APRIL 2016 NEWSLETTER

April 2016 (Vol. 39, Issue 1)
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF OF PRINT VERSION OF NEWSLETTER

The Lana’i Connection is published twice a year (April and November) to inform members of the purposes of the Lana’i Alumni and Community Association (LACA).

Articles and photos may be submitted by no later than a month prior to publication via email to info@lanaiconnection.com  or via mail at LACA, P.O. Box 515, Pearl City, Hawaii  96782.  We reserve the right to edit and or accept any article before publication.


Editor:                Coochie Tanodra Cayan

Copyreader:       Monica Cockett

Designer/Webmaster:   Donna Shiroma Nakasue

LACA MEMBERSHIP is only $10.00 for your lifetime.  Membership is open to all alumni, residents and community supporters.  Email for more info and how to apply for membership info@lanaiconnection.com.

The LACA Scholarship Fund are sent by the board of directors to Lanai High School for the yearly awards.  All donations at this time to the LACA are not tax deductible.  The LACA is working towards a non-profit status to assure your donations may be tax deductible in the future.  LACA scholarships are awarded at the annual LHES Awards Assembly in May by board representatives.  Your checks should indicate it is for the LHES scholarship fund.  Mahalo nui loa for your consideration!

HOW TO CONTACT LACA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:  You may write to the LACA at P.O.Box 515, Pearl City, HI  96782 or via email at info@lanaiconnection.com

LACA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Co-chairman:  Monica Cockett and Coochie Tanodra Cayan

Treasurer:       Ruth Nakasone

Secretary:       Coochie Cayan

Directors:      Marge Asato, Susanne Damian, Bruno Oroyan, Linda Degamo (Lana’i), Suzanna Kincaid (Lana’i), Bill Ruidas (Maui Connection).

LACA VEGAS REUNION is SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 AT THE CALIFORNIA HOTEL

Aloha kakou!  All LACA members and supporters mark your calendars for the 2016 annual luncheon reunion on September 24th, Saturday, at the California Hotel’s Ohana banquet rooms.  Download and complete the registration form for your reservations with payment to LACA, P.O. Box 515, Pearl City, HI 96782.

Come and share your memories of growing up on Lana’i or share a good fun story of attending Lanai High & Elementary School.  Last year, many of the stories shared had folks smiling, laughing and just a bit nostalgic too.  Got talent?  You can sing and hula, too.  No hilahila!

The uniqueness of growing up on Lana’i continues today as the next generations make their memories with cultural work days, helping clean yards for senior citizens, and being highly competitive in county and statewide sports.  What will they be sharing in ten years?

Mark your calendars.  Make your vacation plans now!  Please note on your registration form if you want to seat with classmates or other folks.  See you there!

Mahalo nui loa e, Robert “Bob” Kinoshita

 by Donna Reyes Ching


We mourn the loss of Robert Kinoshita who passed away on Sunday, January 17th,  2016.  As a founding member of the Lanai Alumni and Community Association (LACA), his generosity for twenty years has enabled the organization to thrive.  In addition, Bob designated a modular building at Sand Island as a meeting place for the LACA board and its members.

We mourn the loss of Robert Kinoshita who passed away on Sunday, January 17th,  2016.  As a founding member of the Lanai Alumni and Community Association (LACA), his generosity for twenty years has enabled the organization to thrive.  In addition, Bob designated a modular building at Sand Island as a meeting place for the LACA board and its members.

Bob’s most recent financial support as the president/owner of Kula Sand, LLC dba Honolulu Container Storage Rentals paid for the publication of the LACA 20th commemorative historical book “The Evolution of the Lanai Alumni and Community Association.”  The book committee fulfilled Bob’s desire that net proceeds from the sale of the books be made to the LACA operations fund and that $1,000 be donated to the Lanai Culture and Heritage Center.

Collaborators and support personnel for the publication included the late Bob Kinoshita, Rosita & Jacob Hueu, Tina Mendes, Randy Sanches, Donna Reyes Ching. Gloria & Vince Reyes, Donna  Shiroma Nakasue, Susana Kincaid, Maggie Masicampo, Jane Primicias, Jay Reponte, and Bill and Larraine Avery.  Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.

CALIFORNIA – LANAI FOLKS 
PICNIC 2016

DATE:   Saturday, May 14th, 2016
TIME:   10:00 A.M. till sunset
PLACE:   Doheny State Beach Park
  25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive

  Dana Point, California 92629
PARKING FEE $15.00 per car

BRING A RAFFLE GIFT!  
POTLUCK…POTLUCK…POTLUCK!

