Category: Uncategorized (Page 1 of 27)

Via Eric Matsumoto from ʻAiea Hongwanji (with slight edits for brevity):

On Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 12:30PM, there will be a special ceremony at the Pearl Harbor National Monument focusing on world peace and reconciliation. Yuji Sasaki of Sadako Legacy will be bringing a peace flame from Yame City, Fukuoka to Hawaii. It was originally a flame from an ember from the World War II Hiroshima bombing that Mr. Tatsuo Yamamoto brought back from his relatives’ destroyed home and business in Hiroshima from his relatives’ destroyed home to his home in Fukuoka. Mr. Yamamoto held on to that flame for decades. It represented the anger and hurt that he was feeling.

However, at a certain point in time, he realized that holding on to such negative thoughts and feelings does no one any good. So, the flame was transformed to a peace flame. Subsequently, he donated the flame to Yame City, which built a peace flame monument to house the flame.

Yuji Sasaki is bringing a portion of that flame to Hawaii for this, now, flame extinguishing ceremony. Originally, the hope was to build an Eternal Peace Flame Monument at Pearl Harbor (or somewhere in Honolulu) but it was too challenging. So, we decided to still acknowledge the original symbolism of the flame (of anger and hurt), but extinguish it to symbolize all of us releasing those negative emotions with the thoughts of emphasizing its current symbolism of peace and reconciliation (which Pearl Harbor now also recognizes or has embraced as part of their mission statement).

Also, we are unveiling a new temporary display (until Pearl Harbor builds their new facility/pavilion) for Sadako’s paper crane (which the Sasaki’s had donated to Pearl Harbor close to 15 years. Back then we did a fundraiser for a special nitrogen filled container to protectively encase the delicate paper crane, but the apparatus, disappointingly, seems to have been broken for quite a while (so the Public could not view the crane). We had raised $70,000, of which the largest portion came from Hawaii Kyodan and its members. More recently (while I was still Bishop), Wayne Miyao, Arthur Taniguchi and I embarked on another fundraiser to help Sadako Legacy with this flame and also a documentary on Sadako and her cranes for educational purposes. It is still a work in progress for the documentary. We raised around $35,000 as Hawaii’s contribution mostly from Big Island. 

Special guests include: Mrs. Akie Abe, wife of the late Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan (who both folded paper cranes which were donate to Pearl Harbor several years ago), Cliffton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry Truman, Mr. Hidetoshi Tojo, great grandson of the late Japanese General Hideki Tojo, Former Governor David Ige and Mrs. Dawn Amano-Ige, and of course Masahiro Sasaki, Yuji Sasaki and his immediate family, and Yuji’s older brother Sumiyuki Sasaki of Sadako Legacy. You can see the significance of the ceremony by knowing the participants!

Please spread the word as the 12:30PM ceremony is open to the public. Just remember you CANNOT bring bags no matter how small, unless they are transparent, into Pearl Harbor! It takes forever to place in paid storage there so it is best to leave larger bags including purses at home. Cellphones are okay. Thank you.

In gassho, Eric

Files from the May 2026 meeting are posted here.

Via Kumu Keola Kalani (ʻAiea High School):

ʻAiea High School’s Hale O Nā Aliʻi will be holding its annual Hōʻike on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the ʻAiea High School Gym from 6-8pm. This year, they will be joined by students from Webling Elementary School and Waimalu Elementary School (with whom Hale O Nā Aliʻi partnered with this past school year to share language, history, culture, and fine arts).

The event is free but donations are appreciated!

Files and links from the April 2026 ACA meeting are posted here.

[Note: The date of the next ACA meeting on the agenda is incorrect. The next ACA meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7pm.]

Files from the March 2026 ACA meeting will be posted here.

We apologize for the inconvenience, but the online portion of the February 2026 meeting was canceled due to a persistent technical issue. The in-person meeting continued at the ʻAiea Public Library. Files from the February 2026 meeting are posted below:

Senator Brandon Elefante and Representative Garner Shimizu passed on the following news release from the Hawaiʻi State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs:

RESIDENTS URGED TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIMS AFTER SEVERE STORMY WEATHER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 2026

HONOLULU — Following recent high winds and heavy rain, the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Insurance Division is reminding residents to protect their property and file insurance claims as quickly and smoothly as possible.

If your home, vehicle, or personal property has been damaged, contact your insurance company or agent right away to report the loss. Ask for your claim number and confirm any deadlines for filing or submitting documentation. Starting your claim promptly helps ensure your coverage is applied correctly and delays are avoided.

Document all damage by taking clear photos or videos. If it is safe to do so, keep damaged items until the insurance adjuster has seen them. You should also take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, such as placing tarps over roof leaks or boarding broken windows, but avoid making permanent repairs until your insurer has approved them.

Keep records of all expenses related to the damage, including temporary repairs, hotel stays, meals and other costs caused by the storm. Save receipts and write down what was damaged, when it occurred and what actions you took to protect your property.

When an insurance adjuster contacts you, be available for inspections and provide any requested documents. Review settlement offers carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear.

To help residents navigate the claims process, the Hawaiʻi Insurance Division has available a Post-Disaster Insurance Claims Guide and an instructional video on how to file an insurance claim. These resources provide practical tips and step-by-step guidance on documenting losses, understanding coverage and working with insurers after a disaster.

“Licensed insurers are required to handle claims fairly and help consumers recover after a disaster,” said Insurance Commissioner Scott K. Saiki. “If you experience delays, disputes, or have questions about your policy or settlement, our office is here to help.”

Consumers may contact the Hawaiʻi Insurance Division at 1-844-808-DCCA (3222) or visit http://cca.hawaii.gov/ins for claim-filing tips, disaster recovery resources and assistance with insurance-related concerns.

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Media Contact:
William Nhieu
Communications Officer
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Email: wnhieu@dcca.hawaii.gov
Phone: 808-586-7582

As a reminder, this month’s ACA meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 PM. This will be a hybrid meeting, meaning you can join in person at the ʻAiea Public Library (in the programming room immediately across the main library entrance) or virtually via GoToMeeting.

In addition to our regular business this month, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply will give a presentation on their granulated activated carbon treatment project at Kaʻamilo Wells (to address PFAS contaminants).

If you join us in person at ʻAiea Public Library, please note that the library’s parking lot is currently closed for emergency repairs. Please park on the street instead. When entering the library property, please use the front steps facing Halewiliko Street (the one next to the sugar molecule statue). Please do not enter the library from the parking lot side. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Files from this month’s meeting will be added below.

Due to logistical issues, the ACA is changing its meeting dates for January and February as follows:

• Our January 2026 meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 27 at 7pm
• Our February 2026 meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 24 at 7pm.

Thank you for your understanding.

Mahalo to everyone who helped put on this year’s ʻAiea Christmas Parade and Fun Fair. It truly takes a village to make this event a reality, and we truly appreciate everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute.

Please find a message from the ʻAiea Community Association regarding our 2025 parade below: