Season's Greetings from your '61 Class Rep

Elaine Chun,  wife of Rodney Chun '61 , wrote that several members of the Class of 1961, 1960, 1962, 1993, and 1995 had a wonderful evening at the new Waialae-Kahala  home of Ken Lee ‘61 and Jennifer Lee on Christmas Eve, 2014.

Those attending from the class of 1961 were Russell and Lei Saito, Warren and Anita Ho, Tom and  Joyce Wong, David and Anita Tyau, Rodney and Elaine Chun,  Bob Mumper  and Becky Rosenberg,  Gary and Carolyn Shigemura, Dennis and Connie Goto, Jim and Susan Miyashiro, Norman Tyau and Francis Wong.

Also attending were  Warren Chung '60 and  his wife Kay Chung, and Alan Lee '60 and and his wife Gerianne Lee , Roland  Chun '62 and his wife Janis Chun , Chrysti Chun Lu '93 and her husband Chieh Fu Lu and  Dr. Brent Tamamoto ’95 and his wife Sheri Chun Tamamoto '95. 

There were over 80 guests in attendance  Elaine writes that celebrating with friends is  one of the most enjoyable and wholesome feelings  that one  can experience and hopefully that feeling was expressed in the attached photo. 

Members of the Iolani Class of 1961, Christmas Eve 2014

Front row: Russell Saito, Ken Lee, Warren Ho, Tom Wong

Back row: David Tyau, Rodney Chun, Bob Mumper, Gary Shigemura

Picture by Elaine Chun 

DHT's White Christmas 2014

Several members of the Iolani Class of '61 and their wives attended  Diamond Head Theatre's production of "White Christmas" on December 7, 2014. Our super talented Emmett Yoshioka served as musical director assisted by his wife Judy Yoshioka.  Milton and Maddie Oshiro stepped up again to do the hard work needed in planning   for an "Iolani presence" this year.

Classmates and wives who attended were Mike and Lorrie Chun,  Rodney and Elaine Chun,  Andre Dulce and Allison Garr,  Warren and Anita Ho,  Ken and Jennifer Lee,   Jim and Sue Miyashiro,  Ken and Lynn Nakasone,  Steve and Kathy Takaki,  Dick and Cassy Tsuda, Cliff Uejio,  Thomas and Joyce Wong, and  Milt and Maddie Oshiro

Those in attendance had the opportunity of  bid Cliff Uejio  "aloha and best wishes" since he will be re-locating to
California in February 2015. 

Classmates and their wives joined hosts Milt and Maddie for dinner at  Happy Days Restaurant in Kaimuki following the show. 

Lincoln Tokumoto also attended a performance of "White Christmas" but I'm not sure if it was on the same day as the above because he's not in the pictures shown above. Nevertheless, here's another  great picture taken at intermission.

Mumper Here!

Another year coming to a close. I made my annual trek to the East Coast.....MASS,  NY and VA to visit family members. I like to visit in the fall because that's my favorite time of year....the leaves start to turn and the temps hang in the 60's.

I had the opportunity to visit to  Bethehem, Pennsylvania to run a 5K at the Runner's World Festival featuring a Half Marathon, a 10 K and a 5 K. I did the 5K in 50:28 placing 6 out of 6 in the 70-74 men's age group. There were 3 guys participating in the 75 plus age group....it's a good thing for me that they broke down the 70's group into two groups or I would have placed 9 out of 9. But what the heck...I made the top 10 anyway you look at it.

I caught up with my main competitor, Kate, at the 34th minute. . I passed her and stayed ahead until she passed me later. We changed positions  about 5 times until the last half mile in which I made my final kick pulling  ahead of her and  maintaining the lead to the finish.  At the end of the race she introduced herself to me and asked to have her picture taken with me because she said that I inspired her to finish the race. The truth is, she inspired me to pick up my regular 20 minute per mile pace which would have given me a finishing time of an hour.

