By Curtis Narimatsu
Jamie Yugawa
Bronze He-Man Jamie Yugawa’s late mother was the classy & heart-stopper gorgeous TC Yugawa, of Mexican/American Indian ethnicity. Jamie’s Japanese father Craig is Hakalau aikido sensei Takeshi “Grown” Yugawa’s son.
Jamie (born 1974) is a youngster compared to current aikido leaders but nonetheless is a born sensible chap and budding historian (experience counts for a lot, but not everything, as we see with negative examples Rumsfeld/Cheney, whose vast experience did not count for wisdom with our Iraq War) who will help wayfind aikido (“the harmonious way”) deep into this century. Unlike “purity of blood” hegemony from aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba to progeny and to star pupil Koichi Tohei and down to Papa’ikou devotee Takashi Nonaka et al, biracial Jamie helps expand/blow open aikido’s art to our world polyglot, and to our female practitioners as well as our male devotees, there being no male chauvinist blowback with today’s wayfinders. Jamie’s epigram is not “Who I am” but “Where we go,” ergo, to diversify aikido among the teeming masses, and in the process, 1) to preserve our grassroot heritage in aikido, namely, from the villages/communities here in Hawai’i/the U.S., counting among our pioneers our nameless faces of our unspoken early aikido sensei, and 2) to groom open-minded successors to our aging icons, who seem more interested in self-aggrandizement than in cultivating future leaders who shall upend the status quo of inherited privilege and embody and shape the art/history of aikido deep into this century and beyond. Like a hereditary monarchy such as our Hawaiian Kingdom, an inherited throne is doomed to failure because it promotes mediocrity vs. earned meritocracy, which is how our current aikidoka/sensei run their medieval fiefdoms. Of course, the above incendiary remarks constitute my opinion on the condition of our aikido fraternity here and has nothing to do with Jamie, whose uptake is positive, constructive, and idealistic. Aikido is our youngest martial art, so its history is not steeped like karate, which has so many untold pathfinders. Our aikido tradition in Hawai’i is post-WWII, such that founder Ueshiba’s 1961 pilgrimage to Hawai’i will mark its golden anniversary 2 years from now. Ueshiba’s protege Koichi Tohei is the linear master of aikido, but hereditary lineage via Ueshiba’s literal bloodline [Tohei not Ueshiba's blood descendant] finds Ueshiba’s Aikikai outfit at odds with Tohei’s Ki Society outfit. Vanity/ego constrain rapproachment. Thankfully, to peacemaker/pan-national Jamie Yugawa and his lovely/indulgent wife Ashley, Stateside Caucasian, the key to preserve aikido is to have a unifying sense of membership and governance free of the yoke of vanity/ego.
(Curtis Narimatsu is a lifelong resident of Hilo who writes about the forgotten past such as the old plantation days & untold heroes.)
October 26th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Thank you, Editor Tiffany Edwards Hunt, for publishing my notes above. Jamie Yugawa’s biracial photo & his Naichi/Japanese grandpa’s aikidoka/sensei group photo are on their way to you. On Harvard MBA alumnus KingLit Ching born 1936, son of our greatest modern destiny-maker Pastor Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002, Charles H. Green’s quip below resonates KingLit’s sentiment [KingLit came 2 decades before Green, Green is Harvard Business School alumnus]:
“Harvard Business School led the charge away from an approach to business centered on relationships and commerce and toward one rooted in markets and competition. It promised us competitive advantage and efficiency, and it delivered.
But those benefits came at a cost. The cost included a Hobbesian view of business — nasty, brutish and every man for himself — and a rejection of the idea that ultimately we’re all in this together. Which is precisely what we do not need at this time of increasing global interdependence….
Mortgages gone wild
One example is the mortgage industry. It was completely redesigned since the 1980s along good HBS [Harvard Business School] guidelines — to maximize efficiency, lower costs and increase liquidity. Collateral damage: no relationships, skewed incentives, incompetent regulation and greed run amok.
Meanwhile, the world is moving in precisely the opposite direction. The salient fact of business nowadays is that it’s all connected. In a connected world, a focus on competitive relationships is no longer useful. What we need are connectivity, trust, and collaboration. And it starts with the way we think. Which means Harvard and other business schools have a huge obligation to correct their teachings.
HBS needs to teach less competitive differentiation and more collaborative value-adding; less how to win supply-chain negotiations and more how everyone gains by operating as collaborators; less about transactions, more about relationships; less about winning individually and more about succeeding jointly.”
Charles H. Green is the founder of Trusted Advisor Associates and a co-author of “The Trusted Advisor.” He is a 1976 graduate of Harvard Business School.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Wrong spelling, rapprochement, not rapproachment, my apology. This is inimitable KingLit Ching’s lookback at KingLit’s Harvard MBA & on Wall St. a year ago today:
“While I was in business school, courses in character building and enlightened organizational development were dismissed as wastes of time (even criticized on the hall floors as ripoff of tuition). Today, “cunning” investment managers mouth off the ultimate tactic of “using other people’s money” instead of putting their personal assets at risk (to prove their integrity). Many if not most in business circles value cleverness, shrewdness, and deviousness to make money –as ends in themselves instead of being more holistic to enhance overall standards of living (zero sum to them). Unfortunately, lots of folks, due to class adversity/obsession to overdo materially, develop a culture of exploiting commercial opportunities at any cost (notice how individualist wealthy Chinamen will quarrel over a nickel ‘on principle?!’). Polynesians and local everyday folks have a different altruistic culture. There is a definite lack of beneficence as the salutary value in our American form of capitalism or democracy. We are a young nation, spoiled by our good fortune, and imbued with a sense of entitlement. We lack humility. Europe, as an older, enlightened society, could teach us much.”
October 26th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Self-aggrandizement — David was rich but godly in his heart/altruistic. JP Morgan’s whiz kids concocted CDS/credit default swaps 1994 to divvy up profits over hedge funds/derivatives [worthless paper], that fall like a house of cards. Pride/schooling — greed/stature — it’s not money that’s the root of all evil — it’s pinnacle love of money/vanity/ego that are the root of all evil. Prideful self-aggrandizement — buzzwords, “I was thinking to myself that … [I'll feel good about building statues to myself ergo 501(c)(3) foundation].” Or “No, no, no, I would never condone or tolerate such [egocentric][sinful] behavior!” [like naming a charity fund after me alone][never mind that such I/I/I judge of others doesn't judge himself in the mirror]. Local-style nouveau riche — Wil Souza mulled intensive/convex self-adornment, as did unrelated namesake J.R. Conversely, Biblical Nathan was a great prophet who straightened out David by showing who David really was by having David look at himself/David in the reflecting pool/water & judge himself by how David judges others!! Which is why prophets like Nathan are not welcomed in their own countries/lands — because they give you the honest Truth. Self-aggrandizers possess distinct markers — whatever they think/talk about, always come back to words like, “I come to the conclusion that …” or “Now, this is what I envision …” The “eyes” have it, the nays always lose [because it's always about I/I/I, never about acknowledging/recognizing others over whom you have no vested interest in ["I want to name my philanthropy/foundation after my ..." -- my/my/my]. Self-aggrandizers wholly focus on themselves/their vested interests. Never do they even give a moment’s thought/empathy toward those/things they have no claim/credit to [George
Ariyoshi flaunts his mastery of himself in business mags/never do you see him acknowledge those who chastened him to be real/authentic instead of his phony self -- naysayers like John Hulten/
Kaz Abe/Elmer Cravalho]. Aloha, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Yes, Kuriyama at A & B is inclusive, and the thrust is Red China, so symbolically it’s heartening to see an Asian ethnic at the helm of A & B. David Figueira born 1957 has his immigrant ancestor Girardo Ferreira’s equanimity & inclusive nature. Fourth-generation David also is not afraid to call it as he sees it, so to speak. Girardo lived thru Goto’s lynching and Girardo vowed to be as loving and compassionate as God intended humanity to be. As Tony Marasia says, liberate yourself and love everything. Aloha, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Samuel Johnson 1709-1784 unique biographer — Johnson is the most-quoted English writer after Shakespeare. High praise, considering that Shakespeare is the most important historymaker over the past millennia. Johnson used anecdotes/incidents
selectively ["domestic privacies"] which revealed true character. I use Johnson’s method to illustrate
character change [such as Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002 going from Jap-beater to Jap-lover]. Johnson also is known for his aphorisms.
Like Johnson, Henry Adams 1838-1919 revealed authentic character, not fluff pieces. Adams influenced modernist Art Schlesinger Jr. 1917-2007,
as did Tocqueville 1805-1859. William James 1842-1910 [pragmatist] & David Hume 1711-1776 [utilitarian who also influenced William James]
also influenced Schlesinger. Adams is from the famous U.S. Presidents’ Adams bloodline Aloha, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
PLO/Arafat & Judeo-Christian roots —Pentecostalist Dean Edmoundson born 1946 says that God’s covenant w/Abraham [I bless those who bless you/I curse those who curse you][God's chosen ones] roots New Testament Christians to Old Testament Jews. Judeo-Christian roots are inseparable, per Dean Edmoundson. Which is why Pentecostal Dean [founded in revivalists Charles Finney 1792-1875/Dwight L. Moody 1837-1899/Ira D. Sankey 1840-1908] can no more distance himself from a Louis Goldblatt [1910-1983 ILWU brainchild] than from a Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758 [fire-brimstone's Great Awakening 1734]. Dean had the oddest acquaintances — childhood peer Gerald Brown was a quick-trigger/hot-tempered brute. Yet, when Dean taught
Gerald’s son in public school, Gerald’s son told Dean, “My Daddy said to listen and learn from you, not to disobey you, ’cause he has the highest respect for you as a man of God.” Wow, heartstopper!! Although Dean’s mom Bertha is Dean’s biggest inspiration, Dean says that mothers are not “tefloned” from God’s Word, ergo, Books of King have several references to mothers. Dean was discouraged by Jimmy Carter’s discourse w/PLO-Arafat org, in that Dean feels that U.S. is beholden by Abrahamic covenant to protect Jews/Israel. Not that Carter is a peacemaker, but that Carter thinks too highly of himself, over the best interests of Israel, per Dean. Dean does not advocate a theocracy, but
says that government should not interfere w/religion. But on Israel, Dean says that it’s not theocracy to find cultural/heritage beginnings in Israel, it’s our genesis [just as our Constitution roots in Old Testament 10 Commandments] — just as it’s patriotic/secular, not religious, that our currency emblems “In God we Trust.” Of course, scholar Evyn Adams born 1920, Methodist minister, says that politics [U.S./Israel] have nothing to do with Scripture, and that the U.S. is not beholden to Israel politically. Aloha, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
The aikido photo is so interesting… I posted the scan of the back of the photo but it will not minimize. If one is interested, one can drag the photo onto one’s desk top and open the photo there to discover the full list of all rows of people. i looked for the names of the two haole children in the front row and I am sure the (2 unkwnown) reference is for them. Listed in the front row are Betty Nishiyama, Corinne Yugawa, Barbara Jean Nishimoto, Eleanor Fujimori, Cherilyn Ito, and Robert Garcia” and then I’m not going to get listing all the names in the other rows but Ill say last names represented are Ouye, Udo, Morishita, Fujimori, Furusho, Yoshida, Alipio, Yoshimura, Motoda, Sunahara, Nonaka and Ito.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Bryan Ito is my dentist. Next time I see him I’ll ask about the Merrill Ito depicted, I believe, at the far right in the fourth row of this picture.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
The 2 garcias in the picture are the sons of Joe Garcia the politician i think.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Thank you, great Editor Tiffany Edwards Hunt, for adding Jamie’s photos which he just provided to you, to the article above. Former great hoopster Masa Sunahara [UCLA All-American volleyballer Reed's dad] is in the top row, 1st person on the left. Yes, Spanish [as in Spain] icon Joe Garcia’s 2 sons are Bobby & Billy [USF baseball HoF], both pictured in group photo. Aloha, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Revered former legislator Toshi Serizawa born 1916 —
Toshi is Spark Matsunaga’s 1916-1990 confidant/peer, both born 1916, both reared on Kaua`i [though Toshi was born in Hilo & came back to Hilo in 1955]. Toshi says that sempai/godfather Jack Burns 1909-1975 is modern Hawai`i’s greatest historymaker, & Spark is No. 2 [unsung leader who surpassed Dan Inouye in grassroot/rank-file legislation]. Like Scrub Tanaka/
Isamu Kanekuni, Dem spiritual avatars, Toshi disdains self-gain [a la wheeler dealers Dan Inouye/Kazuhisa Abe/John Ushijima/Najo Yoshinaga -- Toshi knows John as monoshiri/very difficult to reason w/ -- Najo as monoshiri/egomaniac]. The only knock vs. Toshi
[which also is his greatest strength] is Toshi’s stubbornness, marking him as an independent, not a union doormat like Najo[ILWU] or Nel Doi[HSTA genre]. Toshi’s legacy is his crusade for affordable higher education [incl. island community colleges].
Toshi dismisses Kaua`i Dem wayfinder JB Fernandes [born 1892] as a shallow materialistic opportunist, & marginalizes developer Joe Pao 1916-1977/Joe’s cousin Jim Ferry born 1928 as materialistic self-seekers, no depth/service to others-humanity. All 3 are Luso/Portuguese, but Toshi’s own progeny also are Luso. Toshi is not a bigot. Buddaheads tend to be stuck-up [like negative role models John Ushijima/Scotch Kurisu]. Toshi says that patience is the name of the game, the missing ingredient which resulted in the self-destruction of Nel Doi/Jean King/Ed Case [though Ed can kickstart to victory by being contrite/humble]. Actually, Toshi respects Tom Gill [who fought the Big 5 Oligarchy/was supported by AFL-CIO, rival of ILWU-Teamsters], but knows that
Gill & Burns just were incompatible, like oil & water. Yes, audacity/daring-do leapfrog in social progress a la FDR/Jack Burns, but timing/patience are everything, which were absent in lone rangers Gill/Mink/Fasi/Andy Anderson/Najo/etc. Toshi regards Ariyoshi basically as a decent man, but not the do-er/field general-master of Toshi’s big hero Jack Burns. Burns took a personal interest in Toshi, just as a loving father dotes on his son. In Toshi the genro/elder statesman Burns saw a mirror image of
himself as a younger & idealistic sojourner. Look at Burns’ “autobiography,” in which Burns devotes a whole chapter to Toshi, akin to Sermon on the Mount [altruism/devotion to others in need]. Yet Stanley Hara also was Burns’ confidant, but omitted entirely in Burns’ “memoirs.” I’m certain why because Stan, like his alter ego Kazuhisa Abe [who also is bereft of recognition], primarily was a land speculator, unlike ascetic/austerity-afflicted Burns who, like Toshi, put the people/society ahead of his own ambitions. Toshi respects Stanley because Stanley had to scrape/claw to earn a living & support his family. Unlike Toshi [Hollywood-handsome/darling of PR aficionados], cleft-lip Stanley started out a forgotten nobody [just another number/joe blow]. Aloha, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
442 historian Ted Tsukiyama born 1920 on Shigeo Tanabe born 1908
From: Ted Tsukiyama
Subject: A question for the ages [in honor of Methodist Rev. Shigeo Tanabe soon to be age 101!!]
Curt:
Well, I hope it salved and eased your heart to make your peace with Shig Tanabe, even if he has long put it out of his mind/memory.
Shig was our pastor at Harris United Methodist Church for many years and clearly the best that we ever had. He is my spiritual mentor and a close personal friend. That’s why I have his telephone no., and I hope to talk to him more frequently. I saw and talked to him recently and told him to keep healthy and mortal because I want him to deliver a eulogy/sermon at my funeral. He laughed!! –Ted
—– Original Message —–
From: Curt
Hi Ted: Thank you for allowing me to apologize to Shigeo Tanabe for my strident attitude in 1971 on pro-amnesty for draft resisters to the Vietnam War based on our illegal involvement in Vietnam. Correctly, Shigeo took the ameliorative approach & simply asked for healing/re-unification of our WWII/Vietnam War generations. I was too hard on conciliatory Shigeo, & I apologized to him today. He doesn’t remember a thing about our anti-war forums and his church peers here, nor does he remember me, but I wanted so much to apologize to him for my militancy vs. mild-mannered Shigeo. Shigeo was born Nov. 14, 1908 in Wash. State, was interned at Tule Lake [wholesale internment was unnecessary, per anti-war advocate Shigeo, though he does not label himself a pacifist, but a selective resister, WWII being justified], & after his release, was sent to O`ahu to minister in 1954 [Methodist mission], spent 7 yrs. in Hilo [1970-1977] or so, & says his stay in the Hawaiian Islands has been unremarkable. Unremarkable so he says!! From such a remarkable independent thinker!! All my adulthood, I always reminisced about Shigeo. I was only 18 when I gave
him hell & high water. I really miss him/his serenity. Thank you, thank you, Ted!! Why do you have Shigeo’s phone number? Is he your inspiration too??! –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Chin Chuck Road Hakalau — Waltah Pacheco loves to bullshit. He says Hakalau is Chinese word. Hakalau is Haw’n for many perches. Chin Chuck refers to Chinaman Chin Chuck & the stable site where he lived, just as adjacent Fujimori Camp on Chun Chuck Rd. in Hakalau is named for resident Fujimori. Uchinanchu lived way up toward the forest line on Chin Chuck Rd.
