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February 2010 Approximately 32 members and guests enjoyed a traditional Hawaiian luncheon at the Hale Ikena, Ft. Shafter, at 1100 on Friday, February 26. The delicious, buffet meal consisted of lomi lomi salmon, long rice, sweet potatoes, lau lau, roast chicken, mahi mahi, poi, and haupia plus other items.
Our president, Bob Kozuki, made a few announcements after lunch and then introduced fellow member Jack Bohman, who served in the Peace Corps in Nepal and the Marshall Islands in the 90’s, who, in turn, introduced our guest speaker, Travis Axton, West Coast Regional Recruiter for the United States Peace Corps.
Travis recently returned from his Peace Corps assignment of living 27 months in a small village in Zambia in the heart of equatorial Africa. He spread American goodwill by teaching his new neighbors about health issues and English. Conversely, he learned the local language, Bimba, spoken by only about 6,000 people.
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Aloha Chapter February 2010 Newsletter |
December 2009 Fifty Aloha Chapter members and guests gathered at the Laulima Room of the Hale Koa Hotel on Friday, 11 December 2009, for their annual Christmas party and dinner.
After an hour or so of convivial fellowship, the official portion of the evening commenced. It was a brief ceremony installing our chapter’s Board of Directors and Officers for 2010; they had been elected to their respective positions during our November General Membership meeting. Aloha Chapter member Major General Calvin Lau, U.S. Army, retired, officiated by swearing in our chapter leaders for this year.
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Aloha Chapter December 2009 Newsletter |
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November 2009 Our chapter had a busy month due to the Veterans’ Day services held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl, and at the State Veterans’ Cemetery in Kaneohe. Both Memorial services were well attended and well planned.
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Aloha Chapter November 2009 Newsletter |
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October 2009 Our October program speaker was Gene Castagnetti, COL, USMC, Ret., Director, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl, who made an outstanding presentation of what burial rights are available to veterans and their spouses and what documents are required to obtain this final earned benefit. The highlight of the program was a video presentation he brought of the Emperor & Empress of Japan’s visit to Punchbowl Cemetery on July 15, 2009. Gene was a select member of the official reception, and he, formerly a little Italian kid from Boston, had the honor of holding an umbrella for the Emperor of Japan during that rainy day. At the conclusion of the program, Allen Ono, LTG, USA, Ret., Chairman of our Board of Directors, went to the podium to proclaim that Gene’s presentation was the best we’ve ever had!
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Aloha Chapter October 2009 Newsletter |
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September 2009 A contingent of 15 Aloha Chapter members and spouses recently journeyed to Las Vegas, Nevada to participate in Twinning 2009 hosted by members of the Southern Nevada Chapter, MOAA. Coordinating Twinning activities for our chapter again was Les Ihara his wife Shirley, who were joined this year by Cedric & Barbara Chong, Nari Hamlin, Tom & Betty Kimura, Bob & Mazie Kozuki, Joseph & Betty Kuroda, Nobu & Nell Matsuda, and Allen & Evelyn Ono.
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Aloha Chapter September 2009 Newsletter |
August 2009 On Thursday, August 13th, thirty-nine Merrie Ladies, spouses, and friends were given a tour of the Sumida Watercress Farm in front of the Pearl Ridge Shopping Center in Aiea. Little known facts came to light as David Sumida, who co-owns the farm with his sister Barbara, shared the history and present- day activities taking place on the property.
The lush 40- by 80-foot patches of crisp watercress that cover the nearly 10 acres in front of the shopping mall beside Kamehameha Highway creates a serene picture in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the area. Although it appears very incongruous, it is a unique site ideally suited for cultivating watercress—a delicate, green vegetable of the cabbage and broccoli family—because of the pure, cool, natural artesian springs that bubble up there from deep underground to nourish the watercress. This crop grows best only in this plentiful, cool spring water slowly flowing over the gravel patches, not in soil, and lots of sunshine, both of which are abundantly available at this Leeward Oahu location. Chefs from all over the world have praised Sumida watercress, saying it is one of the finest they have ever seen and tasted.