Park has great facilities, great location, parking area and amenities.

Google directions or check your atlas to get there!

Mahalo to Sally Tabura Cadiente and Gloria Obado Reyes!

Class of 1959 Birthday Celebration – Sept. 2016

The Class of 1959 will be celebrating their 75th birthdays together in September 2016 in Las Vegas the day before the LACA luncheon at the Pullman Room.  Their special guests will be the Class of 1958 and the Class of 1961.  Surprises are being kept secret till September.  Marge Asato is the contact for the Class of 1959, Jeri for the Class of 1958 and Jane for the Class of 1961.  Please get the contact numbers from your class representative or classmates. 

Mahalo for Your Donations

The following folks and groups’ donations will be used as earmarked for the LACA Scholarship Fund, LHES Sports Programs and or for operational expenses.  Your kokua is much appreciated!

Eiko Hidani
Herbert and Katherine Minn
George T. Higa
Karen Nobui Katagiri
Marcellino Sugitan
Nancy Lantz
Joseph Ricamara
Susana Kincaid
Helen E. and Thomas Dang
Elissa Richardson
Susanne Damian
Lanai Invitational Golf Association c/o Bruce Matsuura and Nelson Tamashiro
“Evolution of LACA” Book Committee

Obituary for Robert N. Kinoshita

OBITUARY NOTICE FOR ROBERT NORIHIDE KINOSHITA –
January 7, 1931 – January 17, 2016
[Reprinted from the Lanai Times, February 2016 issue.]

“And in the setting sun shall vanish, All the glory is thy love.  Love and loyalty forever is my pledge to thee.”

The words to Lanai High and Elementary School’s alma mater were not just words to Robert Norihide Kinoshita, they were words he lived as the school’s staunchest supporter throughout his lifetime.

It was with sadness I read the letter I received from Philip Obado informing me of Robert Kinoshita’s passing on January 17 at his home in Kailua, Oahu.

“We were talking about the old days on Lanai recently and he was telling me about starting Lanai Alumni and Community Association (LACA) so I thought you might like the enclosed information for Lanai Today,” Philip wrote.  His obituary read:

Robert Norihide Kinoshita age 85 of Kailua, Hawaii, died on January 17, 2016.  Born in Lanai City on January 7, 1931, he was a member of Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin,  He was predeceased by his first wife, Mildred Hanako Isobe.  He is survived by his wife, Constance Fusako Yoshioka-Kinoshita, son Dean (Aileen), grandsons Matthew and Ryan, daughter Sandra (George) Nakamoto, grandson Ty, daughter Carol (Alan) Lau, and granddaughter Julia and grandson Davis.  He is also predeceased by father Jisaburo, mother Hatsuno, brothers Toshio Kenji Wayne, and sister Sachiko.

His schooling includes Lanai High School and Chaminade University.  His life’s career includes employment with the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, US Department of Agriculture, US Army Reserve as Supervisor Staff Administrator for the US Army Hawaii Training Center, Infantry 100th Battalion, 442 Infantry, 411th Engineer Battalion (Construction), US Army Personnel Administration Records Center, Army Reserve Personnel Center.  He retired from the US Army as Chief Warrant Officer, CW4.

Upon retirement, he entered private business as President/Owner of Pine Enterprises, Inc. dba Honolulu Transfer & Storage, Honolulu Specialty Sea Foods, Honolulu Tire Service and Honolulu Container Sales & Rental, and Hawaiian Nursery Products.

For his military service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal.  He was also a founding member of Go For Broke Association, and Sand Island Business Association.

A visitation at 3 p.m. followed by a service at 4 p.m. for Robert Kinoshita will be held at Honpa Hongwanji  Hawaii Betsuin located at 1717 Pali Highway, Honolulu on February 21, 2016.

Editor Alberta de Jetley’s Note:  Robert Kinoshita was a great supporter of our school’s athletic programs.  Many of the storage containers on campus were donated to the school to store its sports equipment.  When Lanai Animal Rescue Center was being built, he donated a 40-ft. retrofitted container with doors and windows to it to be used as an animal clinic.  Throughout his busy life, he remembered his classmates and Lanai friends and stayed in touch with them throughout his life.  He will always be remembered with much aloha by all who knew him.