Uchinanchu/Okinawans are not Chinese. Common name Choken or any name w/Shiro [Shiroma/Miyashiro] is Okinawan. –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Robert Owen born 1924 the messenger, not the message — Welsh Assembly of God pastor Robert Owen’s mantra: “The unalterable line, you must accept Jesus Christ as your savior!” I publish this correctly
quoting/crediting Robert, but Robert says that I should’ve first asked for Robert’s permission to publish this one-liner. If this were an original quote/thought, yes, but no — this line has been disseminated for the past 2 millennia. Sheez, ego/vanity, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Oil speculation/commodities trading — Al Greenspan of the free market economy didn’t foresee greed/avarice which upended self-restraint [worthless paper derivatives/credit default swaps/etc.]. Oil speculators drove up the price of oil that nearly
brought down our national interest in economic stability. As w/investment banks, commodities trading in oil needs regulation, since
oil serves our national interest/national security. –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Oren E. Long 1889-1965 — Kansas plainsman Oren Long was educated at NYC Columbia U. & came
to Hilo in 1917 as social worker. He rose thru gov’t & became DPI/DOE chief 1934-1946. Progressive educator Long [like alter egos Horace Mann/
John Dewey] enabled plantation kids to graduate from high school [starting w/those born 1920, who graduated in 1938]. But Long as solon refused to
dicker w/backroom strategist Jack Burns 1909-1975, who wanted Long to hand out patronage jobs when Burns got Long appointed as territorial governor 1951 [over Ernie Kai 1905-1990, who had the governorship in
Kai's hip pocket until Burns switched Kai's appt. for Long w/D.C. Interior Dept. --which ruled over Hawai`i], & also when Burns had Long be the Dem
choice for U.S. senator 1959-1962 [initial staggered term]. Long was Burns’ choice 1959, being haole/accepted Stateside, on condition that Long
retire in 1962, when Long would be 73 yrs. old. Dan Inouye withdrew Inouye’s run for U.S. Senate 1959 on condition that Long step aside for Inouye to replace Long in 1962. Inouye became sole U.S. Rep. 1959. Long was our greatest educator, but flopped as solon [too regal, not pragmatic]. Long could’ve lobbied for Burns to be undersecretary of State for far Eastern affairs via JFK, but Long refused to lobby for Burns. Long wanted to run for re-election 1962 as U.S. senator, but Dem Party refused to endorse
Long. Thence Long’s forced retirement. –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Home rule — Bank of Hawai`i #2 head Link Moore told malihini Safeway Stores to use Masaji Marumoto on legal matters, instead of Big 5’s Jenks/Kidwell lawyers, inasmuch deals are struck using local flavor, esp. w/Mayor Rusty Blaisdell’s
grounded team [Angel Maehara/engineer Yoshio Kunimoto/Sugiyama's Terr. Builders Co.]. Why J_ps? Because St. Louis was the prime enabler for AJA
upward mobility/middle class prosperity [look at Dick Mamiya]. Rusty 1902-1975 was St. Louis grad/acolyte. Rusty’s brother Bill adopted today’s
misanthrope/chip on shoulder Kekuni Blaisdell [mom married Bill]. Rusty/Masaji Marumoto were bosom buddies/neighbors, even though Masaji was Congress Delegate Joe Farrington’s braintrust. Adaptation [rich/poor--haole/local] key to getting along here. Paradox is that Masaji/Hung Wai Ching [McKinley
High '24 grads w/Hiram Fong/Chinn Ho-- before them were Island Ins.' Mas Tokioka/Jesse Shima] were Big 5 wheelies/hubs. Rusty was St. Louis gang grassroot. Extrovert Hung Wai/introvert Marumoto were indeliby linked by their intellectual prowess. Opposites attract too. Give credit to BoH’s Link Moore, who paved the way for “everybody’s equal” here. Martial law head Kendall Wooch Fielder’s trusted aides were Col. Marsten & Marsten’s subordinate Capt. Blake, egalitarians all. –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Staggered terms/term limits — George Will proponent of 12 yr. term limit for U.S. senators [to avert graft/pork barrel]. Military service resulted in high unemployment end of WWII from ex-servicemen glut in civilian sector. Peacetime resulted in scarcity of servicemen for Korean War, just as scarcity
today for Iraq war. Conscription, like staggered terms for senators, alleviates flooding of civilian employment sector/scarcity of military soldiers. Bill Mauldin showed the 34th Div. cartoon of 1st boys to fight in overseas w/long beards on canes. No rotation WWII. Serve full duration of war . Thus, glut in civilian employment sector end of WWII. –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Everlasting trinity of Isaac Watts 1674-1748 — hope/love/comfort — Isaac Watts’ dad was a dissenter within the Church of England, the State religion. As such, Isaac was banished by Cambridge/
Oxford. Yet, amid Isaac’s ostracization/exclusion, he composed undying hymns [today's Christmas song "Joy to the World"]. Look at what adversity did to Watts — he overcame adversity w/kindness/inspiration. Like spinal TB-infected Alexander Pope, Watts’ grotesque physical profile inspired his mission to be proactive in seeking “the Truth, the Light, the Way.” Behind his unappealing
looks lay his tremendous character/inner strength. He carried his Cross well. Love, –Curt
October 26th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
KIA as heroes amid twist of fate [going into combat to avert younger siblings from going into combat] –
Two Big Island KIA [Waimea/Kona] Vietnam War –
[Messrs. Loo/Kauhaihao DSC] chose to go to Vietnam so that others [like Loo's baby brother] wouldn’t have to go. Someone said our fate/destiny are written in the stars [preordained], because these 2 KIAs didn’t have to go to Vietnam. I would emphasize that
these 2 KIAs are true heroes because they were willing to give up their lives for our country, that their twists of fate even more stir us to appreciate forever their supreme sacrifices, not that “one’s time” is predestined via twist of fate, which to me is fatalistic/purposeless. Of course, if the KIA said such before dying, accept it — for that is the KIA’s sole prerogative. If anything, such indifferent statement of “no matter what, it was his time to go/die” says more about the speaker than about anything/anyone else. Rationalization/ego-centered. Disrespectful or not, point is that these KIAs are the real heroes, not diminished by “when one’s time/number is up.” Love, –Curt
October 27th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Hi Hugh Clark: DOE spokesperson Sandy Goya was trying to reply to me since last week based on your query about Rep. Abercrombie’s implied swipe at Gov. Lingle, but I was in Kona & unable to link up with her. We finally dialogued late yesterday. Gov. Lingle did get stimulus funds for the DOE, and these were not shorted by Gov. Lingle depriving the DOE of other monies. Rep. Abercrombie’s press release about more stimulus monies being available is encouraging, and hopefully will alleviate somewhat, even if minimal in impact, the tremendous budget constraints the DOE suffers from. Aloha, –Curt
October 27th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Hi Hugh Clark: Did not get a response from Gov. Lingle’s office about Rep. Abercrombie’s implied swipe at her about the stimulus funds for the DOE. Signing off/out for today/tomorrow — Big Island Chronicle switchover to a new system. Aloha, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Mas Marumoto’s 1969 speech of a lifetime 1906-1995 —
When Mas was rejected for membership in the all-haole Pacific Club, Mas quietly said, “I reluctantly signed
my application aware that the members may not be ready to break w/the past. I did not do so in crusading spirit.
I do not feel badly about the outcome because I do not consider it a personal affront. We do not have a perfect society, but we have made great strides, all for the better. We have a happy community because changes came imperceptibly & naturally. We will continue to make progress if we are not too sensitive about some of the things which we consider undesirable. Particularly in matters involving personal attitudes, the solution lies not in forcing
the issue on any abstract notion of right or wrong, but in developing further understanding & respect by more frequent exposure to each other.” Gov. Jack Burns tendered Jack’s resignation from the Pacific Club when Mas’ application got rejected. Mas was the 1st-ever AJA on the highest court 1957 & a sitting S.Ct. Justice in 1969.
As w/Mas’ attitude, Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002 saw a happy society, & expressed HW’s outlook on this vision. Not perfect by any means, but happy just the same. A society which HW respected and cherished. A society that he hoped would share exposure/comprehension/appreciation/encouragement/hope/wayfind w/HW. Deep, really deep! Love, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Links among internationalist peacemakers/Alex Hume Ford —
Yes, Edwin Reischauer was AJA messiah who advocated formation of 442, Walter Lippmann was founder of New Republic mag, & Arnold Toynbee was comparative history expert, all Ford internationalists. A & B’s Frank F. Baldwin/UH’s Romanzo Adams/Star-Bulletin’s Riley Allen also were Ford colleagues, as were later followers Abraham Akaka/Jack Mizuha/Hebden Porteus/Herbert Choy. Aloha, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Paradox: Hung Wai Ching lost 1950 Con-Con race [Con-Con for Statehood] —
Buddaheads born before 1920 generally dismissed Dan Inouye as urusai/troublemaker — hot-tempered SOB. Yes, my dad born 1913 couldn’t stand Inouye/Nelson Doi, whom Dad lumped together as loudmouths/yakamashii. The ILWU especially loved Hiram Fong, which is one reason why Burns lost to Quinn ‘59 — Jack Hall/Bob McElrath/George Martin/Eddie De Mello & ILWU honchos forgot about Burns & instead went all out for Fong.
1950 Con Con — buddaheads were not peaked politically/organized. Burns’ cell gang [civil defense head 1951/basement of Honolulu Hale] was not yet existent, so Burns’ 442 boys were not yet his spiritual progeny. Thence, the 442 boys like Masato
Doi born 1921/Tsukiyama born 1920 were Stateside on the GI Bill or working to support their burgeoning families. The 100th conscripts were also apolitical, being rank/file blue collar boys. The 100th’s leaders for a new social order, Sakae Takahashi/Young Oak Kim, were preoccupied w/their own destinies — Sakae jockeying for Lt. Gov. under Oren Long 1950, Kim back in his LA home city trying to pay his bills. Statehood Joe Farrington did
not meddle in division of power protocol [Con-Con's sole objective was to achieve Statehood, but this was on local/home rule front/plane, not for Federal Congressional Delegate Farrington to mess w/, out of concern that he would try to stifle popular will/of the people][Con-Con & Hawai`i voters voted overwhelmingly anyway for Statehood, in spite of Farrington's fear of giving the impression that Farrington was monopolizing the will of the grassroots/people]. Kometani/Marumoto also stayed out of home rule politics, wary of the division of power between the federal & local levels of government. Irascible/audacious Hung Wai got his feet wet anyway, a la Burns, the same singular focus [Statehood] — remember, remember, that our/society’s greatest historymakers first [& many times thereafter] tasted defeat/failure/rejection/
being ignored-unacknowledged-unrecognized before they savored the succulent morsel of victory — Jack Burns lost 4 of his first 6 elections!! Abraham Lincoln was the born loser, until his epiphany w/the outbreak of our Civil War. Multiple loser of elections/bankrupt/failed ventures-vocations/what we know today as clinical depression — so don’t conclude
about Hung Wai Ching as a failure/loser. It was his destiny to lose [pre-ordained] for 1950 Con-Con, because in that paradox of rejection manifested Hung Wai’s singular road map to Statehood, of all things, on the totem pole of do-or-die occurences starting w/the base/foundation of Hung Wai’s ramrod Interracial Unity Council pre-WWII/Morale Committee
after Pearl Harbor attack, both of whose irrevocable distillation averted mass internment of our 160,000 buddaheads [vs. 120,000 Kotonks Stateside], on top of which stood the combat formation of the 100th Battalion, because of inescapable pleas by Hung Wai/
to beseech for our right to fight for America, on top of which stood the combat formation of our UH ROTC labor Battalion, or Varsity Victory Volunteers [Tsukiyama's gang], its destined telling moment when Hung Wai had Stateside buddahead messiah McCloy taste the dust/smell the perspiration of Tsukiyama’s gang as they pick/shoveled their rock quarry into the annals of history Nov. 1942, on top of which stood our 100th/442 feats in battle WWII, on top of which stood post-WWII Hawai`i which proved its loyalty to America by giving up its boys to God eternally
for the cause of freedom, on top of which stood Texas Lost Battalion guardian angels LBJ/Sam Rayburn, who just happened to lord over Congress in 1959, on top of which stood eventual Statehood for Hawai`i, on top of which stood a non-violent revolution which resulted in a new social order, where Anglo-Saxons & people of shades of color live peacably & on equal footing side by side, where class is not defined by race but by the individual efforts to fulfill our American Dream/upward mobility, on top of which stand
modern East Asia prosperity, thanks to our/Hung Wai collective outfits which proved America’s fitness to recognize/reward racial equality via the accomplishments of the 100th/442, which belie despots’ propaganda [both domestic as in Trask/Osorio & foreign as w/Muslim extremists] that we still are ruthless imperialists/unfathomably cruel colonizers, on top of which stand Red China’s grudging/reluctant admission that one backward Cantonese descendant, Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002, changed the face of America in the blink of an eye 1942 [formation of 100th/442], & reasserted/inspired our commitment to freedom & fulfillment of our choosing. Why not Hung Wai as
today’s Henry Clay [Lincoln's hero -- abolitionist] or even Patrick Henry in 1775 — “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!!” Love, –Curt
From: Jimmy–442nd progeny
“An old Nisei/2nd generation buddahead [as opposed to Mainland Kotonk AJA] told me that older buddaheads respected and appreciated Hiram Fong more than Danny Inouye. He said that Hiram took care of his constituents and Danny only worried about National issues. But I do know that when Hung Wai Ching ran for the 1950 Constitutional Convention, AJA support was non-existent (Hung Wai lost) and none of his buddahead buddies lifted a finger to help him get elected. Moiliili hoi polloi didn’t know who Hung Wai was in connection with the AJAs. I guess the 100th Republicans and 442nd Democrats have the same attitudes, yeah?? Or not? Please clarify.”