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Aloha Chapter August 2009 Newsletter |
July 2009 The sign-up for this month's golf outing set an unprecedented record, a total of 31 players indicated they wish to play at Klipper GC on July 24. I requested and received an additional, tee time to accommodate the crowd, this was a first for the Aloha Chapter Golf program. However, after a couple of days, there were three cancellations bringing the total to 28 players, still a record for the Aloha Chapter Golf program. Another first for the golf program was the cancellation of our "blind partner" mega jackpot procedure since the Klipper Golf Course has been renovating their facilities and lack an area to congregate. Nevertheless it still was a great golf outing. The weather was super, plus we had another case of a foursome of wahine golfers.
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Aloha Chapter July 2009 Newsletter |
June 2009 Last Friday morning, June 26, about a dozen volunteers from our Aloha Chapter helped out in making the annual Hawaii Army Museum Society (HAMS) Golf Tournament another successful and fun event.
Aloha Chapter sponsored four active duty servicemen ($150 per golfer) to play in this tournament to benefit the Hawaii Army Museum Society.
The big announcement during the banquet at the end of the tournament was that, henceforth, this HAMS golf tournament will be known as the Herbert E. Wolff Memorial Golf Tournament in memory of our Aloha Chapter member, MG Herb Wolff, USA, Ret., President of the Hawaii Army Museum Society and the founder and an ardent supporter of this golf tournament. As was sadly noted in our May newsletter, MG Wolff passed away on April 17.
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Aloha Chapter June 2009 Newsletter |
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May 2009 On Friday, May 15th, twenty-nine Aloha Chapter members and guests enjoyed fellowship and a fabulous seared ahi, char broiled prime rib or Oriental chicken salad dinner at the Hale Ikena, Ft. Shafter.
Afterwards, twenty-three of the group went to the Richardson Theater to see the almost 3-hour play Children of Eden. Everyone enjoyed this musical bringing the Book of Genesis to life. The first act began with the creation and the second act ended after the great flood. The Garden of Eden and Noah’s Ark had to be recreated.
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Aloha Chapter May 2009 Newsletter |
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April 2009 The Aloha Chapter, MOAA, Fundraising Project was held on Sunday, April 26, at a new location, Kalihi Waena Elementary School, 1240 Gulick Avenue. Twenty volunteers bagged and distributed BBQ chicken and sushi at this site while five members went to the Institute for Human Services to prepare and serve lunch at the Women’s shelter. Aloha Chapter members donated 310 chickens to the IHS.
After all expenses were deducted, the total revenue for our Aloha Chapter this year is $1455.43.
The Fundraising Committee thanks all of those who volunteered their services at both Kalihi Waena Elementary School and IHS. A special thanks goes to the Merrie Ladies for planning the details of an enjoyable lunch.
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Aloha Chapter April 2009 Newsletter |
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March 2009 Twenty-nine Aloha Chapter members and guests were treated to a special tour of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies at Ft. DeRussy. All of the arrangements were made by Wes Fong.
Our tour guide was James T. Hirai, BG, USA, Ret., the Deputy Directory of APCSS. He spoke very clearly, loudly and slowly, which was greatly appreciated by all of us seasoned citizens. He elucidated to us the mission and goals of APCSS.
He explained that APCSS was founded on September 4, 1995, to build relationships of trust and confidence among future leaders and decision-makers within the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. Representatives from forty-six countries are eligible for an invitation to attend the APCSS.
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Aloha Chapter March 2009 Newsletter |
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February 2009 On Thursday, February 26, approximately 35 members and guests of the Aloha Chapter, MOAA, enjoyed fellowship and a delicious buffet lunch of chicken katsu, beef stroganoff and assorted salads at Hale Ikena, Ft. Shafter.
Our guest speaker was Kate Bepko, 27, originally from Baltimore, MD, who graduated from Hawaii Pacific University and is now the Executive Assistant of the Institute for Human Services (IHS). She gave an excellent, eloquent talk on the humanitarian mission of the IHS and how our donations of BBQ chickens when we have our annual fundraiser are greatly appreciated. Also, when we serve the chickens to the men and women at the IHS, we help both the staff and the disadvantaged people staying there.
