Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 7, 1 July 1988 — Society Keeps Aloha Spirit Alive [ARTICLE]

Society Keeps Aloha Spirit Alive

The Hawai'i State Society of Washington, D.C., is an organization of former island residents working and living in the nation's capitol who have banded together to keep the Aloha spirit alive and share it with their mainland friends. Ka Wai Ola O OHA recently received a copy of its newsletter, "Ka Nupepa," and found it ehoek full of information, including its list of officers, board of governors, committee ehaimnen, newsletter co-editors and others. Here, then, are some of the names gleaned from the pages of Volume 26, No. 3 issue of "Ka Nupepa" (no month was listed). Officers: Gordan Velasco, president; Dan Lehman, first vice president; Dan Kam, second vice president; Barbara Kinard, secretary; Pat Ward Jr., treasurer; Erla Pauole, historian. Board of Governors: 1987-88 — Gladyce Sumida, Billie Whitney, Charlene Fernandez, Loma Daniels. 1988-89 — Julia Escalona, Erlyne Lum, Gregg Man. Committee Chairmen: Dan Kam, finance; Charlene Fernandez, membership; Lemona Whitney, program; Mary DeLeon, hospitality; Gladyce Sumida and Jim Ayres, special events; Lei English, librarian. Ka Nupepa Co-Editors: Kathy Craig, Richard Tom, Ann Scholl, Erlyne Lum, Jim Ayres, Gordon Velasco, Erla Pauole. Delegate, National Conference of State Societies: Loma Daniels. Congressional Liaison: Toni Chung. Delegate, Asian Pacific Heritage Council: Richard Yamamoto. In its latest issue, the newsletter noted the following: • The Society's annual luau was held June 11 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with Dennis Chung as chairmen. • The statues of King Kamehameha and Father Damien in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol were draped with leis by Society members on June 12.

This program was started in 1969 and has incīuded welcoming addresses, Hawaiian music and hula performances. Cyndi Char-Nicholson was chairperson. • A mountain retreat is planned for Sept. 3-4 at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Chairman Jim Ayres has reserved 60 rooms. • A ehili cookoff is planned for October with exact date to be announced. The Society sends some of its best chefs to this charity cookoff. Contact program chairman Lemona Whitney (301) 595-4057. • Annual election meeting in mid-November with the exact date to be announced. Tentative location is the Georgian Colonies Clubhouse, Silver Springs, Maryland. Call Whitney for details. Volunteer help is also needed. • Keiki Christmas party in December. No exact date selected yet. Need chairperson, Santa and Santa's helpers. Call Whitney. In his report on schedule of events, Whitney sadly noted the cancellation of both the Mahalo party and the annual pienie "due to dwindling participation (laek of interest)." Whitney is seeking volunteers to chair the 1989 Congressional reception, Cherry Blossom pnncess reception and the annual King Kamehameha luau. The club welcomed these new members in its latest issue: Clarence Fujimoto, Harry Y. Furukawa, Doris Leilani Obina, Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Simms, Dr. Daniel and Kathy Davis, D. Alana Chock, T. Makana Chock, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Sims, Ren and Chris Kerns, Kimberly St. Bernard, Susanne Simms, Elaine Simms, James Simms, Joseph Ducosin Jr., and Leslie and Lee Bushnell. The newsletter also mentions the presence of Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. and Trustee Thomas K. Kaulukukui Sr. on Capital Hill "lobbying for the native Hawaiian reparations bill."