October 29th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Application of Scripture to life experiences —
Indisputably, no one does application of Canon to life better than Pastor Roy Kim born 1946. Roy stays focused completely on application, unlike well-intentioned Boston Blackie Nakasato born 1942, whose thought processes are not crystal-clear/clarified like Roy’s. BB will do application, then in an instant/the next breath talk about himself
or about sports or whatever is on his mind at that moment. Yes, Elly Fernandes/Rich Nakamura/Rich Imai/Steamy Chow/J. Roy Souza/Rich Uejo/etc. all talk incongruently, not making links/sense from one moment to the next. No, not old age, just not focused on the point [of discussion]. I rhetorically asked Boston Blackie, “At what point is private discourse newsworthy of public dissemination & not a private discussion anymore?” Boston Blackie says, “I have NO idea!” & then asks me about how good an athlete was my native Wainaku’s Jessie Shimabukuro [big fish in very small pond]. No application, no discussion of the issue [private vs. public matter]. The only one w/the extraordinary cognition to stay focused is Roy Kim. Aloha, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Larry Tanimoto’s golf heritage via dad Sus –
You see, before Hilo Muni was built, we had only our Hilo Country Club off today’s Country Club Drive 6 miles up the Saddle Rd. on the wet slope of Mauna Loa, started by Roy Blackshear Sr. & his haole gang 1926. Thus, the Kaumana boys had a running start on the rest of us folks — Billy Cunningham/Johnny Fong/Sus Tanimoto [Larry's dad], who caddied for
the rich haoles. Which is why Larry was good on golf via his dad. Kazuma Hisanaga’s wife’s dad Mukai started our Hilo Muni, at which point later gurus Tai On Chock/George Mukai/Earl Tamiya taught kids around the Muni site. Yes, geography often determines destiny. Pat Fukuda Saiki’s dad was a great tennis player & close to Hongwanji tennis courts on mauka
side of Waiolama Canal & far down oceanside of Hongwanji church. Pat’s dad would walk to work at Big 5 office [across Kam Ave. & Kumu St.]. Norman Inaba & Masa Koike p/n on Royal Gardens Subd. Ray
Suefuji cut his teeth under Planning Dept.’s Hiroshi Kasamoto. Ray doesn’t have a college education, but became our greatest planner [trained as draftsman]. Ray’s vision resulted in today’s Kaka`ako green expanse. Ray was good friend of John Ushijima. Hilo High’s 1939 football squad was among our best, incl. backfield sprinters George Thompson/Palama
Hong/Buster Puuahou, & qtk. Art Kawakami. To curl the coconut meat out of the shell, heat it on a grill. This is how Jack Sakamoto’s wife used to make
coconut pie. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Sansei/3rd generation Yuki Ichikawa — Nisei Hisakichi Hisanaga’s daughter —
Yuki was too young to remember Hisakichi’s Mameya Lane jaunts 1890-1978. What she experienced was 1st class upbringing/matronly rearing via her dad’s
riches. Older sis Haru Tom would convulse at the mention of Hisago Casino at Anegawa/Ice pond [Harrington Restaurant site -- Hisa's casino in
middle of Ice pond to evade vice squad]. Sam Boyd was 20 yrs. younger than Hisakichi, & Hisa had Sam run the bingo games/tepid-benign income earners. As Laura Yuen Chock [Hawaii Chicken Store corner Mamo/Punahoa Sts.] gazes back in time, Hisa would ride down Mameya “Pleasure” Lane/Punahoa St. extension in Hisa’s limo driven by chauffeur, & ostentatiously let gawkers know that Hisa was Hilo’s taisho/big boss. Hisa’s son Kazuma was taisho too/went ballistic at talk of his dad’s Hisago casino. Which is why Kazuma was garrison mentality/paranoid about talk of his so-called vice life dad. To top it off, Hisakichi was interned WWII [big shot who welcomed Nippon Navy to Hilo pleasures/Volcano sightseeing], which caused even more anxiety for Kazuma [Kazuma original 100th/Silver Star recipient--respected my older dad]. Kazuma was AJA jock wayfinder [Cal Poly Pomona baseball/football, lockstep w/coach Beans Afook-Ernie & Leo De Silva Pomona alumni-jocks-entertainers]. Yes, Yuki does not have the rage of her older sibs because Yuki is too young to remember her dad’s
doings. Sam Boyd Vegas vanity-ographer Dennis Ogawa, UH scholar, has commercialized Dennis’ book endeavors — did fluff book on Masaji Marumoto [Dennis is kotonk/Mainlander, not buddahead], now does promo on Boyd like how Emmett Cahill did promo/fluff book on Kea`au Shipman family — a fairy tale. Sad because not nitty-gritty realistic assessment/biographies. Yes, Ferreira soulkeeper David Figueira born 1957 says it’s only expected that ohana will promo their best foot forward. But to me, don’t pretend to promo heroes in our eyes when they’re not godly but just human/sinners like us all. David asks me honestly if I feel David is Type A/intolerant. I say yes, but that David overcomes such deficit w/true love for everyone, which to me says more plus/magnanimity about David than for me to bullshit to David that
David is Jesus incarnate. No way is anyone Jesus/Buddha/Muhammad. Which to me says loads about David’s soul which in the end gets Jesus’ endorsement. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Linda Lingle — Lingle not telegenic, no oomph factor/is rote. Won because implausible ticket had
2 J_ps 2002 [Hirono/Matsunaga -- Hirono cringed at voting process to elect lt. gov. in primary]. Had the Dem ticket been Hirono/Case or Case/Matsunaga,
Lingle would’ve been relegated to wanna-be footnote in history. Lingle loses vs. Dem stout-hearts Mufi/Case for Congress. Hanabusa more Mink than Saiki
[no equanimity] & won’t beat Mufi/Case for Congress. Abercrombie beats Hanabusa for Dem primary Gov. race. Aiona handsome man/barely passable demeanor, is totally dense/clueless as politician. Has the looks/smile to beat Dem candidate, but doesn’t have the moxy/thinking on his feet to pull off a win. Pedantic/mechanical/predictable [all passable qualities for a judge, noose around the neck for a politician]. Uses legal analysis instead of political pragmatism — wrong application — in the real world. Actually believes that Con-Con would further Haw’n supremacy. Silent majority everywhere always conservative, not for Haw’n supremacy — Con-Con would risk loss of Haw’n supremacy. Aiona a better sport prep coach than a politician. Aiona’s roots are Hilo, but Andy Baclig [married to Aiona's cousin] never won an election. Aiona is well known in sportsdom, & solely sportsdom — dad Jimmy was Ah Chew Goo’s devotee [all Hilo boys]/hothead ref Jimmy punched out Stateside college coach icon at Rainbow Classic hoops — Mayor Rusty Blaisdell 1902-1975
upbraided/gave hell/ripped into Jimmy to no end at Blaisdell arena [Rusty was magnificent athlete/superhuman star & coach -- mentored O`ahu version of AC Goo -- Red Raymond 1929 superstar]. If Rusty had his druthers, Rusty would’ve punched out
Aiona right then & there at concession counter. Rusty never was so incensed as he was vs. Aiona. Jimmy’s son Duke a pocket version of Jimmy — temperamental/hotheaded though Duke was able to keep in check Duke’s temper in courthouse. Duke St. Louis jock good local size 5′11″ 155 lbs. — but no boy wonder like baseball’s Tommy Ishigo/Kenso Nushida. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
4 generations thence — No, prophet Elisha’s bald head mocked by young men did not bring generational
curses upon their progeny, just upon these full head-of-hair men. But 4-generational curses mean to stop passing egocentrism/narcissism to progeny [Numbers 14:18]. Jesus shall set you free when you remove the yoke of selfish love [John 8:36]. Of
course, blessings can last an eternity, at least 10 generations [Genesis 10/Psalms 128], because blessings precipitate even more blessings down the line of descendancy. No, not materially, but spiritually. Dean Edmoundson’s dad, migrant
farmer, tough Scot antiquity [like Appalachia hillbillies], exhorted upon his kids, “I ain’t got nothin’ to give ya ‘xcept my name. Dat’s what you got from me, kids, jus’ my name.” Dean/wife June in turn, charitable Pentecostal Christians, leave
nothing for their children but their names. Though zero sum in the bank, untold riches in the bosom. Every life Jesus saves/reborn, how can you tabulate
even/good value? It’s unquantifiable!! Commensurate w/Dean’s-June’s charity — is their silent discipleship in Jesus — agape love expressed w/open arms, not jawboning mouths. Paradox today is that Luther’s “indulgencers” 500 yrs. ago redux via De Luz/Souza/John Ushijima, cemented via narcissist mantra, “Don’t shame our family name!!” Ergo, “Lookee heeah, ain’t I so great!!” Dean’s earned
grit purloined via today’s headliner privateers. No one can measure the ends of Dean’s heart. One doesn’t need measure of the ends of selfish love — they’re right there in the open mouths of the indulgencers who talk/jawbone/brag/condemn their way to heaven. Love, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
YMCA avatar Lloyd R. Killam 1885-1981 Missouri flavor — Yes, like Sam Clemens [Mark Twain]/Jesse Shima’s John Henderson, race inclusionist/Harry Truman/Reinhold Niebuhr, John Young’s 1902-1990 mentor Lloyd R. Killam had Missouri roots, having come here in 1912. Shunzo Sakamaki’s brother George & Aiko Tokimasa Reinecke’s older brother David
were Killam’s devotees. Arthur Ozawa 1877-1917 parents are gannen-mono [1868 immigration], U Michigan Law 1910, 1st AJA lawyer here [brother Yotaro 1st AJA policeman here]. Attendees at Ozawa’s funeral incl. Gov. Pinkham/James Dole. As antiquity’s
Tacitus said, “The principal function of history is to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten.” Rassler Curtis I`aukea’s great-grandad Curtis I`aukea I should be credited w/Japanese emigration
to Hawai`i. I`aukea was our messiah [Japan suffered major economic depression]. Lloyd R. Killam revered both I`aukea/Ozawa. Love always, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hilo Hongwanji tennis court in post-1946 tsunami photos — Hilo Hongwanji school/playground/tennis court were makai of Kukuau/Kilauea Sts. across its church, & the tennis court is depicted in the aftermath of the 1946 tsunami [mauka of Waiolama Canal--Tom Okuyama lived in rental there]. Y. Hata family multi-story home is depicted in post-1960 tsunami photos mauka of Waiolama Canal below Ruddle dealership’s Christina Lane. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Butcher Lane’s bordello “Cottage” — Pre-1946 tsunami’s Kumu St. [today's public restrooms astride
Waiolama canal mauka of Kam Ave. in Keaukaha direction across Mo`oheau Park] had Volcano arena [contractor Charles Will's corrugated iron roof warehouse on makai side of Waiolama canal on northeast side of restrooms today]. Makai of Volcano arena was butcher lane [where Porinki/Sakada
knifings occurred] which meandered north toward old Hilo Gas Co. tanks. The bordello “Cottage” was north of Volcano arena, w/mostly White tricks/Sakada johns. Haole madams ran the joint, muscled secure by Rican guns [which struck quicker than Flip knives/switchblades]. No, Hisakichi Hisanaga 1890-1978 laid claim to Mameya [Nippon for beans -- should be chitsu/fold [pleasure][slang is neko] lane/
Punahoa St. Mango Tree pleasure spot north of Suitengo shinto temple [Emma St.'s DLNR
Matson containers today adjacent to Iron Works parking lot] bookended south Waiolama/Green Roof & Picket Fence pleasure spots next to each other bookended north Waiolama diagonally south/opposite today’s Kamehameha Statue, on wide expanse of Doc Hill’s commercial road perpendicular to Kamehameha Statue/Bishop St.. Hisa left alone the Ricans/Flips on their home turf, typecast lowest-paying johns/knifing risk vs. men, not vs. tricks [Godiva personas -- gilded tw_ts]. Do you know that Sam Boyd [Vegas mogul] worked right here in Hilo for Hisa running benign old fart/ladies’ bingo games/lavished Hisa when Hisa went to Vegas?? Boyd was Hisa’s devotee/protege. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Enigma — Justice Robert Jackson 1892-1954 —
Bob Jackson was the last U.S. S.Ct. Justice [1941-death in 1954] not to graduate from law school [high school too]. Bob was AJAs’ biggest hero for opposing internment WWII, but his vehement anti-communism & soft-peddling on racial segregation mark him as an enigma. In the AJAs Bob saw Horatio Alger, who, like Bob, picked himself up by the bootstraps amid tremendous economic adversity. But in Blacks Bob saw acceptable White complicity to long-standing custom to keep the White/Black races
]. Love, –Curt
separate but equal. And Bob’s anti-communism compromised civil liberties vs. nonconformists. It was only because overpowering tower/consensus-builder Earl Warren arm-twisted Bob to go w/the unanimous decision in Brown v. Bd. of Education just before Bob’s death that Bob relented to outlaw such humiliating/odious segregation. Bob engaged in needless sociological tests to justify his rather unwieldy/cumbersome conclusions. His inferiority complex [not law school grad] displaced his reason/mental faculty. Nonetheless, Bob always will be AJAs’ greatest hero [opposed internment]. Bob is best known as Nuremberg prosecutor vs. Nazis, & Hilo provost marshal Mickey Marcus was on Bob’s legal team [Mickey also became Israel's 1st General/Machal][Jew Kirk Douglas starred as Mickey in an all-star cast in Cast a Giant Shadow blockbuster movie][Mickey also prosecuted mobsters Lucky Luciano/etc. before combat military service][Recalcitrant youngster Isamu Kanekuni born 1921 pled guilty in front of Provost Marshal Mickey Marcus for violating blackout law -- Isamu stayed out too late to watch a movie -- really!!
October 29th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Isamu Kanekuni born 1921 — Curmudgeon Isamu [still Hollywood-handsome at age 88!!] succinctly chronicles untold heroes as no one else can/does [wayfinders Fumiko Iwamasa/Aiko Tokimasa Reinecke/John Beukema/etc.]. Though sharp-tongued & A-hole personality, Isamu has an even repose about the long course of history. Isamu’s wry exuberance actually reminds me of Hastings & Psalm 118:24 — “Relish the moment, rejoice, live!!” Yes, love never dies, at least with Isamu as a negative example/itchy prodder. Isamu misses Scrub Tanaka 1915-2006 to no end. “A friend loves always, especially in adversity.” Proverbs 17:17. A-hole Scrub created Scrub’s own adversity. Isamu’s devout respect for Scrub’s non-material purity, despite Scrub’s A-hole personality, says loads about Isamu. Though I have to squeeze the dickens out of Isamu to get wisps of wisdom, it is true that Isamu harmonizes w/John 10:10 — “I have come in order that you might have life, in all its fullness.” Asterisk is life with a chili pepper coating
Billy Kenoi was giddy-thrilled to have the pleasure of meeting oybaun/godfather Isamu. I told Isamu to stop joshing around w/Billy, inasmuch Billy was going to be a little late for Billy’s sojourn to Ka`u [mayoral campaign last year]. So Isamu turned serious & quietly chastened Billy, “Offer voters a change, don’t stick w/the status quo. What do you have which makes worth the voters’ punchcard [voting booth selection]?” To which Billy said that Billy brings Dan Inouye’s federal funds while Dan still is alive/our top solon. Our free bus service [so timely w/$4+ p/gallon unaffordable gas price] is remarkably improved thanks to Billy’s funding sources. I told Billy that if Billy can get past A-hole Isamu, Billy will pass the grade w/anyone. Billy’s highest intellect/aggressive approach to problems/people-person appeal-joyfulness/oratorical skill — all offer changes from his boss Harry Kim, via whom he correctly restrained his ambition to be mayor. Harry is populist friendly a la Fasi [authoritarian figure]. Billy is genuinely a happy Hawaiian w/love & aloha, not because of Billy’s standing/status. Billy also said that Billy has to streamline gov’t services because of our austere economic outlook, even if Billy has to be tough a la Steve Yamashiro/
fiscal mgr. George Ariyoshi. Isamu was pleased w/Billy’s authenticity/candor. 442 veteran Isamu demonstrates tremendous open-mindedness — Isamu says that Watada’s stance is morally correct, just as Ali’s courage is to be respected. That it’s wrong for Ron Fujiyoshi to say that Ron digresses from Jim
Albertini’s crew because Jim has all haole supporters [anti-Iraq War]. That it’s wrong for Ron to zero in on Hawaiian self-determination/nationalism/sovereignty because Hawaiians are the host culture & Hawaiians advocate their own cause [Trask/Osorio/Ioane/etc.], inasmuch if only haoles supported sovereignty, Isamu asks dryly would Ron be as enthused?? Of course, says Ron. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Hung Wai Ching alter ego John Young 1902-1990 —
Yes, John Young born 1902 is Springfield College grad [YMCA][Antioch College in Yellow Springs Ohio founded by father of American education Horace Mann --Mann's successor John Dewey is Pastor Stephen Mark's
idol]. Young/Mark were buddahead wayfinders amid the anti-J_p hysteria WWII. Mark/Leigh Hooley [Aquinas devotee -- everybody's equal] are enshrined at Nu`uanu’s Community Church, buddaheads’ divine providence/sanctuary, though Chinese. Only in Hawai`i do you find “out of race” Chinamen restoring dignity to their graven demonic foes our Nipponese. History’s blended link again goes back to Henry Opukahaia 1792-1818 [whose death inspired tremendous
racial tolerance/altruism -- Congregational Central Union Church/etc.]. Love one, love all. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Jack Burns’ U.S. savings bonds — Burns counted his payroll deduction for his savings bonds, which he used to build his Waimea home. Pastor Masao Yamada told his 442 boys that fellow 442 John Ushijima squelched the proposed veterans’ cemetery expansion toward Malama Apts. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Bill Quinn’s 2nd Mahele — sell State lands $50 per acre — Quinn’s 2nd Mahele was unrealistic. Just a gimmick to win him the ‘59 Gov. race. Lease to fee conversion of multi-condo units is not Quinn’s 2nd Mahele, it is a pragmatic beginning to wean off government bureaucracy w/pride of ownership. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Hatch Act 1939 — FDR postmaster appointee Richard Imai preceded the Hatch Act. He later had to pass a civil service test & abide by the Hatch Act. Which is why many of FDR’s pre-Hatch appointees disappeared off the political radar screen. Richard born 1910 99 yrs. old, missed being out
of politics, but is thankful for his job security. Kanaka Johnny Wilson got Rich the Ola`a postmaster job via FDR. Impudent/urusai Jack Ouye hitched on Link McCandless via Tom Cunningham, who dumped Ouye, & Ouye then hitched on Johnny Wilson, who got Ouye the Hakalau postmaster job. Ouye never got canned for violating the Hatch Act because Ouye preceded
ILWU’s Jack Hall & never aligned himself w/these “agitators.” Instead, Ouye was very patriotic as seen via Hakalau’s plaque for WWII KIA. Ouye always was jealous of Imai & never lived down the political hegemony [Ouye was a McCandless outcast/Imai was a Johnny Wilson backer]. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Robert Hind Sr. 1893-1967 — Shizuko “Mary” Teshima born 1907 102 yrs. old says that Bob Hind Sr.
was very good to her Hanato family. Bob’s mom is Low cowboy family, his ancestor is Capt. John Palmer Parker, founder of Parker Ranch. His grandpa Robert Hind is sugar/coffee wayfinder. Bob was
longtime Pu`uwa`awa`a Ranch head. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Personalities — varied as ever —
Hilo’s Frank Hata & Wahiawa’s Bob Oshiro canned Dan Aoki from Ariyoshi’s Gov. office, because stubborn Aoki was a bull in George’s china shop. Aoki was
best suited on the open plain/grassroots. George’s kitchen cabinet incl. Sus Ono/Jimmy Takushi/Bert Kobayashi/Walt Dods ['59 St. Louis High]/Hata/
Oshiro. Mike Tokunaga reached rank/file via Onomea’s Tadao Okimoto/Maui’s Pundy Yokouchi/Kaua`i’s Turk Tokita [Al Konishi's uncle], Scrub Tanaka being too abrasive a la Aoki vs. mild Ariyoshi. But Scrub blended well w/Waihe`e, though Scrub later lamented about Waihe`e’s one point focus — bankroll Waihe`e’ Hawaiians/cronies. Remember Ah Chew Goo’s “waive”
[Coffman's seminal bk. on Burns 1970 Catch a Wave] vs. Goo’s unholy trinity of Hata/Oshiro/Aoki?? Aoki told vendor Goo that Burns’ campaign didn’t have the money to pay for Goo’s $2,000 bill for campaign materials. Hata then tried to give Goo free fundraiser tickets to cancel the bill. Finally, Oshiro wrote Goo a note telling Goo to write off Goo’s bill for tax purposes. Yikes. Love, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
100th Batt. Eugene Eguchi [replacement] born 1919 —
Eugene trained as 442 & replaced original 100th along w/active club member Joe Sugawara. Other active but original 100th members were Shigeru Ushijima/Moto Tanaka/Yasu Iwasaki/Hideo Kami/Sakai Wakakuwa/Morris Kihara/Kaz Taguchi. Everyone in the overall 442
loves Eugene. George Mukai born 1923 is the point man for the 442, & could not find enough men [20 or so] to sit atop the Veterans Day parade float sponsored by our County. Laura Kennedy liked Akira Sato’s Shinmachi dad/car repair & gave the all-Nisei boys the land where the AJA clubhouse sits. Laura, to her credit, loved buddaheads because she saw in them a mirror image of herself — loyal/devoted/obedient/compliant, her reservoir being her Oakland racial pluralism roots. Laura is my jesus. BTW,
F Co.’s Wataru Kohashi was born 1922. Gang, Moto Tanaka born 1918 [machine gunner] will pass on shortly, & Wataru is not far behind. Now is the time to soak in their experiences. Love, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
RIP Hidetoshi Taniguchi 1924-2007 — KTA Stores’ last remaining Nisei son “Hee-day” had tremendous balance/perspective. All-Nisei soldier Hide said that his brothers were ganko/stubborn types & Barry/son Toby inherit these minuses. Being Hiroshima ken/ancestry, the Taniguchis were business-oriented & lived their lives in their stores. All-consuming focus. Hide’s sister’s hubby George Hiraoka, also MIS/retired watchmaker, says that their compulsion was too much [no balance b/n business/pleasure]. Hide’s other sister Sayoko is still alive/on Mainland, & she married contractor Sanzo Kawasaki’s son Rogers. Rogers’ dad was co-founder of HPM Bldg. Supply before he left, & Sayoko worked for her cousin Richard Taniguchi’s Hawai`i Hardware Store, rival outfit of HPM. But no ill feelings, though the Fujimotos deposed Richard in stockholder takeover. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
The Doc Hill of his era, William H. Reed —
William H. Reed had his boat landing where the Isles landing is today by the Nihon Restaurant across Lili’uokalani Park. Reed’s Bay by Ice Pond also is
named after him, as is Reed’s Island [surrounded by the Wailuku/Waikapu streams], which Reed bought in 1861 for $200 [pasture land]. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Hitobi to wo sonkei shimasu [respectful of older folks/the past] — Biggest thing the post-1920 born AJAs have over their pre-1920 born AJAs is their
high school diploma, which was denied to the pre-1920 born plantation kids because of Big 5 cabal repression [to keep kids chained to the plantation camps]. Next big diff is that the post-1920 born kids are impudent/defiant/anti-authority, which are
why the Dan Inouye/Isamu Kanekuni generation repudiated everything smacking of accomodation/subservience of the pre-1920 born kids who, because of job preservation, stayed GOP. Great thing about the pre-1920 born plantation kids is hitobi to wo sonkei shimasu [respectful of older folks/the past]. You see only repudiation/revocation
w/the younger post-1920 born rebels/nonconformists. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Nippon shushin/bushido — When WWII Imperial Japan consul Sugihara defied authority & freed the Jews, he refused to talk about it for decades. When he finally did [as shushin/moral instruction to progeny], he unadornedly huffed, “it was the only thing to do!” That his bushido/honor adhered him to a higher duty, a metaphysical one, even though it broke man’s law.