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Aloha Chapter February 2009 Newsletter |
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January 2009 At our annual installation meeting, a buffet luncheeon at Hale Ikena on Thursday, January 15th, with Major General Vern Miyagi, USANG, presiding, the elected members of our Board of Directors for 2009 were officially installed ti their office,
Prior to the ceremony, MG Miyagi gave the appoximately 35 members and guests attending this ceremony an update of the U.S. Army National Guard's current activities and successes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Aloha Chapter January 2009 Newsletter |
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December 2008 Fifty Aloha Chapter members, spouses and guests attended our annual Christmas party on December 10th in the Laulima Rooms of the Hale Koa Hotel. After an hour of socializing, everyone enjoyed a sit-down dinner of many courses of a very satisfying Hawaiian luau. The evening’s festivities concluded with a gift exchange and everyone singing Christmas carols.
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Aloha Chapter December 2008 Newsletter |
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November 2008 Les Ihara. our Aloha Chapter president in 2007, was presented with the MOAA 5-Star Banner for chapters of our size during 2007. This honor was bestowed upon him in recognition for all of his conscientious hard work last year. This is MOAA’s top award.
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Aloha Chapter November 2008 Newsletter |
October 2008 For our Aloha Chapter Halloween luncheon meeting at Hale Ikena, Ft. Shafter, Scott J. Gardner, of Scott Gardner & Co., LLC, gave a presentation on preparing for Medicaid assistance for long term care.
Scott Gardner & Co., established in 2004, is a native-Hawaiian owned, for-profit company that secures third-party revenues via governmental programs to recoup the cost of patient care for healthcare providers, thereby helping private individuals throughout the State of Hawaii.
This company provides competent, professional Medicaid financial consulting. They will help you understand everything you need to know about Medicaid eligibility. Also, they personally help you complete the applications, gather necessary documents, and accompany or represent you at the required face-to-face interview.
Scott is the lead Medicaid Financial Consultant. He explained in detail during his brief presentation the procedures for obtaining Medicaid assistance after Medicare coverage is exhausted.
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Aloha Chapter October 2008 Newsletter |
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September 2008 Twinning 2008 brought together 14 members and their families from the Southern Nevada Chapter, MOAA, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and members and spouses of our Aloha Chapter during the period 18-22 September 2008. It was the third visit to Hawaii and our chapter for our Las Vegas friends, having been here previously in 2002 and 2005.
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Aloha Chapter September 2008 Newsletter |
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August 2008 On Friday, August 15, about 35 members and guests enjoyed a joint buffet luncheon and fellowship at Hale Ikena, Ft. Shafter. We particularly enjoyed the very interesting PowerPoint presentation on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by Nadine Shigezawa, Ph.D, VA Clinical Psychologist at TAMC. She explained that psychological trauma is any life experience beyond the realm of normal human experiences. Generally, it is a life threatening event that elicits intense fear, helplessness and/or horror. PTSD is not only an affliction of the military in combat, but is manifested in victims of violent, invasive crimes, such as rape and attempted murder. In addition to modern medicines, treatments involve confronting and combating one’s fears instead of suppressing them.
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Aloha Chapter August 2008 Newsletter |
| July 2008
Amid clear and sunny skies at the Leilehua Army Golf Course, Aloha Chapter members, family and friends once again provided the volunteer support for the annual Hawaii Army Museum Society golf tournament fund raiser on Friday, June 27. Conspicuous by the wear of the Chapter shirt and hats, our members, friends and family were present all over the entire golf course. They provided all the behind the scenes help so critical to the success of this type of endeavor. Our Aloha Chapter, MOAA, sponsored four active-duty Marines who love golf to play in this tournament.
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Aloha Chapter July 2008 Newsletter |
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June 2008 On Tuesday, June 24, sixty-five members and guests of the Aloha Chapter and the Hawaii Chapter assembled at the Japanese Chamber of Commerce for a delicious buffet luncheon. It was also a very intellectually stimulating luncheon. Right after the meal, our guests, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa (D) and Senator Sam Slom (R) moved from dining with their constituents to the head table on the elevated platform to start their presentation, moderated by Rick Hamada of KHVH.