I visited my  #2 son who is a  graduate student at Stony Brook University on Long Island. We took the train to NYC where we walked the High Line (a park which ran along an elevated abandoned train track),   visited Ground Zero at the World Trade Center, had lunch in Greenwich Village, and  cruised Times Square. Times Square is a happening place. The highlight of my trip was meeting the Freedom Ladies pictured below. This was the first time that I had been to NYC since 1980. Lots of changes. Put it on your bucket list if you haven't been there in a while or if you've never visited.

53rd Annual '61 Reunion

The 53rd Annual Iolani '61 Class Reunion was held on August 16, 2014 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki. Nineteen classmates many with significant others attended.

Classmates attending were Bruce Ames, Tom Campbell, Gordon K.H. Chun, Michael Chun, Rodney Chun, Mark Hayashi, Warren Ho, Craig Ichinose, Allan Kawada, Richard Kimura, Morris Lai, Ken Lee, Jim Miyashiro, Bob Mumper, Ken Nakasone, Milt Oshiro, Gary Shigemura, Dick Tsuda and Donald Watanabe.

Many thanks to Elaine Chun (wife of Rodney Chun) and Dick Tsuda for stepping up and organizing this fine event in a classy place with an all you can eat tasty buffet luncheon. The program was informal….just guys and their wives/friends “talking story” and catching up over the past year. 

It seems like classmates are becoming more and more reticent about sharing information but I did manage to get a few to share. Don Watanabe travels several times a year and hopes to make it to Half Moon Bay near San Francisco  and  visit Yellow Stone and Glacier  National Park.

Milt and Maddie Oshiro will be going on a trip to New York City  later on in the year with their daughter, son-in-law and grandson. Milt and Maddie also took on the task of planning a ’61 Class presence at  the Diamond Head Theatre’s production of “White Christmas” to be held on December 7, 2014. Emmett Yoshioka will be the musical director for this performance. 

At last word, Milt has sold out his allotment of 20 tickets being that when the announcement was made at the reunion, tickets were bought up immediately; however, if other classmates are interested in attending this production, you can make your own reservation for the 4 pm performance on December 7, 2014. Notify Milt directly if you might be interested in attending the dinner which he will plan   to take place after the performance.

Bruce Ames continues to paddle and quite possibly may  be training for the next Honolulu Marathon in December 2014. He says that he makes trips to the Big Island  periodically to check on his property and mow his lawn.

Seems like it was a good year for  everyone. Everyone seemed upbeat and looking forward to the 55th reunion presently being  planned by Andre’ Dulce who lives in  Washington.

A Touch of Iolani 2014

Several  '61 classmates attended the A Touch of Iolani alumni event held on Saturday August 2, 2014. Pictured are Milt Oshiro, Ken Nakasone, Bob Mumper, Lincoln Tokumoto, Tom Campbell, Jim Miyashiro and Warren Ho. Great food, great conversation, great time!

Elliott and Linda Lum visit to Hawaii

Elliott and Linda Lum from San Diego  joining Bob Mumper, Jim Miyashiro and  Warren and Anita Ho at Henry Loui's Restaurant on June 4, 2014 for impromptu pupus and drinks. Great food, great beverages and great conversation. 

Keeping You in the Loop

Francis Wong ('61) and Walter Fo ('64) at the April 2014 United States Tennis Association Nationals Championship in Surprise, Arizona for players 55 years and older. Francis said that his team, Cataract & Vision Center of Hawaii,  did very well even though they did not place in the top 4. However he reports that they were competitive against much younger players  and that this event was fun with lasting memories.

Just a note: As I shuffled on my Sunday morning trek in Kahala this morning 5-25-14, I ran into Walter Fo ('64). He said that 17 teams from sections all over the country made it to the National Championships. The 17 teams were broken into 4 groups. The team that Walter and Francis played on were in the group of 5 and they made it through two rounds. lf they made it through the 3d round, they would have played in the semi-finals. Walter also said that for the first time, guys aged 55 to 59 were eligible to play in this competitions. Considering the fact that Francis's and Walter's team had two 80 years olds and at least one 70 year old playing makes this accomplishment all the more impressive.