I tip my hat to Penraat, who saved 406 Jews in the Netherlands by forging false documents & spiriting out the condemned race. NY Times obit 7/2/06 quipped
that this WWII draftsman “just loved the idea of putting one over the Nazis.” Like Japan’s Sugihara, Penraat refused to talk about it for decades, but when he finally did [for his grandkids], he said only that he had “done the decent thing.” “You do such thing because in your mind there is no other way of doing it,” he chastened. Like Sugihara, he was honored by Israel. Most Dutch Jews perished
in the Holocaust, 110,000. Yes, heroism requires audacity, because it is necessary and the only decent/right thing to do. Bless Penraat/Sugihara, & every unspoken/untold hero. Or, as George Will says, quoting Thornton Wilder, “the highest tribute to the dead is not grief, but gratitude.” Love everlasting, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Buddaheads [Hawai'i Japanese] lived the American Dream [coined amid the Great Depression 1931 by James Adams] because there was no haole middle class/no haole lower class to block such upward mobility. Japan prospered post-WWII because Japan based its self-reliance on our U.S. Constitution [everybody's equal], of which our 100th/442 had a major part in Japan’s mentality to follow its conquerer, the U.S. Japan trusted America, to its benefit. No country thruout history extended egalitarianism/rugged individualism like the U.S. via MacArthur-Japan, Marshall Plan Germany [really Truman's Plan]. Love, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Mainland Japanese/Kotonks were thwarted in upward mobility because kotonks were a tiny minority race, so to speak, amid a terrain of all-haole population. Kotonks aspired the American Dream, but were squelched via their miniscule numbers/demographics. Thence, no difference in aspirations between buddaheads/kotonks, but a world of difference in outcomes [buddaheads achieved material success/kotonks were repressed by Whites]. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
So again, kotonk A students became M.D.s, A- became dentists, B+ became engineers, but none became lawyers, because not even kotonks hired kotonk lawyers [powerless amid White Rule]. Kona folks are individualists like Chinese, among them our great pathfinders Chisato Hayashi/Baron & Kenji Goto/Jim Morita/Mas Marumoto/El Onizuka/etc. When the Issei immigrant labor contracts expired, the Issei bolted to the new frontier, away from the tether of haole overlords, & Kona was far away from haole overlords. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
The 100th/442 got the Nikkei in America equal footing, not the WWII resisters. The internees acknowledge this, but are quiet about it because by and large [10 to 1 margin] our island buddaheads led the charge. Nonetheless, by 10 to 1 size of heart, for the kotonk warriors to come out of indescribable detention, and then die for their country via the 442 [100th were buddahead-island conscripts], is unspeakably courageous. Love always, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Big Island Japanese language press/newspapers —
Hilo Shinpo [News] 1898-1912 is Hilo’s earliest, followed by Hilo Jiho [Flash] 1905-1907, Hawaii Shokumin Shinbun [Community News] 1909-1913, Hawaii
Mainichi [Daily News] 1912-1942, Hawaii Asahi Shinbun [Sunrise News] 1913-1928. Kona Hankyo [Echo]
1897-1951 is Kona’s oldest [Saburo Hayashi's brainchild], followed by Kona Shuho [Weekly] 1915-1920. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Hubris vs. humility —
Hubris [conceit/self-inflation] — Dick Matsuura/John Ushijima
Humility [humbleness/solitude] — Yasutaro Soga/Franklin Odo/Bob Dye
October 29th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Multi-family condos —
Single-family subdivisions are built around the automobile, & take us away from core commercial districts/schools. We need to stop suburban sprawl & bedroom communities which take us far away from work/shopping/school. We also need to revive our sense of place and village cohesion a la rural towns/neighborhoods. It is sad to see commuters drive in from the outer reaches of Puna to work in Hilo, whilst spending a fortune on gas/car use, not to mention loss of valuable time on the road. Multi-
family condos w/mixed use zoning for sustainable communities shall restore oldtime togetherness/ohana principle a la Scrub Tanaka’s vision/foresight. Yes, Scrub was a pain in the ass, but he had prescience. Aloha, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Adoniram Judson 1788-1850 Baptist missionary to Burma — Son of Congregational minister, rebel Judson told his Providence College [now Brown U.] roommate that there’s no God. Then, one day after school let out, Judson come upon an inn, & the innkeeper told Judson that a vacant room was undesirable because the adjoining room had an insane roomer. Judson took the vacant room anyway, only to find out that the insane roomer was Judson’s former college roommate. Prodigy
Judson graduated from college at age 19 as valedictorian, but then vowed religious piety, & graduated from Andover Theological Seminary 2 yrs. later. He then went to evangelize/mission in Burma, where he translated the Bible into Burmese. He is among the earliest Baptist missionaries, & has
Illinois’ Judson U. named after him. He is the genesis of American Baptist groups, including the breakaway Southern Baptists. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
The greater good/self-sacrifice —
Complete detachment from worldly cares — blowing out/Nirvana — indescribable state of total
transendence — these denote the 442 mentality — go for broke. Ronald Fujiyoshi born 1940 says that the 442 was the tool of White racism/imperialism to repress people of color. That Nikkei/AJAs should’ve joined w/Blacks to break the White chain of bondage/repression by being resisters a la the
“No-no” boys who challenged the racist system via Constitution. Ron was a Mid-Pac High track star/
decorated ROTC officer until his conversion to Pacifism via the Quaker mentality in Americus, Georgia. Legal challenges to the system often result in abject failure, inasmuch the legal system itself is severely flawed. Which is why you see our Black Buffalo soldiers catalyze great leaps forward in social/political progress for Blacks/everyone via self-sacrifices on the field of battle. Bible comes thru loud & clear — hath no greater love than a person who lays down one’s life for another. In ancient times, African states south of the Sahara maintained powerful armies [Ethiopia/West African countries]. In the Civil War, Blacks helped to tip the balance in favor of the Union, serving in segregated units in which the first Black officers
were commissioned. Our Tuskegee airmen served w/amazing distinction in WWII. Parallelism is
inconcealable in Blacks/AJAs. So, are the sacrifices in vain of our valorous soldiers of color? No. Dan Inouye w/one arm shorn in battle did greater good for AJAs/society than internment camp resisters
ever could imagine. Ron is ultra-cynical. Muslim extremists also glorify suicide battalions. The difference is in our Lady Liberty/Justicia — her blindfold symbolizes impartiality/fairness/equality. Her scale balances competing interests. Her sword denotes not Muslim superiority, but the importance of reason/rationality. Night/day, baby, b/n fanaticism for superiority/fair play. Muslim extremists target innocent civilians. Love, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Buddhist rejection of Hindu caste system —
1. Siddhartha Gautama 563-483 B.C. — Buddha — rejected Hindu’s caste system & said everybody’s equal — via his Sutras [discourses]. Like Jesus Christ, Buddha was inclusive/indulgent/race-neutral. What Buddha incorporated from Hinduism is karma samsara [cycle of birth/rebirth determined by purity or impurity of past acts]. Living selflessly will end the cycle/samsara & result in Buddhist Nirvana/enlightenment. Very Taoist [yin-yang
duality/equidistant balance/harmony]/self-transformation–self-transcendence, which parallels/timewise Buddha [peer of Confucius 551-479 B.C., who espoused non-metaphysical "right living"].
2. Bodhisattva/enlightened being only enters Nirvana when others less fortunate are uplifted via acts of compassion/universal enablement. Shinto is Japan nature worship, though Meiji era’s [1868-1912] Mutsuhito made himself the divine emperor via State Shinto [official imperial Japan religion/cult], which led to Japan’s imperialism/colonialism — defeat in WWII. Hirohito was culpable by omission, but saved himself by revoking his false divine ordination.
Homogeneous Japan is very racist [master/perfect race], as you see w/ex-prime minister Abe’s denial of Korean comfort women. Believe it or not, Kanaka Maoli/Hawaiian sovereignty as espoused by the Trasks/Osorio/Oz Stender/OHA/KS (Bishop Estate) is a mirror image of Japan’s pure race bigotry. History repeats itself via fear/misunderstanding/chosen ignorance. Be egalitarian/accessible-welcome to all races a la scholar Kawena Johnson/mythic solons Kanaka
Johnny Wilson/Sam Mahuka Spencer/Harry Kaina Brown/Rusty Blaisdell/Noble Kauhane. Look at Kawena’s mentor, Ka`u’s Mary Kawena Pukui, who adopted AJA Patience Namaka Bacon, a cultural treasure/scholar herself. Mahalo, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Kanaka Johnny Wilson & Delbert Metzger —
1. Kanaka Johnny Wilson fearlessly joined the Party of the Unwashed, the Democratic Party founded by GOP Kuhio’s beloved brother, Kawananakoa, after annexation in 1900. Kuhio & Kawananakoa ensured that Hawaiians were represented in both major parties, although such fractured setup diluted kanaka strength as immigrant children came of voting age shortly
thereafter.
2. Johnny got his baptism in politics by playing in the Stanford U. band [then a cattle outpost school started by railroad tycoon Leland Stanford] for political rallies off campus. Johnny was bankrolled by his favorite “tutu” Queen Lili`u. Johnny became a Democrat in the 1892 Presidential race won by Grover Cleveland, & thereafter fought for the little guy whenever talk of colonial imperialism/so-called Darwinian white man supremacy surfaced Stateside.
3. In frenetic Johnny we see a bit of ourselves, for better or worse. Utterly devoted to equal/fair treatment for all, Johnny spent his life earnings on social progress, in the process going bankrupt/in hock to creditors. When Johnny died, he had 32 cents in his pocket — his whole estate. Johnny Wilson, our fearless Democrat godfather, 1871-1956. Our most
beloved leader, far surpassing Jack Burns/Joe Farrington.
4. Delbert Metzger 1875-1967 was Johnny’s peer & party-builder. Orphaned at age 4 in Kansas, German-American Delbert knew the reality of pre-1900 Kansas as being anything but the land of milk & honey as advertised by the railroads & bankers. As the Midwest
small farmers intoned, “In God we trusted, in Kansas we busted.” Delbert absorbed the Granger movement & the Northwest Alliance of Farmers which fought the cartel of railroads & bankers. In the immigrant social outcasts in Hawai`i Delbert found his calling,
having moved here in 1899 w/the Army to make the 1st land survey of Pearl Harbor. Fellow Kansas farmboy Martin Pence followed Delbert’s destiny 30 yrs. later, imbued w/the same crusade to wrest away monolithic power from the oligarchy here in Hawai`i. These 2 haoles were the militant white boys of the Party of the Unwashed, the ostracized
Democrats of plantation-era Hawai`i. Delbert’s feat lost to history is when, as federal judge here, he fined Gen. Richardson, military governor, for contempt of court for violating habeas corpus. In retaliation Richardson threatened FDR-appointed judge Metzger w/prison. FDR himself told War Dept. chiefs in Sept. 1943 that FDR still favored martial law, but that the Army needed to defuse the constitutional crisis & solve the impasse. Gen. Richardson
backed down vs. Judge Metzger, but lionheart Metzger refused to vacate the contempt of court order vs. Richardson. FDR then pardoned Gen. Richardson, knowing full well that other habeas corpus suits would follow.
5. Delbert Metzger the grassroots lawyer/Dem Party organizer wholly enthralled wide-eyed AJAs Ernie Mitsuo Kuwahara 1899-1982 & Richard Imai [born 1910]. These AJA boys exude feelings which put Delbert in the realm of a mythical god. Del truly set the template for Hawai`i as a new outpost of direct, participatory democracy by the traditional powerless vs. the oligarchy, the Hawai`i version of the Midwest small farmers’ uprising vs. the monied/capital-rich cartel pre & post 1900. Aloha, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
GOP Statehood Joe Farrington 1897-1954 preceded GOP Neal Rusty Blaisdell 1902-1975 —
1. Ever-popular handsome Joe Farrington was our delegate to Congress 1942-1954 [died of massive heart attack in D.C. while in office]. Rusty Blaisdell was O`ahu mayor 1954-1968 [did not run for re-election; was burnt out at City Hall at age 65]. Hung Wai Ching’s older alter ego was Joe, not peer Rusty. Hung Wai was aligned w/Merchant St. oligarchs/
Congregational Punahou alumni. Rusty’s reference points were the Abe Lincoln GOP/St. Louis High alumni. Hung Wai’s haoles contrasted with Rusty’s locals. Different gangs. Joe Farrington had elite advisors Hung Wai [Yale divinity grad; Congregational pastor aligned w/powerful Union Theological Seminary in N.Y.]/Kats Kometani [dentist/sportsman]/Mas
Marumoto [legal scholar/Harvard grad]. Rusty had grassroots entrepreneur Angel Maehara of Maui [baby brother of baseball icon Iron Maehara].
2. But heart-to-heart, Joe Farrington was egalitarian/altruistic like Rusty Blaisdell. Joe’s death presaged the rise of popular GOP successor leader, Rusty Blaisdell. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Stanley Hara born 1923, the unsung/untold hero [& positive historymaker Toshi Serizawa born 1916] –
1. Stanley Hara credits 1950s House money boss/Hilo GOP Thomas Sakakihara [interned WWII]
for galvanizing money for UH-Hilo. Dem Kazuhisa Abe is Stanley’s mentor & got Stanley to enter politics [Stanley House Rep. 1954-1968; House money man 1962-1968; appointed by State mentor Jack Burns to replace Nel Doi (got judgeship by asking nemesis Burns after being shorn of power in Senate) in Senate -- served 1968-1980 -- Education Comm. 1970-1980]. Stanley credits Kaz Abe w/fighting for monies for UH-Hilo [Abe picked by Burns to be Supreme Court justice -- reward for not running vs. reduced Senate seats via reapportionment & for not running for Lt. Gov. vs. Kenny Brown but instead supported Brown] especially in the 1960s. Stanley Hara, ever humble/deferential, pronounces that the development of UH-Hilo was a collective effort, that the mission was bilateral [incl. GOPs Sakakihara/Doc Hill/Scotch Henderson/etc.]. Yes, Gerald De Mello’s Luso idol John Farias [UH regent] got the turf-tough O`ahu regents to give the allocated legislative monies to UH-Hilo, but Gerald forgets that our Big Isle solons got the monies to UH in the first place [for UH-Hilo]. Derivative! Not disbursed/sourced from Farias. I reminded Gerald De Mello that Gerald had never gotten UH-Hilo to recognize Stanley Hara, who actually took classes at UH-Hilo [never went college before]. Sadly, I see loads of undeserving
cronies heaped w/inflated praise. [Gerald honored Stanly 2008]
2. Do you know that Stanley Hara facilitated the great Micronesian influx at UH-Hilo? Stanley never toots his horn, unlike show-off Nel Doi [DOE's 3 on 2 program]. Stanley Hara is my untold hero.
3. All praise also to Toshi Serizawa. The good thing about Toshi is that Toshi has a whole chapter devoted in tribute to Toshi in Jack Burns’ biography A Portrait in Transition 1974. Toshi also is given more ink/copy in later bios of Burns [Toshi is Burns' protege on Kaua`i 1946; moved to Hilo 1955]. Stanley
Hara sadly has not gotten deserved kudos, but Stanley was just as close to Burns as Toshi was, but less visible than utterly drop-dead handsome Toshi. As you know, Stanley has a hare-lip, yet expresses himself well. Took Dale Carnegie speaking courses w/my Dad/Gabby Inaba’s WWII veteran brother Yoshio Inaba. Sadly, Stanley looks old [he is old,
86 yrs. old] w/hollowed-in cheek [yet has the spring/body of a 60 yr. old man] because he had cancer of the mouth & eats only puree`. Man, oh man, I wish Gerald & his hollow chums acknowledge a steeped mythic like Stanley Hara [Stan was acknowledged in 2008]. Amazing/positive
solon/historymaker! UH-Hilo’s 700 acres [Nel Doi got the initial 10 acres] didn’t emanate out of thin air, you know! Yes, Scrub Tanaka [Land Bd.] lubed release of acreage from the Executive Branch/DLNR. But the monies came from legends Hara/Serizawa/Big Island solons. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Hung Wai Ching [not millionaire Hung Wo Ching, Hung Wai's baby brother] is distinct from fellow Chinese Hung Wo/Hiram Fong/Chinn Ho/Ruddy Tongg/Chun Afong, because Chinese [yes, typecast here] are individualists [merchants/professionals/scholars/artists], bred from millennia of repressive dynasty rule. Remember that broke-ass pastor Hung Wai never
made self-achieved money/power/influence/status his god!! Instead, Hung Wai stewarded the common lot to have opportunities denied via societal hegemony. Whatever Hung Wai did, he did for others, not for himself. This, dear ones, is the difference! I’m sorry for stereotyping, but Hung Wai is my alltime hero. Look for myriad examples of Chinese not
merging w/fellow Chinese [distrust] — millionaire Hung Wo Ching’s lawyer was MIS Masaji Marumoto, not natural choice Hiram Fong. Chinn Ho’s lawyer was deft AJA Matsy Takabuki, not politico Hiram Fong. Love eternal, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Lone Rangers Tom Gill/Helene Hale —
1. Acerbic/tart Gill, despite his arrogance, is the architect of sensible land use/planning. I never forgot what Gill backer Royce Higa lamented — Gill never acknowledged/gave condolence/koden when Royce’s wife died. This was classic Gill — me/me/me. “To hell w/you” was Gill’s refrain.
