banner for the 2023 WUB Network Regional Conference
APLP (Asia-Pacific Leadership Program alumnis)
WUB Board Meeting in São Paolo, Brazil – 4-6 August 2023
WUB Network President Tony Sakuda and WUB Network Secretary Mariko Kuniyoshi
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Hawaii’s Gregg Takara and Steve Miyashiro at WUB Network Meeting
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Gregg Takara and Steve Miyashiro hard at work
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Bob Nakasone speaking at WUB Network Meeting
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Hawaii’s Yumi Inamine dancing the hula at WUB Network conference
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Meio University President Masanori Sunagawa and WUB Network President Tony Sakuda signing MOU (memorandum of understanding) of partnership and collaboration. São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
MOU Signed!
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Tony Sakuda thanking Hawaii’s Bob Nakasone for his inspiration and support for the MOU.
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
New WUB Logo being introduced
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Notice how easy it is to spot the new WUB logo?
WUB Hawaii President Steve Miyashiro being honored.
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Business Tour – an integral part of WUB Network conferences
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
WUB Business tours – A lot of walking, a lot to see, and a lot to learn!
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
WUB Network President Tony Sakuda presenting certificate of appreciation. Koa wood plate made in Hawaii and delivered by Gregg Takara.
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023.
WUB Network President Tony Sakuda presenting certificate of appreciation. Koa wood plate made in Hawaii and delivered by Gregg Takara.
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023.
WUB Business: Having fun! – São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Traditional churrascarias serve beef sliced straight from the skewer.
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023
Karii! Opening Ceremony for Okinawan Festival in Brazil
São Paolo, Brazil – August 2023

Celebrating with Jill Tokuda – August 2022

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L to R: Ed Kuba, Bob Nakasone, Jill Tokuda, Mana Takita, Robert Arakaki, and John Tasato

On 13 August 2022, members of WUB Hawaii went over to Jill Tokuda’s election night celebration at Castle High School in Kaneohe. We all cheered when the election results showed that Jill won by a very comfortable margin. She is well on her way to becoming Hawaii’s next Congresswoman in Washington D.C.

For our Obuchi Scholar, Mana Takita, the way we do politics in Hawaii is quite different from Japan.

WUB Hawaii is happy to see the younger generation Uchinanchus making an impact on their world. I told Jill: “I will come and visit you in Washington D.C.!”

Robert Arakaki

KITV 4 Election Coverage

July 2022 – Meeting Jill Tokuda

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Front row center with lei – Jill Tokuda

On 13 July 2022, our guest speaker was Jill Tokuda, a yonsei (fourth generation) Uchinanchu. Jill is pure uchinanchu and so has connections with quite a number of sonjinkai. She identifies strongly with the Oroku cho club. She described how she was aware of her Okinawan roots early on and also how she caught the political bug as early as the age of four!

In 1980 when she was four years old, Jill followed the presidential race closely. Her favorite was Republican candidate Ronald Reagan because he had the same first name as Ronald McDonald! Later when she was in middle school, Jill took the bus all the way from Kailua to Kapiolani Park to hear Patsy Mink give a fiery, impassioned speech. If she wins the race, Jill Tokuda will be following in the footsteps of Patsy Mink all the way to Washington D.C.

Jill has served in the Hawaii State Senate and is now running for the 2nd Congressional District which spans a wide area from the Big Island to Kauai–basically everywhere outside of urban Honolulu.

WUB Hawaii is proud to see the younger generation of Uchinanchu remembering their Okinawan roots and stepping forward to make a positive contribution to society.

Robert K. Arakaki

Welcoming Miyakojima Students – 2019

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In August 2019, a group of middle school and high school students from Miyakojima Island spent a few days in Hawaii to improve their English and learn about Hawaii and American culture. Miyakojima is part of the Ryukyuan island chain of which Okinawa is part. The students stayed the first few days at Hawaii Tokai International College, located in Kapolei. Their chaperone was local boy Ryan Ohta.

I happen to be teaching Sociology 100 at the time of their visit. During a break time, I presented them with a box of ono coco puffs from Liliha Bakery. It was fun and meaningful connecting with fellow shimanchus (island people).

WUB is committed to supporting students, the future generation of shimanchus and uchinanchus, and strengthening our ties with fellow uchinanchus around the world.

Robert Arakaki

  • Prof. Robert K. Arakaki with Miyakojima students – 2019.

Please see my 2018 article “Greeting Miyakojima Students.”

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

 

 

Summary of October 25 Meeting – Ballot Questions

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Prof. Colin Moore

We had a great speaker, UH Prof. Colin Moore, at the October General Membership meeting that provided insights supported by data. Thank you Robert Arakaki for securing Dr. Moore as our speaker.

With regard to the Constitutional Convention question, he handed out the “Citizens’ Jury Statement for the Constitutional Conventional Ballot Question” (see attached) that provides results of a new voter education process involving a small group of Hawai’i citizens conducted early fall, 2018. Results were 12 of 18 jury member supported holding the Con-Con and my observations are the opposition might have a larger media voice.

The statement could also provide a road map to improve the Constitutional Convention process and respond to concerns.

For more information on the voter education process:
http://www.publicpolicycenter.hawaii.edu/projects-programs/con-con-citizens-jury.html

With regard to the City Charter question on HART (Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation), the “yes” vote is intended to mean improving oversight and decision making. Many are concerned that this question is not being adequately explained and in jeopardy of not passing.

Be an informed voter and understand what each question means. And also remember a blank vote is a “no” vote. Visit: https://elections.hawaii.gov/voters/constitutional-and-charter-amendment-questions/

John Toguchi
President, WUB Hawai’i