Francis Wong attended the May 21, 2014 Iolani Pau Hana at the Sullivan Center. Also pictured (left  to right)  are Walter Muraoka ('62), Sherri Tapper ('90) of Iolani Alumni Relations and and Pat Tom ('62).


Francis Wong …April 14, 2014

On Emmett's birthday..I attended from about 4 to 6 pm even though the event went from 4 to 10 pm. It was a blast with an excellent dinner provided!!

Emmett had at least one table of actors and supporting cast from Showboat for which Emmett is Musical Director. Judy, of course, and their youngest daughter (from New York) were there.

When I was there, classmates included Milton Oshiro and wife, Mark Hayashi and wife, Tom Wong and Rodney Chun. No doubt other classmates came after I left.

Andre Dulce….May 19 , 2014

My wife, Allison, and I met with Elliott & Linda Lum who lives in Carlsbad, CA. We were in California and we met them at Hapa’s Hawaiian Restaurant in San Clemente. Had a nice lunch with them in March. Just emailed me and said that his home was not affected by the fire in Southern California – cool! 

We also met with Dave & Corrine Dumas, who lives in Tillamook, Oregon which is about 82 miles from Portland.  We have another home in downtown Portland and met with them for dinner this past weekend. They are enjoying their beautiful custom home on the Trask River – Tillamook and their quiet lifestyle. Both of them are looking forward to being at the 55^th Class Reunion in 2016!! 

Emmett's 70th Birthday

Emmett's 70th birthday party held at his Aina Haina home on March 31,  2014 turned out to be  mini- reunion for the Class of '61. Great food...great conversation....great time!  Not shown in the pictures are Francis Wong , Milton and Maddie Oshiro, Tom Wong and Rodney Chun who had to leave early.

Out of the Archives...via Jim Miyashiro

Mahalo to Jim Miyashiro for finding these articles in the archives of the Library of Hawaii

That's Mel Sumida on the far right.

Greater Alumni News

The Iolani Alumni Association welcomed all alumni back to campus for the Spring Pau Hana in the recently opened Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership on Wednesday, March 5, 2014. After an inspiring welcome from Head of School Timothy R. Cottrell, PH.D,  alumni were provided the opportunity to  tour the new Sullivan Center, learn what's new at Iolani and reconnect and network with fellow alumni. Complimentary beverages and pupus were the highlight of the event. 

Pictured above are Rag Scanlon '59, Francis Wong, Thomas Wong, Mike Young '64 (Iolani Alumni Association 60's Decade Director), Bob Mumper and Warren Ho.

Keeping You In the Loop

1-16-2014 via Mo Lai

Honored for donating more than 100 pints of blood, Howard Lee and Mo Lai got to pose with Crystal Lee, Miss Hawaii, and a young boy, who was a recipient of blood donations.

 1-31-14 via Emmett Yoshioka

In the current Diamond Head Theatre’s production of “Stepping Out”, My wife, Judy plays an opinionated curmudgeon of a piano player who accompanies a group of people wanting to learn tap dancing in England. She steals the show with her prowess on the piano and as an actress. The play needed a jazzy finale, so I volunteered to compose one for the show. So I composed an original piece with my lyricist from Los Angeles and got program credit as well. The piece is called “Steppin’ Out”.

9/12/2013 via Milt OshiroJust got back from a short trip to Portland and San Francisco. Took a ride down to Half Moon Bay and visited Allen Nako's gift shop there called the Quail Run. He was not in the shop but Maddie and I got to talk to his sweet wife Susan who was at the shop. I did talk to him on the phone and had a nice chat with him.

2-24-14 via Milt Oshiro

Maddie and I went on Norwegian Cruise Lines inter-island cruise on it's "Pride of America" ship during the week of Feb. 1st  --  8th.  On Kauai we had a wonderful two hour breakfast with Creighton Fujii, our classmate whom I had not seen since graduation 1961.  That was 53 and 1/2 years ago.  We had a great time catching up on news about each other.  Creighton was so hospitable and generous.  I encouraged him to keep in touch with us.