2. Hale was demonstrative/theatrical. She loved the glare of publicity. Her legacy is that she broke up the old boys network [fire chief Ed Bento 1962].
3. Gill/Hale — enormous egos. The difference between them & Teddy Roosevelt is that Roosevelt was a magnet team builder/leader. Remember that Teddy was very sickly as a child, thence his redoubling via macho diplomacy [walk softly/carry big stick], his trust-busting [dismantling of monopolies -- inherited wealth is anathema to the frontier spirit], & his Sierra Club antecedent [breathe fresh air, build up your lungs]. Yes, Gill touts being grassroot, but the only thing grassroot/earthy about him is his firmly rooted ego. Yes, Hale touts being Popolo/Black, but she is imperiously patronizing in demeanor to her political colleagues. Nonetheless, Gill/Hale have their places in our social/political history. Aloha, –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Democratic Party stalwarts Stanley Hara born 1923; Toshi Serizawa born 1916
1. Stanley knew Jack Burns when Stanley was a Kalihi Waena [middle Kalihi] kid. Jack was the stern yet understanding [for social outcasts] cop. Stanley revered Burns way before Stan moved to Hilo in 1948. As you know, the post-WWII Dems here were led by Kazuhisa Abe/Scrub Tanaka/Lefty Kuniyoshi/Tadao Okimoto/godfather Dr. Ernest Mitsuo Kuwahara [1899-
1982][sadly, interned during WWII]/Martin Pence/Stanley Hara. Stanley’s claim to fame
is the development of UH-Hilo [in tandem w/Big Isle solons]. Stanley rules out any input on Scrub being chosen as Jack Burns’ 1962 Big Isle campaign chief. Stanley denies Yasuki Arakaki’s claim that Stanley, along w/Toshi Serizawa & Yasuki, picked Scrub for Burns’ 1962 campaign.
2. Toshi Serizawa was a Burns man on Kaua`i, then moved to Hilo in 1955 [Haw'n Airlines PR guy]. Toshi was among the first Burns men on Kaua`i, & was on the Bd. of Supervisors even before moving to Hilo. Although Turk Tokita is popularly regarded as Burns’ Kaua`i ace, Toshi was in the thick of post-WWII Dem Party revival. On Maui Najo Yoshinaga was Burns’ ace. Pundy Yokouchi always was Najo’s understudy. No question, Najo was the nerve center, not well-intentioned/hyped Pundy. Scrub was Burns’ Big Isle Ace, Tadao Burns’ serenity maker [furo/meals/bed/normality]. The common denominator among Burns’
3 neighbor island aces [Turk/Najo/Scrub] — WWII all-Nisei veterans. Pundy was born 1925, 6 yrs. younger than Najo [born 1919]. Toshi, like Stanley Hara, denies that Toshi helped pick Scrub to run Burns’ 1962 Big Isle campaign for Gov. Yasuki probably confused 1962 w/1959, when Toshi/Stanley/Yasuki endorsed Ben Menor to be Burns’ Big Isle campaign head. Burns won the Big Island by only 250 votes in 1959, not enough to offset O`ahu’s poll for Quinn, partly because Big Isle’s popular Jimmy Kealoha was Quinn’s Lt. Gov. mate, partly because of Quinn’s 2nd Mahele pledge [touted sale of State lands at $50 per acre], & partly because of Burns’ association w/the “militant” ILWU/Jack Hall. Toshi
went to D.C. in 1959 to measure Burns’ commitment for the Gov. race. Burns was over-confident, expecting that Burns’ reward was the Governor’s mantle for acquiring Statehood for Hawai`i. As w/Burns’ overconfidence in 1959, Toshi says that Quinn was overconfident in 1962, & did not galvanize his top 125 patronage appointees to campaign at all. BTW,
Quinn’s Transportation head Tim Ho knew SK Oda’s contractor son Glenn, & Quinn picked
Glenn [born 1925] & Barney Fujimoto’s son Bobby [born 1927] to head Quinn’s Big Isle campaigns in ‘59 & ‘62. I remember vividly these campaigns, because my Dad was among the rare few WWII AJA riflemen who supported Quinn [my Dad's lifespan 1913-1998].
3. Collectively, the Big Isle Statehood Dem solons were an extraordinary bunch. Ushijima/Hara/Doi/Serizawa were top-shelf, although Doi was a showman like GOP Andy Anderson. Especially the holy duo of Hara/Serizawa are exemplars “to die for.” Their legacies truly are “for the ages.” Outstanding & dedicated public servants. –Curt
October 29th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Scrub Tanaka’s observant son-in-law, George Nagai, born 1940 —
1. Though George Nagai emotes the usual press cliches about Scrub, George is a very astute observer/pundit beneath the PR mask. George is his erudite GOP Dad incarnate, Masayuki Nagai 1912-1969 died from colon cancer, Hind’s Capt. Cook Coffee Co. Mill mgr. Masayuki squared shoulders w/Kona tridents Masaji Marumoto/Baron Goto/Gabby Inaba, legends all. Masayuki also revered GOP guru Julian Yates [Yasuki Arakaki's father-in-law]. Masayuki was ally/supporter of GOP Sherwood Greenwell. This, dear ones, is untold George Nagai’s political backdrop. I share w/you, via John Ushijima, Masayuki’s colorful visual genre — Kona’s Bill Kamau ran vs. Sen. Doc Hill — Kamau exhorted in Hawaiian to his coffee growers, “You have low returns because of the big coffee growers — don’t vote for Doc Hill — he’s one of them Hills Brothers!!” Oh boy!!
2. Yasuki Arakaki 1917-2005 boasts that he/Toshi Serizawa/Stanley Hara picked Scrub to run Burns’ 1962
Big Isle campaign. Not true. Scrub promised Burns that Scrub would lead the charge if Burns ran again [Burns lost to Quinn in 1959]. As you know, Scrub was occupied w/his own solon career at Statehood’s cusp. But Yasuki hit the mark in pronouncing Burns’/Scrub’s unified legacy — “These guys [Burns/Scrub/Scrub's brother Mits Tanaka/Tadao Okimoto] never sought to profit from self-dealing, especially w/real estate; look at Burns & Tadao –
they died broke-okole — everything they did, they did for the little guy, because they were little guys themselves in material wealth! Broke-ass till their last breath, Curtis!” You’ll be shocked to know that bellwether Yasuki, like crusty John Ushijima, cannot stand George Ariyoshi — “forgot the guys at the bottom [of the social ladder]/no foresight.” Tongue-in-cheek repartee vs. George’s idolatrous trifecta — Tom Coffman/Walt Dods/Roland Higashi –
all the executive plan/vision objectives in the world ain’t gonna endear the Burns intimates to cerebral/cold compress George. Which is why George’s Bob Oshiro canned Burns’ Dan Aoki. Do you know our Pa`u ka`a neighborhood [Honoli`i] has Nelson Doi across the street from Dan Inouye’s right hand man George Inouye [no relation], & Scrub’s brother/manpower head Mits Tanaka across the street from us? And now Steve Yamashiro lives in the back of where Nelson lived before. Yikes! My “Uncle Mits” is as austere/money-less as the shortest day
in winter. A mile north, Tadao Okimoto left behind for his wife/3 kids a mill road dwelling & loads of selfless sacrifice/community-minded projects, no profiteering. Scrub even worried about meeting his monthly Helco bill payments. And Yasuki died with little more than his bathrobe over him after leaving Life Care Center for his final trek to divinity. Amazing/inexplicably selfless role models! BTW, though Ushijima was Nelson’s 1954 campaign mgr.,
Nelson resented John’s winning the 1960 Senate race. BTW, though Scotch Henderson’s backers credit Scotch [called Scotty by others] for legitimizing roughrider GOP Doc Hill’s entry into kama`aina genteel haole high society First Trust Co. [Scot mgr. John Dykes], Scotch dismisses this as myth/not true to the memory of entrepreneur/leader Doc Hill. My opinion: Scotch would’ve made a great governor, a consensus builder a la Statehood Joe Farrington [who, incidentally, could not stand hard scrabble Doc Hill].
3. Redux Ehren Watada. Gaman/quiet endurance/stoic resolve — meiyo/sekinin/self-responsibility — and Ehren measures up to Uncle Mits/Papa`ikou’s Tadao Okimoto?? “When donkeys fly!” Kansha/ai, — Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Hilo’s AJA Veterans Council came before O’ahu’s friction-laden one — Because Hilo is very small vs. Honolulu, our 100th Batt. conscripts [born before
Sept. 1918] got along with our impudent 442 enlistees [post-1920 born high school diploma graduates]. But in Honolulu, the 100th conscripts saw the 442 irascibles as aggressive wanna-be types who were too big for their britches. Thence the so-called AJA Council took longer to form on O’ahu. Still today, vestiges of cynicism remain by 100th vs. 442. In
social class, the 100th are blue collar, the 442 are white collar [younger/GI Bill for fresh-out-of high school grads, unlike 100th whose country boys
only went to 8th grade]. Class hegemony, although both 100th/442 boys came from plantation camps — diff is level of education before military service. Again, thank DPI chief Oren Long 1934-1946 for getting post-1920 born plantation kids into high school/diploma. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Papa`i law of the splintered paddle —
Papa`i 5 miles south of Keaukaha’s Leleiwi Point along the coastline is where Kamehameha the Great was struck on his head w/a paddle while his foot was stuck in a crevice. Unfortunately, the crevice had been graded over by subsequent roadway. Mamala hoe [not Mamalahoa] [paddle fragment] guaranteed the safety of the trails to all esp. women/children/
ill/aged. Don Pakele born 1944 is the Papa’i/Mamalahoe expert, inasmuch his grand aunts/grand uncles were born at Papa’i. Don also has Rev. Stephen Desha Sr.’s memoirs which have a chapter
on Papa’i. Aloha, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Negative role models turn others for the better —
Nel Doi born 1922 mega-orator a la Spencer Tracey. Shun Kimura born 1930 mega-orator like Doi. But Doi demented ego. So Kimura learned well not to be maniac like Doi, despite Kimura’s professed idolization of Doi. Ty Cobb 1886-1961 maniac baseballer [never lived down Ty's dad's death at hands of Ty's mom when Ty just a teen], so Babe Ruth 1895-1948 learned to be forgiving/loving/nurturant,
vs. Ruth’s hero Ty Cobb. When the Babe came to Ho`olulu Park & saw all the young children standing outside the park walls, the Babe asked sponsor Judge
Tristan Osorio why the kids were not in the ballpark. GOP Osorio deadpanned that the kids didn’t pay admission to see the Babe. The Babe instructed Osorio in no uncertain terms to let the kids in for free — if anyone needed help, it was the youngster crowd. Now, this is altruism!! Money is not God. Lest Tristan needed reminding, the Babe was brought up in a Baltimore orphanage!! Steamy Chow born 1922 tells me, “Eh, kid, long time no see!! I get loads for tell you — all da books I been sell about myself!! Plenty stories I get 4 tell you!!” Steamy then goes on to tell me the same stories in his book — stories I heard a thousand times from Steamy — all about Steamy — nothing new. Yikes! I don’t want to be narcissist like Steamy is. Steamy’s mind sharp as a razor. No dementia/Alzheimers. I got Steamy his Living Legend Award 10 yrs. ago. Which is why he loves to tell me the same stories. Isamu Kanekuni born 1921 is part of the distinct new-fangled generation that got high school diplomas
[like Steamy Chow], those kids born 1920 & after [thanks to egalitarian DPI-today's DOE --chief Oren Long 1934-1946, who busted Big 5 cabal repression
of school kids which stopped plantation kids at the 8th grade]. Oren 1889-1965 a Kansas plainsman/Columbia U grad/came Hilo 1917 social worker. Isamu’s generation is polar opposite from pre-1920 born kids [my dad's generation]. Look at the older 100th Batt./442 boys — humble/respectful/empathetic [Shigeru Ushijima/Eugene Eguchi/Hiro Higuchi/Masao Chicken Yamada]. Look at Dan Inouye born 1924/Isamu born 1921 — their shit don’t stink — if it really don’t stink, then why do they walk around w/their noses up in the air? As if they’re owed servitude by the teeming masses?! These punks remind me of typecast WASP miserliness — hoard/hoard — to glorify their material accumulation, as if wealth is sign of godliness/divine blessing. B.S. Protestant ethic [save & save/wealth buys salvation--"indulgences"]. But Isamu is Buddhist — yes, monoshiri/conceited post-1920 born Nisei/2nd
generation gang at Hilo Hongwanji Church [next to Sangha Hall/downtown Starbucks coffee shop]. So when Dan Inouye/pal Isamu run down the Merchant St. [today's Bishop St.] haoles, I gotta chortle in derision — these fu__in’ Japs are worse than the targets of their professed scorn — Inouye/Kanekuni repress their own J_ps!! They don’t give a hoot who pays their tabs/bills — as long as they ain’t dishin’ out da dough, baby!! No, gang, the pre-1920 born buddaheads are totally into helping others/lending a hand, not slapping needy hands!! Sentence me for backing up my Dad/old farts. I live every day w/the shocking distinction. Now you see what I mean by a Shigeru Ushijima 1918-2009 [John Ushijima's older brother] vs. an Isamu Kanekuni born 1921? Yes, John Ushijima 1924-2006 total tightwad like Isamu, but [as w/tightwad Weinberg] has his name adorned at Hospice facility. I get sick dealing w/
post-1920 born punks who don’t give a shit for anything except themselves. You, the readers, have not lived the 442 life inside the tent, so to speak.
Thank goodness. Richard Uejo born 1925 sarcastically asks me how is my friend Pastor Roy Kim. I respond “fine, thank you for asking.” If the topic is not about Richard, it’s not worth Richard’s time. Yes, negative examples/role models. Steamy Chow/Isamu Kanekuni/Ted Tsukiyama/Richard Uejo –
by their examples teach others not to be like them [self-centered/narcissists], but to be the opposite [thoughtful/generous/selfless]. Love, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
On this earth he labored w/love, now he rests w/God above — Beautiful headstone. What will your headstone say? Focus/mission/legacy. What will be your legacy? Will it be Freddy Andrade’s I made money my god [?] John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. Selfish pride/egocentrism are our bane. The less we glorify ourselves, more enlightened we have a chance to be, to aspire in the image of God Genesis 1:27. I want my Faith
strengthened, Boston Blackie Nakasato born 1942. Blackie’s friend/Pastor Michael Inouye of Moloka`i, was born to a serviceman WWII from his mother Mary Inouye. I know Michael born 1946 because his Mom
& my Mom were best friends [went secretary school together]. Being hapa [half-haole/half buddahead], Michael was very much alone in provincial rural repose. Mom Mary sent him to Mid-Pac, then to Washington State U. where he majored in pre-Med. After his senior yr. in college, Michael was back home w/Mom Mary. Mary’s neighbor, a friendly man, stopped by to greet/congratulate Michael on his graduation. When the neighbor asked Michael
what Michael’s next step was, Michael mulled over Michael’s desire to go to seminary school. Michael excelled in pre-Med, but Michael’s heart lay w/compassion for the have-nots, not w/conventional high status M.D. Certainly, Michael as M.D. would be more useful to society’s untouchables [addicts/inmates/etc.], but Michael hungered for spiritual fulfillment, not vocational skills. At which point in the conversation, the well-intentioned neighbor lamented to Mom Mary in the kitchen, away from Michael’s bedroom where Michael was, Geez, Mary, too bad, Michael not going be a doctor. What a waste, go to seminary school…. Strange as it
sounds, this statement triggered Michael’s conversion to the ministry. No longer would Michael look back in uncertainty over his calling/destiny. Yes, negative role model [social climber society/status tripping] crystalized Michael’s mission. And he never regretted his decision. Michael was born w/tremendous compassion/composure/serenity. He was made to order for the ministry, so to speak. No, one need not sin to understand salvation. Michael
was born to lead us to the Promised Land. Pastor Roy Kim is the same way. What triggered Boston Blackie’s conversion to Jesus? Simply put, being
around unhappy, albeit successful, educators/economists. Blackie has Masters/Economics U. of Washington — before he became a lawyer. As w/Roy Kim, who majored in psychology UH Manoa, Roy converted via charismatics amid all of his unhappy mentors [who felt so alone/isolated in their ivory towers].
