By The Way... Students
recently completed Bishop Museum’s inaugural Na Kumu Hula workshop on
Friday, May 21. The three-day hula workshop was led by world-renowned Kumu
Hula Blaine Kamalani Kia. Students received certificates of
accomplishment, acknowledging that they learned mo’olelo (the act of
telling stories surrounding the hula number), e hula mai (the teaching of
hula basics) and ho’opuka (the implementation of choreographed dance),
among other skills. Participants performed mele, chant and hula at a
celebratory Ho’Ike. In the photo are (front row, l to r) Yoshiko Ito,
Hiilani Shibata, Mina Kawasaki, Rie Kogure (back row, l-r) Kainoa
(assistant to Blaine Kia), Lei Kaneakua, Emi Nakai, Kumu Blaine Kamalani
Kia, Inger Gram, Nalani (assistant to Blaine Kia). Missing in the image is
Miyuki Seto. •
• • Arcadia
Retirement Residence, Hawaii’s only accredited continuing care
community, has received the final installment of a $20,000 grant from the
First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of the First Hawaiian Bank.
As a result of this grant, Arcadia has been able to fund community
organizations and programs that provide general assistance, meals and
housing for Hawaii seniors. •
• • Coldwell
Banker Pacific Properties
announced that Gerry Tomonari has been promoted to the newly created
position of senior vice president - development. She was most recently
vice president - operations. In this new position, Tomonari will continue
to oversee human resources and staff development, internal launch of new
initiatives and policy development. Additional duties include the
enhancement of quality and processes and the development of new business
opportunities. Tomonari has 17 years of real estate experience and holds a
bachelor of science degree from the University of Hawaii and a master of
speech pathology and audiology degree from the University of Washington. •
• • The
Queen’s Medical Center recently announced a $2.5 million dollar
endowment from The Queen Emma Foundation to expand the Queen Emma Nursing
Institute. Over a 5-year period, $500,000 a year will be funded to the
Queen Emma Nursing Institute to develop initiatives in professional
nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research. Expansion of the
Institute will allow development of sustainable strategies to provide a
highly educated and competent nursing workforce, both for the present and
the future. •
• • Dr.
Patricia Lange-Otsuka, Associate Professor of Nursing in the School of
Nursing at Hawaii Pacific University, was appointed associate dean of
nursing for administration, effective July 12. In addition to teaching,
Dr. Lange-Otsuka is the graduate program chair in the School of Nursing
and serves as an item writer for the National Council Licensure
Examination. For the past three years, she held the position of chair of
the HPU Faculty Assembly. Licensed as an advanced-practice registered
nurse, Dr. Lange-Otsuka is certified as a community health clinical nurse
specialist. Her nursing career includes work as a consultant, nursing
supervisor, and primary care nurse. •
• • The
Island Insurance Foundation presented its first annual Excellence in
School Leadership Award of $25,000 to Waipahu High School Principal
Patricia A. Pedersen at the annual Public Schools Foundation dinner last
month. The award, named in honor of the late Masayuki Tokioka, founder of
Island Insurance Company Ltd., is presented to a public school principal
who is a visionary, community-minded and has an entrepreneurial spirit —
qualities of leadership that Tokioka exemplified in his own company and in
the business community. Pedersen received a $10,000 cash award and an
additional $15,000 for a school project of her choice. The Island
Insurance Foundation also presented an award to the top two
semi-finalists, Principal Gail H. Awakuni of James Campbell High School
and Principal Michael M. Nakano of Lahainaluna High School. Both
principals received a $2,000 cash award. In the picture are (l-r),
Department of Education Superintendent •
• • In
response to the need for teaching materials in Pacific languages, Pacific
Resources for Education and Learning has partnered with Bess Press to
publish Island Alphabet Books in nine Pacific languages and English. Each
hardcover book contains the complete alphabet for the language,
four or five examples for each letter and a word list with English
translations. •
• • Four members of United States Pony Club, Hawaii Region will be traveling to Kentucky later this month to compete and perform at the Pony Club Festival. The club members, Kelly Reeves, Kayla Fitzgerald, Lauren Milotta and Dana Ishii, are in the process of raising money to help cover traveling expenses for their trip. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please contact Dena Fitzgerald at 638-7801 or Sandy Milotta at 637-3087. |