They initially discussed the legislation passed during the last session that had a direct impact upon the military community. Essentially, there were no issues affecting the military that were passed during this last legislative session.
Then, they both expressed their views on Governor Linda Lingle’s plan to purchase Turtle Bay on the North Shore with taxpayer funds, education under the DOE vs. the DOD and private schools, federal impact funds for education, basing of a carrier task group here and its consequences upon the communities, the multi-billion dollar rail project being railroaded upon the taxpayers without a say in the matter until the Stop-the-Rail initiative gained momentum, Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s ads at taxpayer expense protesting this anti-rail petition drive, the Superferry and Environmental Impact Statements, and the likelihood of the legislature convening a special session to over-ride some of the governor’s probable vetoes.
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Aloha Chapter June 2008 Newsletter |
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May 2008 Our May luncheon at Pohai Nani in Kaneohe on May 23 was very educational and entertaining. Ramsay Taum, our guest speaker, Director of External Relations and Community Partnerships at the University of Hawai`i’s School of Travel Industry Management (TIM), spoke very passionately and powerfully without notes about how the early Hawaiians revered the land, water, and sea and how their practices should be carried forward to the present time to sustain us for future generations. What is taken out of the land, streams and oceans must be replenished just as a refrigerator needs to be refilled for continued use. We must not defile our environment for future generations.
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Aloha Chapter May 2008 Newsletter |
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April 2008 Niney-seven members and guests from both the Aloha and Hawaii Chapters gathered to hear Peter Carlisle, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, speak at the Joint MOAA Chapter luncheon on 16 April 2008. The lunch was delicious and great camaraderie was enjoyed by all at the beautiful Pearl Harbor Channel-view setting in the gazebo of the Hickam AFB Officers’ Club.
As the mahimahi meal commenced, both Chapters' newsletter editors, Mark Webster for Aloha and Ron Bezanson & George Sullivan for Hawaii, were presented National MOAA award certificates for having published outstanding newsletters during 2007. Congratulations!
Peter B. Carlisle, “Honolulu's Beloved Prosecuting Attorney,” both entertained and informed his rather large jury with his opening and closing statements. This included a lively cross-examination with in-depth questions & answers. The verdict was unanimous: we found our Prosecutor to be eloquent and entertaining!!
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Aloha Chapter April 2008 Newsletter |
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March 2008 On Wednesday, March 19, at Pohai Nani, Kaneohe, Dr. Bradley J. Willcox, a physician and investigator in geriatrics at the Pacific Health Research Institute and a physician at the Queen’s and Kuakini Medical Centers, gave a thought-provoking PowerPoint presentation to 65 Aloha and Hawaii Chapter members on how to attain a longer life. He ought to know; he is the co-author of the best-selling The Okinawa Program, a study of the most centenarians per capita on Okinawa than anywhere else in the world.
His key admonitions were to not smoke, eat less, drink very little liquor, eat more vegetables and less meat, exercise more and, nevertheless, try to enjoy life and have a positive, happy outlook.
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Aloha Chapter March 2008 Newsletter |
February 2008 About fifty Aloha Chapter members and guests attended the annual Installation Luncheon at Hale Ikena, Ft. Shafter, on Thursday, February 28th.
At the conclusion of the meal, Joe Magaldi, Jr, our new Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chapter President, introduced our guest speaker, Brigadier General Edwin A. “Skip” Vincent, USAF, Mobilization Assistant, Strategic Planning and Policy at the U. S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith.
BG Vincent enlightened us in an overview of the progress our military has made in establishing friendly relations and mutual trust among all of the nations of the Pacific. Afterwards, he had the honor of installing the new members of the Aloha Chapter Board of Directors and Officers by administrating the Oath of Office to the new chapter leaders.
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Aloha Chapter February 2008 Newsletter |
January 2008 Our Aloha Chapter’s new officers and directors began their terms this month and will be installed in the annual installation ceremony to be held this year at Hale Ikena, Ft. Shafter, on Thursday, February 28.
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Aloha Chapter January 2008 Newsletter |
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