Pepe`ekeo/Honomu Joan of Ark’s Satsuki Endo Muneno born 1925 Satsuki was born to humble roots at Pepe’ekeo Mill Camp. Her biggest inspiration is her Okasan/Mama, who encouraged her desire to find out what life is outside the plantation village. From Niigata Ken, Honshu, minority w/n Nippon minority here, Satsuki learned to assimilate & yet be proud of her ancestral touchstones. Satsuki is unique because of her untiring/indomitable mission to encourage others to have self-worth. Do you know that she joined Hui Okinawa because of their tremendous otagai/oyakoko/giri ninjo/chugi/sonkei mukashi no?!! She is not even Okinawan!! Satsuki grew weary of the I am/me-me-me attitude of her native Niigata kenjin-kai club, & found tremendous simplicity/depth of fulfillment in the Hui Okinawa org. Satsuki’s older brother Hiroo Endo is the first guy/squad to reach the WWII Lost Batallion [Alamo outfit]. Hiroo is decorated/Purple Heart [lost eye w/442nd]. Satsuki’s dear husband Noboru [nicknamed Napoleon -- short in height; fighter to the
core] was famed samurai missionary Shiro Sokabe’s right hand man & is given tremendous recognition in Jiro Nakano’s bio of Pastor Sokabe. Noboru died from aneurysm 30 yrs. ago, born 1913. Sensei Sokabe died in 1949 at age 84. Satsuki is my Joan of Ark [who fought for France vs. British rule & died at the stake at age 21, the same age when Satsuki was pregnant w/her first child] because of Satsuki’s ganbari/yamato damashii unmatched benevolence/gratuity/generosity to aid others in need, especially her down & out fellow villagers. Hubby Noboru was a
a mechanic/had repair service garage, Satsuki has her ubiquitous Honomu Jan’s Store [her nickname], & she is serenity/simplicity to a fault. Unlike former siren Chieko Tanimoto [Honomu Noodle Shop], who was rough/outspoken/obnoxious, Satsuki is nurturant/loving/indulgent/compassionate. Total opposite. Yes, Satsuki is a liberated lady who defies chokehold convention long before we even coined the cliche liberated woman a la 1970s feminists. You gotta’ meet Satsuki to experience her love of life/humanity/giri ninjo. Amazing person, one of a kind. My Joan of Ark. Her defiance of restrictive convention/her self-actualization to love & to learn [of life/wisdom/helping others] a la Abraham Maslow’s
analysis is beyond compare!! — Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
DOE — From: Rep. Clifton K. Tsuji
Aloha Hugh [Clark], please consider testifying before some Big Island legislators and officials of the House Finance committee and the Senate Ways & Means committee on Wednesday, November 4 from 5-7 PM @ UHH UCB conference room. Please come to this “meet & greet” session. Mahalo, clift
From: Hugh Clark
To: Rep. Clifton K. Tsuji
Subject: DOE Mess
Clift:
I may be accused of over reacting as the father of a student completing her DOE whirl. Sandhya is a 4 point plus student and also is taking both community college class and on-line AP courses. I fear her greatly reduced school year will reflect badly with the nine college applications she is submitting, I find our governor fully irresponsible, She asked for furlough days, got them, signed off on them and now denies her own maternity. What schizoid behavior. That said: I do know there is real anger out there. Not many my age have kids but they have nephews, nieces and grandkids and they feel the state has cut our youth adrift. I am convinced the issue — blame the unions, the legislature, the DOE or Lingle, maybe all of them — is growing in intensity, much like a pending Kilauea eruption. Without a special session I am convinced the 76 legislators who wish to return (I know a slew are seeking higher offices, or say they are) may be at peril. I have not felt such a high level of distrust and anger since 1976 when the majority of the county council (except for newcomers Merle Lai and Andy Levin) was dumped in favor of folks like Moon Sameshima and Wild Bill Kawahara. Dave Shapiro had a better sense than I and predicted it on election eve but I was not that far behind. I would urge the Big Island delegation get behind a special session and pull a rabbit out of the hat, Screw Lingle and her “premature” utterances as she packs for China. She is serious political minus and will not be on the ballot in 2010 like you and others.
Voters this pissed off flail at all incumbents on the ballot in a sort of take-no-prisoner mentality. I have known you for more than 43 years and consider you sincere and having good judgment. I also know that office holders can become distant and insular.
Give me a call if you wish.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Cult of the warrior — Bushido — to do what is right, not what is unjust/wrong —
Japan defeated China 1895. Japan defeated Russia 1905. Nitobe’s Bushido, Soul of Japan 1905 catalyzed Tojo & his warlords. Hilo’s Charley Koizumi, MIS, was Tojo’s interpreter during the Tokyo War Crimes trial. Charley reprised again for me how calm/composed Tojo was, a perfect gentleman to Charley/everyone. I told Charley it was about time for Tojo to fess up to his megalomania, even obliquely, even via the pretext that Tojo was taking the fall for Hirohito. The real Bushido patriot is Chiune Sugihara, who saved thousands of Jews at the risk of losing his life. He lost his diplomatic career & even was maligned/ostracized in Japan long after WWII — like great French patriot Voltaire, who was denied common burial in his quaint Catholic cemetery, but was then entombed in the Pantheon in Paris, where France’s greatest heroes are buried. Till this day, Sugihara is buried in obscurity/purged/relegated to oblivion in his bushido Japan. Sugihara, when pressed by world media for his uncompromising valor, only said “Samurai, even as hunter, cannot kill bird which flies to him for refuge.” Ehren Watada is no Sugihara. Ehren is a spoiled brat who has not learned the code of Bushido — to humble oneself. In spite of the unjust nature of our War in Iraq, Ehren’s strength should’ve been to exercise stoic resistance, aka stockade/brig, not crybaby his way into the media. His objective should be to resist this unjust war, not to rally others/
result to bring down military might/cause mass desertion/sedition. Even then, unlike lowly grunt
enlistees [typecast rural/poor], Ehren was graced w/upper class benefits [schooling/money/status], went OCS [Army elite], availed himself of America’s military/hegemonic perks [officer benefits/bonuses], & now gives the common working man/woman/child he swears to defend here & abroad the middle finger?! Yikes! Don’t look like no Sugihara/Voltaire to me. Otagai/giri ninjo [help one another], –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
The Truth shall set you free — John 8:32 —
Do you know that old fart mayor Johnny Wilson 1871-1956 punched out bd. of supervisor [councilman] Ben Hollinger in 1924? At the time, Wilson said, “For 7 months, Ben Hollinger has been insulting me. He has nothing back of his bullying tactics.” Years later, Johnny confessed that he was ashamed of himself to let his fists do his talking for him.
Remember when House boss Tony Kunimura roughed up outspoken/irritant solon Stan Roehrig?
The only reason Stan didn’t fight back was that it would’ve killed Tony, who had a bad heart.
Physical aggression manifests past issues of self-worth. Re-composure/homeostasis result
from ratification of feeling loved/secure. Once Wilson & Kunimura accepted being loved/appreciated, these affirmations set them free.
Shunzo Sakamaki, whose Kea`au Camp 8 home was dynamited when Shunzo was a teen [retaliation by Japanese agitators for Shunzo's father Juzaburo's alleged collaboration w/Puna Sugar managers to quell the 1920 labor strike], was a non-team player guy who
did not inspire others as a UH scholar. His polar opposites were his former UH classmates Hung Wai Ching & Shigeo Yoshida, all 3 mentored by Merchant St. icon/UH trustee Charles Hemenway. Ching & Yoshida went on to become matchless positive socio-political historymakers, Ching w/formation of the all-AJA WWII soldiers/Statehood, Yoshida w/averting
mass internment of Hawai`i buddaheads/AJAs. Ching/Yoshida served divinity/metaphysical singularity during the most trying times, ergo — their Truth which set them free to meet their
destiny. Remarkable larger-than-life heroes. Aloha, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Inspirations [William Jennings Bryan/Thomas Jefferson]
The 1925 Scopes trial capstone is that prosecutor Bryan railed vs. racial hegemony [white is
clean, black is dirty][social darwinism/master race]. Defense atty. Darrow extolled “progressive
enlightenment,” yet Bryan revoked the heresy that Negroes were monkeys.
Our Johnny Wilson’s hero was Bryan [Bryan College] [everybody's equal -- Matthew 26:28].
Bryan’s hero was Thomas Jefferson [Declaration of Independence --life, liberty, pursuit of
happiness]. Joe Farrington’s hero was Lincoln [with malice toward none; with charity for all].
Jack Burns’ hero was St. Thomas Aquinas [the common good of "order" is shared equally-- all should have equal opportunity--Summa Theologica II-II q. 25 6 ad 2].
St. Thomas Aquinas’ secular references were Plato & Aristotle.
Pablo Manlapit’s heroes were Jose Mercado Rizal & Jefferson. Ben Menor’s heroes were Jefferson & Lincoln. Shigeo Yoshida’s was Charles Hemenway. Hilo assimilationist Kango Kawasaki’s was Marcus Aurelius. Manuel Pacheco’s was ubiquitous Johnny Wilson. Wilson was no Disraeli/Garibaldi/Cicero/Robespierre/Lili`uokalani. Wilson was down-home cookin’, campfire comfy Andrew Jackson/noble savage Rousseau/courageous Voltaire.
Mentors/positive role models –incredibly rich tradition of larger-than-life inspirations. Walt Dods’ is kanaka Johnny Bellinger. Kansas prairie boys Del Metzger/Martin Pence were inspired by Old Hickory Andrew Jackson, as was Missouri’s Harry Truman. Lincoln’s hero was Kentucky abolitionist/Whig Henry Clay. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Anecdotes from Scrub Tanaka’s confidant, Isamu Kanekuni, born November 1921
1. Isamu looks like a sophisticated Hollywood idol of 60 yrs. of age, even though he’s 88 yrs. old.
2. Still active as owner of Hilo’s Veterans Produce Exchange [wholesaler], Isamu was patient enough to dialogue. Isamu is a 442nd veteran, Scrub is MIS.
3. Tenno Heika/”His Majesty, the emperor,” is what Scrub used to call Dan Inouye based on Dan’s hard scrabble personality. The punch line is that Dan doesn’t know much Nippon vocab. Emphatically, Dan’s post-1920 AJA generation rejected ancient Japan
carryovers in favor of Americanization/full-on assmiliation [banana -- yellow skin, white underneath]. Remember, Scrub was born in 1915, a decade before Dan’s gang. Scrub sucked up [respect for elders], not down [disdain for younger folks]. Scrub joked that Mazie Hirono didn’t know what yamato damashii [fighting spirit] meant, even though she was born/raised in Japan as. Banana.
4. Issei/immigrant Japanese chastened giri ninjo/service to humanity/society to their Nisei/2nd generation kids. As Isamu bellowed, “Curt, my Dad worked all week long at Waiakea Sugar Mill, as a boiler room man. He never had the time to teach us kids. Dad died when I was a teenager. I never heard the phrase giri ninjo.” Neither did Scrub. Yet, talk to the older Nisei like Rich Imai born 1910. This phrase is their pledge of allegiance to America. No kidding. Oyabun/godfather Kanaka Johnny Wilson’s [1871-1956] Democratic Party AJA soldiers [Dr. Ernest Kuwahara/Rich Imai/etc.] lived by this creed, which translates to “everybody’s equal — selfless service to all.” Confucian precept, analogous to Jesus died for everyone — Matthew 26:28. Essentially, kanaka maoli Johnny Wilson’s pre-WWII AJAs were steeped in traditional ancestral ways/customs. Far deeper/enriched than Scrub’s post-WWII followers like tenno heika Dan Inouye.
5. On Ed Case’s omission which cost Case the 2006 race vs. Akaka, Isamu says that Case should’ve done what Hiram Fong did vs. Tom Gill for Fong’s U.S. Senate seat in 1964 [Gill's absenteeism in House chambers (though Gill's votes on House bills were what counted)] — focus on the Time Magazine “F” rating of Akaka’s performance. Isamu distinguishes smart politics [quote a reputable outfit like Time Magazine] from dirty politics [character assassination by personal opinion/attack w/out justification, such as Sam King's 1970 mea culpa by accusing Jack Burns of causing solon Larry Kuriyama's murder by not cracking down on mobsters. Like King's
red-baiting governor father (1953-1957), imperious King's mouth got the better of him.]. Case lost younger haole districts which were anti-war. He could’ve picked up more votes there by amplifying Akaka’s dismal Senate record.
6. Isamu regards George Ariyoshi as a weakling because when Ariyoshi sat on the fence about the Maryland Land Bill [lease to fee conversion] in 1963, Isamu saw Ariyoshi stand up to speak, & was told to sit down by Hilo’s crusty Kazuhisa Abe. Ariyoshi then sat down. To Isamu, this demonstrated weak character.
7. On a light note, Isamu breaks down laughing when reminded of swell-headed ILWU’s Yasuki Arakaki’s greeting to fellow Democrats after being invited to China by Mao Tse Tung [post-red bait era]. Arakaki in dead seriousness exhorts, Fellow comrades!! Yikes!! Get real!! Aloha, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Luso/Portuguese voting power a century ago
1. Hawaiian voters outnumbered the 2nd largest ethnic bloc, Luso/Portuguese, 2 to 1, at the start of our Territory in 1900, w/even greater disparity before
1900. Hawaiian dominance at the polls continued up through the 1930s, after which it was eclipsed by the Japanese/Luso/Caucasian blocs.
2. The leading Luso solon was Manuel C. Pacheco, who arrived in Hawa`i in 1883 on the same ship as our Girardo/Maria Ferreira, & who was called a great statesman for his dedication to his constituents/equal opportunity for all. Fellow Democrat pioneers Joe Fern [Luso confidant], Kanaka
Johnny Wilson, Del Metzger, & Billy Jarrett extolled Pacheco’s ideals, as did the print media. Pacheco served in the nascent territorial legislature & was so powerful at the grassroot bd. of supervisor [county council] level that he even outpolled leading GOP figures like Lawrence Judd & G. Fred Wright. Among recent Luso solons, Maui’s Elmer Cravalho [House Speaker] is reminiscent of Pacheco. Viver bem [live well], –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Strength in unity/Americanization —
Irrefutably, Bishop Stephen Alencastre is our leading ancient Portuguese/Luso, more so than peer/Supreme Court chief justice Antonio Perry. Our current Luso exemplar is Walt Dods, backbone of political
egalitarianism. Walt’s dad Sr. is Hilo’s Father Louis Boys Home product, Perreira Kohala genesis. Of course, our greatest modern Luso is Waipunalei George Martin 1924-2009, who upended the status quo/our 2-tiered race-class hegemony of Whites/non-Whites.
AJA oyabun/spiritual godfather is Hilo’s Shigeo Yoshida 1907-1986 [Hilo High '26], who helped authorities prevent mass internment of buddaheads here in the islands. Kona native legal scholar Mas Marumoto 1906-1995 added academic credentials to the mix, just as Big Island native Jack Kawano 1911-1984 was trusted at the pier/docks; but undeniably, Shigeo Yoshida was the nerve center of peacemaking.
Pahoa’s Ben Menor 1922-1986 is the titular modern Pinoy, way more so than Kaua`i Domingo los Banos, but less than antecedent/ancient pathfinder Pablo Manlapit, who died a martyr to Pablo’s devotion to upend the status quo a la George Martin. Menor brought compassionate yet erudite statesmanship to historymaking.
Joe Farrington & Jack Burns are the haole pathfinders, neither bred from missionary roots.
Samuel Chapman Armstrong & Elbert Tuttle [civil rights jurist Deep South], native islanders/
Punahou grads, are the Stateside heavyweights.
No doubt, broke-ass pastor Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002, not millionaire baby brother Hung Wo Ching 1912-1996, is the greatest Chinese-American positive historymaker here, more so than Hiram Fong/Chinn Ho/Ruddy Tongg/ancient Chun Afong. Hung Wai single-handedly facilitated Statehood. BTW, all have links to our island of Hawai`i [e.g., Tongg is from Kukuihaele outside Honoka`a].
Prince Kuhio is the Hawaiian pathfinder who would’ve made great mentor Rev. Sheldon Dibble [proteges Kamakau/I`i/Malo/Kaulia/Haleole; Lyman's Nawahi; Catholic Bishop's Keauokala] utterly proud of Kuhio. Kuhio rides on tremendous forebearers Liloa/`Umi/Kalaunui`ohua/Kamehameha, all of whom were reared or mentored on our island of Hawai`i at some point. Of course, all in all, Kuhio is outdone by our most magnamious statesman of all, Curtis Piehu Iaukea 1855-1940. Kamehameha the Great is our greatest ancient Hawaiian. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Hawai`i Democrats —
1. Thomas Jefferson/Andrew Jackson [Old Hickory/resilient] Dem philosophy birth 2 centuries
ago.
2. A century after, 1902, intriguing bent in Hawai`i, monarchs/brothers Kuhio/Kawananakoa split into 2 parties to perpetuate their Hawaiian culture, Kuhio w/GOP & Kawananakoa w/Dems. Kawananakoa understudies Kalapana/Hilo firebrand Joseph Nawahi [1842-1896] & Joe’s neighbor Henry West, & Kawananakoa becomes the symbolic father of our Hawai`i Democratic Party. Kuhio becomes our longest-serving Delegate to Congress, 1902-1922, via GOP banner. Kawananakoa dies in 1908, & fearless alter egos/kanaka maoli Joe Fern/Johnny Wilson/Billy Jarrett lead Dems thru the new century. GOP pariah-turned-Dem Link McCandless [not a team player] becomes
sweet Wilson’s arch-nemesis.
3. Hilo’s West gives life to our Dem Party, & O`ahu’s teddy bear Johnny Wilson oversees Hilo haole Gus Supe/kanaka Sarah Todd Cunningham & her Luso hubby Tom/Clem Akina [Buster Crabbe's stepdad]/Luso Frank Serrao/retailer Milburn Gregory/buddaheads Dr. Ernest Kuwahara [1899-1982 father of AJA Dems, not Scrub Tanaka 1915-2006]/Seichi Morita/Rich Imai/Tetsuo Morinoue/Charles Otani/Hardy Shimizu/Tom Okino/also frontiersman late arrival -1930- atty. Martin Pence. Self-gloating Scrub is post-WWII primal Dem, not pre-WWII. Fellow inflated/ibaru Dem Yasuki Arakaki 1917-2005 [should've humbled himself a la Kea`au mentors Morita/Morinoue] is the ILWU Dem loyalist [remember that our ILWU was GOP, not Dem, pre-Statehood 1959].
4. Jack Burns [1909-1975] is genro/venerated statesman to our Dem buddaheads, & Burns steered Hawai`i to Statehood in 1959. Statehood resulted in exponential growth/affluence. Jack’s trinity strategy to Statehood consisted of letting Alaska become the 49th State, w/Hawai`i piggybacking as the 50th State, via Jack’s first two points that 1) once detached/non-contiguous State Alaska was accepted into the Union, mid-Pacific island State Hawai`i also would be accepted; 2) once labor union-heavy Alaska was accepted, so too would agitator-heavy [ergo, ILWU's Jack Hall] Hawai`i be accepted. Jack’s third point rested on the feats of our 442nd/100th Batt. boys, that although Hawai`i was Asian-populated [aka J_ps], our buddahead boys proved our loyalty to
America. U.S. Senate judiciary chairman James Eastland of Miss. saw our matchless fidelity at Eastland’s Camp Shelby Miss., & was convinced of our worth, despite Eastland’s populist anti-J_p pronouncements. Congress bosses LBJ & LBJ’s mentor Sam Rayburn [Sen. prexy/House speaker] told Jack, “Johnny [Burns], your [AJA] boys rescued our Alamo Lost Battallion, among the greatest feats in military
history! We Texans will never forget how indebted we are to your boys. Welcome to our great Union [U.S.]!” Love always, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Jurist Martin Pence 1904-2000 —
Martin Pence was a surly, long face curmudgeon, but noted for his scholarship. I asked my deceased Mom’s oldest sister, Aunty Shizuko “Mary” Teshima, 102 yrs. old [!!], still sharp, why Martin was her cherished friend. She said that when her Teshima Store
[converted to Kona's Teshima Restaurant in 1957] was still subject to then-land owner Shipman Estate’s leasehold rent, she asked Martin as Shipman’s attorney to reduce her payment because of post-WWII recession. Martin was very understanding/empathetic, & got Shipman’s okay
to give Shizuko slack on her payment. She never forgot his benevolence, & forever was grateful to him. I see Aunty Shizuko as a domineering/controlling taisho boss who sucks
up to authority/the rich-influential-famous icons, as I had wrongly guessed w/her & Pence. Tons
of glitzy/glowing feature stories have been written about her, such as from unknowing/ignorant
scribes like kotonk Grace Miyamoto. But this true connection between Aunty Shizuko & Pence touches
me deeply. Because it acknowledges/recognizes hardship/humility/appreciation/compassion. Of all the stories told hither & ‘yon, this one is the redeeming/confessional/honest/steeped anecdote. Pence was known for his fierce/independent prairie boy attitude/bent for society’s underclass/outcasts [like fellow Kansas-bred Del Metzger 1875-1967 30 yrs. before]. Pence’s deep friendship w/Shizuko confirms his grassroot character. I was surprised & happy to hear the why behind the what of Aunty Shizuko’s/Pence’s ageless friendship. I know Aunty Shizuko a lot better than the scribes who glow on her. But this one about her/Pence is positively
enriching. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Ed Case’s election choices
If Senators Inouye/Akaka die in office, Case will run to fill the vacancy. Case won’t run vs. Sen. Inouye for Sen. Inouye’s re-election [Sen. Inouye is the hand that feeds us]. Case will run for Gov. if he’s not in Congress. Mufi beats Case for Congress/Gov. If Case ever gets past Mufi, Case beats Lingle for Congress. Case beats Neil for U.S. Senate, Mufi beats Case/Neil [who split the powerful haole/malihini vote]/Lingle for U.S. Senate. Aloha, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Commemoration of 131st annual anniversary of Portuguese/Luso immigration —
Pacific Commercial Advertiser [forerunner of today's Advertiser] Dec. 17, 1881: “We consider the Portuguese as belonging to the best races of immigrants. But as to repopulation of the
Hawaiian Kingdom [Hawaiians decimated by disease], we do not regard the Portuguese as our only hope of repopulation, who, as the Royal Commissioner says, ‘bring women and children with them.’ Our government should build up this insular state with a cosmopolitan
diversity of people.”
Likewise, we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and like our Founding Fathers, Americans of every generatiion are ready to fight and die for these unalienable rights. Declaration of Independence.
Upon the altar of freedom our Scot refrain auld lang syne [cherish our heritage] inspires us
to unite in our diversity, just as Boston’s monument to Civil War hero Robert Shaw & his 54th Regiment of Negro soldiers who rode together into the jaws of death reminds us of the price past generations have paid so we might live in a more perfect union.
And just as Shaw and his gallant soldiers secured our blessings of liberty, we honor our fallen heroes so that their lives are not lost in vain. Honor our
Nation’s bravest who gave their last full measure of devotion for the freedoms we take for granted. Such tribute is the greatest enemy of the stateless networks of extremists who have nothing but contempt for the sanctity of life, says Colin Powell.
The infantry soldier in us all understands the greatest selfless fortitude/resolve. Yes, our
torch of liberty still burns strong. From America, thank you for our blessings of free will/choice
which make us unique and envied the world over.
With our vast reservoir of decency as a people, as a country, we remind ourselves of the tensile steel which brings up the smile from our filhos/salt of the earth Matthew Souza Ho [born 1979], Fighting Marine [semper fi/always faithful; the proud-the few], & his brother Solomon Souza Ho [born 1980], helicopter support, both of whom served in our War in Iraq.
They are the fine sons of Marie Suzie Souza Ho [born 1948], who is George Dias Souza’s
[1913-1989] & Dorothy Vasconcellos Souza’s [1920-1997] daughter. It is a peculiar sad irony that our primo/cuz J. Roy Souza born 1945 says of his Vietnam War unit comrades KIA Loo/Kauhaihao, “It was their time to go, it’s written in the stars. God Giveth, and God Taketh.” Never ever say, “It was their time to go,” unless our KIA themselves patriotically uttered such before their deaths. Never ever say such egocentric/insensitive things like this, which says more about the ignorant speaker than anything else. NO KIA ever was in vain!! To our gallant combat soldiers still in Iraq/Afghanistan, be well, be safe, & God speed.
Pacific Commercial Advertiser November 14, 1891: “The Portuguese have never been properly appreciated here. They are the most desirable race which has emigrated to this Country. The young Portuguese growing up here — they constitute a full third of
the entire number — speak English more readily than their own mother tongue, and are true sons of the soil. Further development of our Portuguese immigrants shall help to the solution of some of our most vexing social problems.”
In commemoration of the 131st annual anniversary of immmigration of Luso to the Hawaiian Islands 1878, I acknowledge the peerless intrepidness of pathfinders
Marques/Diaz/de Freitas/Pereira/Vivas/Ramos/Affonso/Silva/Santos/Vieira/Durao/Costa/Da Silva/Carvalho Oak/Osorio/Rego/& of course, our own Girardo Balbin Ferreira. To thee, we are not so much informed [for we know that which we have], as we are reminded of our
ancestral wisdom. To female pioneers Joaquina/Carolina Texeira Brazao, muito obrigada.
Apreciar, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Positive exposure/life links: In highest praise of apostles Lorna Pacheco/David Figueira — Do you know that pre-WWII Hilo bay had 2 train lumber stops, AmFac & Theo Davies rail yards? These duo dynamos transported the world to our doorsteps. AmFac’s depot was on the Keaukaha side of Mo`oheau Park, & Theo Davies’ depot was on the Hamakua side of Mo`oheau
Park [primo/cousin David Figueira's gorgeous wife Annie is descended from Mo`oheau Park's famous pavilion/bandstand's genesis Beckley, aka Beckley Hall, & Beckley Lane across Kam Ave./Punahoa St.]. Do you know that transport/rail links brought the world closer to little towns all across America, including quaint/tranquil Hilo? And accounted for tremendous progress in our economic/material quality of life? Of course, President Eisenhower’s
interstate highway system 50+ yrs. ago resulted in our powerful middle class till this day. But at least in Hilo, AmFac/Davies were the barrier-busting liberators. Do you know that our analogs in our Souza/Ferreira familia are none other than Honolulu’s Lorna Pacheco [born 1948], who is J. Stanley’s wife [not our Amau'ulu Pacheco!], & David Figueira [born 1957]? This duo, dear ones, is our familia’s/ohana’s holy grail. Lorna & David painstakingly/indefatigably brought our Ferreiras together for the very first time. Do you know that till this day Lorna & David make every effort to keep us all in touch/square shoulders personally w/each other? Extraordinary/unmatched class & aplomb from our most loving of kin, Lorna & David! We’ll not see the likes of them replicated in our lifetime!! Lorna & David are our steeled/bonded rails/links to our immense & positive heritage. But for our modern apostles Lorna/David, we would not know whence we emerged, nor where we go. Bansa dirj! Our consecrated ground. –amor, –Curt
O`ahu’s John Stanley Pacheco & exemplar Gerald Ford
Former U.S. President Gerald Ford evolved from a strident heavy-handed congressman to an
indulgent & open-minded President. Ford’s metamorphosis was remarkable, but not surprising
in retrospect. Ford’s mother divorced Ford’s absent father when Ford was an infant. Ford
revulsed when his biological father walked into the restaurant Ford worked at as a teenager
to visit Ford. Ford never forgave his biological father for not caring. I lived in D.C. when
Nixon resigned & during Ford’s Presidency. Ford by then had learned the blessing of forgiveness
[Alexander Pope's refrain: "To err is human, to forgive is divine."]. Yes, Ford even forgave
Ford’s biological father for Ford’s father’s transgressions. Beautiful.
Our primo/cousin John Stanley Pacheco’s life is no reflection on John Stanley’s father or
father figures. The point is that, like Gerald Ford, John Stanley metamorphosized/matured
into a decent, loving, understanding man. John Stanley’s positive growth is indispensable
to our peace-loving objective as a people, as a country. His polymorphic progression/heritage
immensely enrich our lives w/positive exposure, appreciation, diversity, & innate pursuit of
happiness. Such panache!!! Our lives are touchstoned by John Stanley’s quiet dignity
& strength. John Stanley’s crucible: Like Gerald Ford, Marcus Aurelius [A.D. 121-180], &
contempo Norman Vincent Peale, John Stanley has come to accept life’s hurdles/challenges
as learning experiences thruout, & to carry on w/the power of positive thinking, contemplative/
stoic yet intrepid/firm/resolved. Love everlasting, –Curtis
October 30th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Model mentors — Stephen Alencastre & O`ahu’s John Stanley Pacheco —
Stephen Alencastre was born in Porto Santo Madeira in 1876 & came to Hawai`i/Wainaku as a toddler w/his parents, who sought a better life for their familia/descendants. As you know, Stephen went on to become the 1st Hawai`i bishop who was raised in the Hawaiian Islands. Stephen had tremendous love for his native Hawai`i & incorporated many local customs into his Diocese. When Stephen died in 1940, after a long life of service to humanity, the world, and to God, he left behind a magical legacy unmatched to this day. BTW, Christopher Columbus’ wife’s parents came from Porto Santo Madeira, a stone’s throw from our native Fayal, & Christopher Columbus himself was a restaurateur in Porto Santo before his fabled cross-Atlantic trek!
John Stanley Pacheco, born 1942, is my Stephen Alencastre. Bred from humble beginnings, John Stanley experienced the thick matrix of social/political history, & persevered/evolved
past the precipitous period in our cross-cultural formation, pre-Statehood 1959, when Luso
were juxtaposed between haole/White industrialists & the rising incendiary sprigs of Hawai`i-
born buddaheads. Like Stephen, John Stanley became our fabled peacemaker, listened to across all ethnic lines. No nobler man stands today than John Stanley. Our nascent/early race relations grew all the better thanks to our primo/cousin John Stanley Pacheco, a Herculean of measured yet understated composure. He quells conflict via inner resolve/core strength. Amazing crucible, our Truth. BTW, John Stanley is our Vasco Ferreira’s neto/grandson, &
Vasco [1899-1974] is our immigrant Girardo Ferreira’s [1856-1923] son. Wondrous familia!! Felicitas, –Curt
P.S.: Sabens to Hilo crucibles Father Pouzot & Father Louis
October 30th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Luso/Portuguese contribution to Hawai`i —
Luso/Portuguese provided tremendous governance/social stability across all ethnic lines. Far from the flawed stereotype of Luso sugar field luna/overseers punishing Asian immigrant fieldhands [doing the dirty work for the haole/white industry bosses], Luso pathfinders enabled the disenfranchised malihini/newcomers to improve their lot/social progress via business proprietorship. Luso irrefutably were industrious and conservative/traditional, which are why King Kalakaua solicited King Louis I of Portugal to import Luso emigrates. King Louis I jumped at the chance because of Portugal’s Nature-caused recession. No finer exemplar/positive role model than our own Girardo Ferreira [1856-1923] personifies governance/stability along all ethnic lines. Do you know that Luso pioneers facilitated a tripling of the sugar industry
under the Republic of Hawai`i [1894-1900] via reformist measures? Do you know that Luso solons laid the groundstone for the formation of our Democratic Party over a century ago? Yes, egalitarian/proactive, a breed apart from today’s reigning Luso/Occident Gerald De Mello/Larry Balberde, faladoo/hablado jibber-jabbers to no end. Unspoiled grassroot/earthy pilgrims vs. self-inflated braggarts. AJAs also have yakamashii/loudmouth Dems such as Paul Matsumoto [Waiakea-Uka Camp 6, not Wainaku's great boxer by the same name]. Abencoe, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”
Times come & go, as do people/relationships. Koehnen was Doc Hill’s bookkeeper & bought Doc Hill’s optical/eyeglass sales business 1928, where Doc Hill’s bldg. still stands 1917 [today's Basically Bookstore bldg.][Doc came here 1913]. Fred Koehnen born 1924 is esteemed retired businessman/Army reserve
officer [non-combat veteran]. Koehnen’s was our aristocrat shop before Liberty House came to Kuhio Plaza 1985 & pulled the rug right out from under Koehnen’s [jewelry/keepsakes]. Koehnen’s
[now furniture] has struggled till this day. Akin to Tanimoto Store getting overrun by Kress Store 1932, & Kress Store having its last breath before falling to Kuhio Plaza 1985. The times they are
a changing. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Koichi Iwasaki — taisho — 100th Batt. Yasu’s baby brother rigid/inflexible, which is why Koichi not embraced by others. Koichi stone-face, older brother Yasu was extrovert/outspoken. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Reminiscence — Remember Uchinanchu/Okinawan Gushikens’ Smile Inn next to Modern Appliance on Kilauea/Wilson Sts. 1950s? Where today’s Big Island Pizza is was Kobatas’ former Kilauea Inn. Of course, Roy Yoshioka had his little Roy’s Place [later Roy's Gourmet]. Hiroaki Kono [Hilo Trans' Gunji Kono's
son] always used to go to Smile Inn to vent w/Sus Hata [Y. Hata whole-saler/Primo beer] in a very cordial/friendly way. Hiroaki’s dad’s brother
is Joyce Kono Fasi’s dad. Hiroaki married Elaine Kurisu from Hakalau [not Scotch's kin]. Hiroaki’s dad Gunji ran up the back stairway to Hilo Trans Bldg. next to Hilo Iron Works [Hilo Trans looked like "Kawamoto" block across today's Ben Franklin craft store on Kilauea Ave.] 4/1/46, didn’t see the 30 foot
wall of water rush in from sand beach [today's regatta facility], & was killed instantly as the water pulverized the huge 2 story wood frame Hilo
Trans bldg. Gabriel Manning watched in horror as this scene unfolded before his very eyes as Gabriel clung for dear life in the rafters of the 50 ft. high Hilo Iron Works factory, which shook violently as if the whole bldg. were going to fall down amid the roiling black water [from black sand]. Elaine Kono’s baby sister Margaret married Glenn Oda [SK's son].
Elaine/Margaret became top DOE officials, & especially Elaine’s physical beauty was like Audrey Hepburn’s. Hiroaki/Elaine’s only son Larry died
before Elaine, & she was very lonesome toward the end of her life. Larry was a good athlete. Hiroaki’s brother Russ was judge under Burns/Ariyoshi. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Helpers manuahi/free —
S.K. Oda 1899-1990 built the veterans cemetery pavilion [442 boys], because older Nisei/2nd generation buddahead Oda saw in the 442 boys valor that he himself prized whimsically. Norman Koshiyama 1925-1997 filled the swamp that became the AJA hall by the muni golf course because Norman vicariously lived the 442 boys’ heroism from home. Norman a year too young to enlist 1943. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Ningen samazama [everyone's different] —
Tadao Okimoto’s [1919-1993] son Ken born 1952 was groomed to be Tadao’s political successor, but Ken didn’t finish at Georgetown U Law/chose to be HCC
grant worker today. Ken’s blessing is that fellow Papa`ikou schoolboy Duane Kurisu got Duane’s publisher Watermark Inc. to publish dinner table book “Along the Hamakua Coast” under Ken’s name [but Ken only featured japanee folks, not the realistic mix of ethnicities]. Ken is quite unlike his dad Tadao, in
that Ken is a micro-mgr. concerned w/the little details/not compelled to the big picture/all-important theme. Night/day. Ken into piddly-widdly petty matters/small talk that detract from Ken’s huge existent knowledge. He has all the experiences in the world, yet only sporadically applies them to his task. Tadao got Ken/me to attend Jimmy Carter’s inauguration 1976. Yes, Carter was too weak a President, but he is the peacemaker for the Camp David Accord [Israel/Egypt]. Nonetheless, Ken is an amiable chap w/many more yrs. to contribute to society. Credit to Ken, Ken got the Kal School ‘67 freshmen class together for its 1st ever reunion last yr. Rumsfeld/Cheney have all the experiences in the world, having served under Presidents Ford/H.W.
Bush [current George's dad], but did depth of experience count for anything? No. On the other hand, Reagan had no foreign policy experience [was CA.
governor], but had great character/common sense, & is largely attributed as triggering downfall of the Soviet Union. McCain’s idol, yet McCain knocks
Obama for lack of foreign policy experience [like hero Reagan], & yet McCain picks unthinkable VP Palin. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Slurs —
Sen. John B. Henderson 1826-1913, Great Emancipator, said that if it’s not one slur [racial epithet], it’s another [class condescension]. John was born “White trash” & never saw life in black/white race singularity. Slurs diffuse afar [gender/disability/photogeneity/etc.]. A century after 13th Amdt. crafter Henderson [outlawed slavery once & for all], Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002 chastened son KingLit born 1936, “Be proud you’re Chinese! Don’t be afraid of anything!” Great pep talk! Still, KingLit knows
that power relationships always revolve around trust/”who you know,” not what you know. Such is the tumble in life. Slurs are overcome by love, not fear. Hung Wai is right. Why are Hung Wai’s maxims still alive today? Because of Hung Wai’s power of Love. Nothing beats the power of Love. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Guantanamo Bay case in line w/precedent —
As w/Watada’s case, U.S. Supreme Court’s “Gitmo” decision authorizes civilian court review in limited cases [jurisdiction/fair consideration of claims] of military tribunals. Gitmo hits home here in light of official euphemisms which masked the reality of unlawful detention. On 12/7/41, Gov. Poindexter ordered martial law/stopped habeas corpus [challenge detention/demand release]. German-American U.S. citizen Hans Zimmerman petitioned to be released, being detained for fear of possible subversion. Hilo’s U.S. District Judge Del Metzger 1875-1967 [born same year as AJA messiahs Charles Hemenway/Walt
Dillingham, & 3 yrs. before Big 5 godfather-altruist Frank Atherton] was prevented by Order 57 which forbade habeas corpus. Hans appealed to the 9th Cir., which affirmed “internment.” Hans was shipped Stateside the day before his U.S. Supreme Court appeal was filed, leading to dismissal of his case since he no longer was in custody. Fellow German-American U.S. citizens Walter Glockner/Ed Seifert petitioned Judge Metzger in July 1943,, & Metzger ordered their release [based on Army's/Gov. Stainback's joint 2/8/43 proclamation restoring civil government]. Gen. Richardson refused, which led to Metzger’s contempt of court order vs. Richardson, which then led to FDR’s pardon of Richardson. Richardson shipped Glockner/Seifert/2 other German-
Americans Statreside, thereby foreclosing S.Ct. review. Yes, our dearest Del Metzger was a fellow German-American who used “colloquial expressions” in German while playing cards w/his buddies, incl. Zimmerman. Richardson’s Order 31 to counter Metzger prohibited habeas corpus/stopped Glockner-Seifert’s cases, on pain of $5,000 fine-5 yrs. prison vs. Metzger. Insiders at the D.C. Interior [Hawai`i]/Justice Depts. called Richardson’s order “a serious affront to all tradition both of judicial power & civil liberties.” Yes, this is our dearest Del Metzger, sensei to AJAs/nascent Dems Ernie Kuwahara [not the clothier]/Kalopa’s Luso Val Marciel/etc. Amazing history — fact is stranger than fiction! Love, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Governor office as the usual route to be U.S. President —
Only 4 Congressmen went directly to the White House [Garfield 1880/Harding 1920/JFK 1960]. Obama/McCain is the first-ever, where sitting senators tiff for President.
Because urban mayors lack national standing, only Grover Cleveland went to the White House in the past 2 centuries 1884. Giuliuani/Bloomberg are 9-11 circumstance exceptions.
Key to the White House is the governor’s mansion [mini-chief executive]. Thence Bill Richardson’s
coveted broker role 2008. Horace Greeley’s “Go West, Young Man” adage [from rustbelt to sunbelt] iterates Reagan’s Hollywood image, & incredulously, Obama’s eclectic freshlet [vs. Hillary's staid/bromide high-brow dullness]. Believe it or not, Obama’s unique pluralistic backdrop comes thru loud & clear, even if Obama made the understandable mistake of pining for Blackest Black ID a la negative role model Jeremiah Wright [whose color is more white than black, which tells you that jet-black MLK didn't have an ID crisis like misguided Obama/Wright]. Obama is loads more righteous than Wright, simply because Obama lives the aloha spirit [literally, metaphysical!], unlike blockhead “persecution
complex”-ridden Wright. Yes, even asshole personality Dan Inouye has the aloha spirit, vs.
blockhead peer Jim Inhofe Okla. GOP.
Jeremy Harris was destined to be the 1st neighbor island solon to be Governor, but for his campaign scandal. Urban mayors Blaisdell/Fasi did not have the neighbor island votes to be Governor. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Unsung hero Henry Opukahaia 1792-1818 —
Henry Opukahaia was orphaned upon the deaths of his parents in a war over territorial control. He sailed the high seas for adventure in 1808 & ended up
in New England, where he was schooled by Congregationalists. Henry changed the face of America by demonstrating that everybody’s equal according to Scripture. He became a martyr to his devotion & inspired the greatest political leaders of the time like Henry Clay 1777-1852, the great Emancipator who was Abraham Lincoln’s biggest hero. Destiny revealed itself for this little boy from our Ka`u District [called "split belly" in Hawaiian when his baby brother was speared & killed while Henry carried his brother on Henry's back to escape from Kamehameha's forces in 1802 vs. Kaiana, at which time Henry's parents were killed], who fell to typhoid, & whose death inspired the arrival of our missionaries in 1820, after kuhina nui [real power behind throne]
Kaahumanu via ruler Liholiho [Kamehameha II] had earlier abolished the kapu system. The fullness of time — Opukahaia’s missionaries helped fill the moral & spiritual vacuum that resulted from the breakdown of their ancient pagan faith, so to speak. Our social service organizations today are a direct result/outgrowth of Opukahaia’s martyrdom — our YMCAs which uplifted immigrant shantytowns
Waiakea [furyoshonen -- AJA hooligans -- were inspired by guardian angel Jean Hartley]/Shinmachi ["New Town" in Japanese] — serviced by John
Beukema’s Hilo Center [where our former Texaco Service Station is on Kam/Pauahi Sts.], not to mention our old town Hilo Hawaiians [via Haili Church-Hilo Boarding School where Boys-Girls Club is today-- YWCA still at today's site]. Essentially, modern Hilo is built upon the moral & spiritual groundwork laid by Opukahaia’s missionaries. Hence, Henry Opukahaia is our unsung hero, the sine qua non of societal success and happiness. And looking at each ethnic group, Opukahaia’s peacemakers filled the need — the Chinese had Rev. Tsui’s social hall across Lincoln Park [today's church is on Mohouli
-Kino`ole Sts.], the Portuguese had Rev. De Silva’s mission on Haili St. [today's Central Christian Church], the Japanese had Rev. Kwan Higuchi’s hall at Lincoln Park, the Filipinos had their church in
Papaikou, the Koreans had their church on Haili St. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
ILWU’s Stateside haole transplant Eddie Tangen 1921-1992 — In return for supporting Gov. Burns, ILWU nerve center Eddie Tangen made the Land Use Commission his personal fiefdom 1969-1977. As its chairman 1973-1977, Tangen was the dealmaker for developers/labor force. Tangen was Jack Hall’s buddy, & succeeded Hall as braintrust after Hall died 1971. Hall had many detractors [vs. Hall's impudent/arrogant bearing], among them Hall’s boss Harry Bridges of Frisco Central, along w/local rep Newton Miyagi. Of course, Hall ruined Kapoho longshoreman Jack Kawano after Kawano refuted Hall’s takeover of the ILWU in 1944. Tangen always felt
that Bridges was jealous of Hall’s political legacy [coalition w/Burns Dems], something which Frisco’s Bridges had no opportunity to achieve. Bridges
repulsed vs. Hall’s autocratic/megalomaniac ways, not to mention Hall’s inability to groom able islander successors/Hall’s prolific drinking-coarse
crude vocabulary. Papaikou’s famous Luso George Martin treaded gingerly b/n antagonists Bridges/Hall. After Hall died unexpectedly, Martin threw his hat in w/respectable Bridges, serving as Central VP until Bridges told Martin that Bridges wanted a longshoreman [not a plantation boy like Martin] to succeed Bridges as Prexy. Of course, all that Hall wanted was to be respected, not respectable!! Hilo police detective Jerry Ogawa’s sister Yoshiko [Ogawas from Kea`au] is Jack Hall’s wife. Like Bridges, Martin was a union man, not a politico like Hall. Aloha, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Homeless folks for the most part are not shiftless
squatters. They cannot afford to rent, much less
own a home. When our 1946 tsunami left many
penniless folks homeless, we had WWII barracks/
billets to take care of them. Same was true in
1960 w/the remaining WWII structures. Not anymore.
Is warehousing the answer? Seems the only cost-
benefit solution. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Persecution complex/projection — Kathy Jinbo Yamada, born 1952, earlier found out about her dad’s MIS interpreter job w/Japan War Crimes Tribunal WWII. He was a great man of quiet wisdom. On the other hand, Hilo’s MIS Charley Koizumi was Tojo’s interpreter & regales about Tojo’s humble countenance/gentle nature. Yes, Charley, Tojo was on the chopping block. Tojo was Hirohito’s choicest warlock, notwithstanding Charley Koizumi’s
identification w/Tojo’s subdued personality. Persecution complex/projection got to Charley, namely, that Charley felt sorry for Tojo & then even
sided w/Tojo at least in terms of asking for leniency. Hirohito had a clear choice in pursuing foreign policy — cooperation or imperialism
vs. others. Hirohito chose imperialism. Myth has it that Hirohito was forced to succumb to Tojo/warlocks. NO, Tojo endeared Tojo himself to Hirohito to gain Hirohito’s favor/preference. Reprise the significance of our native son Bill Castle Jr. 1878-1963 of C & C genesis [grandpa Sam was founder of C & C]. Bill was Hoover’s
chief for Far Eastern Affairs, & continued to work w/Japan diplomatic corps/doves, who eventually were shorn of power by Tojo’s boys. At this point, Bill Castle became irrelevant to FDR/Harry Hopkins. Bottom line is that Tojo amped up imperialism/military conquests vs. Castle’s peers in Japan. Yes, this is the Tojo whom I told Charley Koizumi about. Charley feigns ignorance & still backs up Tojo till this day, saying that Tojo shouldn’t have died for what
Charley says were decisions/events out of Tojo’s control/hands. Hell, Charley, Tojo lorded over military imperialism/massacres. Love, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Jesus’ refrain to John the Baptist [Wataru Kohashi as untold hero] — When John the Baptist lamented that Jesus had not come to see John in prison [John eventually was beheaded], Jesus reassured
John the Baptist that Jesus was the Messiah, inasmuch miracles were happening — the blind can see, other captives are set free — & Jesus intoned to convey to John the Baptist, “Blessed are those who are not offended in Me.” At which point John the Baptist
confessed, “He must increase, I must decrease.” “Let a man not think more highly of himself than he really is.” And as Jesus said [Song of Solomon], “Follow the footsteps of the flock [singular entity] if you know not where,” where Jesus is the bridegroom
& Christians are the bride. Pastor Roy Kim born 1946 is a great Christian historian like his antecedent Eusebius 263-339 A.D. And like Canadian Christian theologian/evangelist A.B. Simpson 1843-1919, Roy is unmatched in application of Scripture to sentient challenges. I’ve discoursed w/many a devotee of the New Testament, but Roy
Kim has bedrock comprehension of Old/New Testament & an A.B. Simpson ability to transcend mortal befuddlement [ergo Rich Uejo/Boston Blackie Nakasato] & make Scripture come alive. Point in fact/application — Wataru Kohashi willingly sacrifices self-recognition by giving his DSC [upgraded to Medal of Honor for intrepid/indescribable courage under fire] to first KIA of 442nd RCT, California’s Kiyo Muranaga. Truth be told, Muranaga [1st day of battle] got flustered/disoriented/delirious & failed to release the firing pin off the mortar, resulting in the German
tank shelling Wataru’s/Muranaga’s mortar position, causing Muranaga’s death [died in Wataru's arms/Wataru held down Muranaga's head to prevent Muranaga's head from getting blown off by tank fire]. Yet Wataru, blinded by the tank shell, had the presence of mind to scream out to his 200 men of F Co., “Where da tank, where da tank?!” Because
Wataru, though blinded, wanted to reposition to fire mortar to deter the tank, which could’ve mowed down all of F Co. F Co. stumbled upon the German tank by accident. Jesus recognizes that Truth has its time & place. After all, Jesus didn’t tell his apostles up front, “You’re gonna die!” Samuel didn’t tell David that Samuel would anoint David, though Jehovah directed Samuel to do so. Samuel gave David a ruse,
& anointed David in great dignity. Or, as Scripture instructs, don’t throw your pearls before those who don’t know they’re pearls. As Roy chastens, 65 yrs. have passed since Muranaga died, leaving no wife/
children. Wataru at age 87 won’t live much longer. Wataru gave up willingly all glory for symbolic 1st KIA 442. Let Muranaga’s honor rest in peace. But as we come to year 2010, society should know that untold heroes sometimes inspire us to greatest acts of beneficence/love for all, as Wataru’s lifelong self-sacrifice of glory has shown us [to be other-directed]. Honor Muranaga, but acknowledge the untold
hero in our midst, especially as we pass by 65 yrs. of untold history. After all, F Co. boys have corroborated Wataru’s supreme act of honor/kindness via oral history. Truth be told with respect for
Muranaga, who has had his legacy memorialized w/no intent to revoke/rebuke the honors bestowed upon him. I had Wataru meet Afghanistan War paratrooper combat veteran Isaac Nahakuelua, born 1981, Hilo High ‘99 grad. Wataru spoke to Isaac as an EQUAL, man to man, & told Isaac, “Just be glad you’re alive!” Heartstopper respect from Wataru to Isaac. Mo’o ali’i [generational leadership/inspiration]. Love, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Shinyu Kai bldg. owned by Hawaii Mainichi newspaper –
Hawaii Mainichi [great assimilationist Nobuji Tokushiro] built the current Shinyu Kai bldg. on Ponahawai St. in 1915. Richard Dodo’s dad built Dodo Mortuary [among earliest elevators in Hilo] in 1923. The Mainichi newspaper bldg. on Suka Chung’s mom’s lot was built in 1919, adjacent to/mauka of Dodo Mortuary, all STILL lined up like pearls on a string on Ponahawai St., which ended at Punahoa lane, in that
makai of today’s Punahoa St. were duck ponds/swamp land known as the Alenaio estuary [filled in w/dredged ocean sand 1917-1923]. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Bourgeois —
Karl Marx defined bourgeois as capitalist ruling class, whereas conventional meaning was “middle class.” German Marx saw bourgeois as pejorative
for materialism’s heyday, thence Marx’ unique designation. Over the long sweep of history, Marxism never won, evidenced by Soviet collapse/tyranny over the teeming masses by Mao. Mixed capitalism/regulatory oversight produced highest standard/quality of life worldwide, seen here
in U.S./Thatcher’s Britain. Even in Hawai`i among local brahmins/elite, Christian Grace promulgated patron saints Charles Hemenway/Frank Atherton/Walt Dillingham along Merchant St. block. Of course, Puritan notions of thrift/frugality/toil expanded capitalist acquisitions, but thankfully our Social Gospel [Matthew 5/Isaiah 58] averted terminal
avarice/greed. Unquestionably, Hemenway/Atherton evoked the best of altruism/selfless giving. Today’s AJAs Matsy Takabuki/Dan Inouye/George Ariyoshi/Hilo’s Rob Kiyosaki-Isamu Kanekuni hora fuku tout about self-reliance/economy/material worth, but actually they are what Karl Marx postulated as decadent wanna-bees [sycophants of nouveaux rich/new aristocrats], who in the end will be adjudged as vain
men who self-glorified amid their acquisitions. Not surprising that Fukuoka ken taker Ariyoshi got nailed w/undeclared valuables at airport customs desk. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Earl Finch 1915-1965 in Honomu [11 miles north of Hilo along Hamakua coast] —
Honomu teacher Alex Akita’s son Stan was German POW. Stan eventually was released unharmed. Honohina’s Harold Fujimoto [wife Edith owned Edith's Dress
Shop] was Honomu Sugar Co. industrial relations PR go-to guy. Alex/Harold got Earl Finch to stop over in Honomu on Earl’s victory ride thruout the Haw’n Islands. Earl was the 442 messiah who took in our 442 boys when no one else would down in Hattiesburg Miss. outside Camp Shelby 1943. Honomu’s Seigi Hanashiro/Shige Katekawa/etc. entertained Earl w/gala music outside Akita store on Honomu’s main street [old Mamalahoa hwy]. Tsukasa Ishii kept photos of Earl’s visit, which show Earl being swooned by Honomu’s deliriously joyful villagers. Tsukasa was obnoxious & loudmouth when Tsukasa drank, & would stir up our neighbors w/his yelling. He/my
Dad were 442 drinking buddies, but my Mom dreaded Tsukasa’s ignoble traits. My Dad was mellow when Dad drank, not odious like Tsukasa. Alex/Stan Akita
were monoshiri/narcissistic, not beloved among Honomu folks. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Sherwood Greenwell 1919-2004 — Henry Greenwell left England/immigrated here 1850. His coffee quality was world-rated the best in 1873. Missionary Sam Ruggles intro’d coffee to Kona 1828 [started Hilo mission w/Joe Goodrich 1824], Guatemala strain replaced Ruggles seed 1892. Sherwood is Henry’s progeny, & Kona’s greatest philanthropist. Sherwood always prided [correctly] his company on allowing coffee tenants [buddaheads/etc.] to sell to anyone, not lockstep to landlord Sherwood. But immigrant Henry Greenwell’s other descendant Norman, unlike
Sherwood/Norman’s older kin Henry-Jack, was very abusive/ruthlessly cruel to non-haoles. Yin/yang, Jekyll/Hyde. Norman a cattle rancher/dairyman/coffee
planter/etc. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Colin Powell born 1937 72 yrs. old — Colin regretted his 2/03 speech & considered that a blight in his life. He was forced out by Bush 11/05. He still proclaims himself GOP, despite his endorsement of Obama ["generational change"]. Colin gave max contribution to McCain 2007, but soured on McCain’s trump on Ayers/Acorn. Actually, Colin not a fence-sitter for his own advantage, inasmuch Colin gave money to McCain before Obama’s miraculous accession to the Presidency. Colin soured on McCain’s pick of clueless Palin as VP, & feels that Colin himself should’ve been VP pick, inasmuch Colin/McCain are
war position allies. Altogether, minusses not getting picked as VP [McCain buckled under GOP right-wing]/Palin’s farce selection/distracting-ad hominem low ball swipes via Ayers-Acorn by McCain/McCain’s inability to overcome momentum shift to Obama by way
of correctly attacking Obama’s tax increases [cost of operations passed on to consumer], which McCain does not compel-force on as simple common sense/McCain’s untenable health ins. promo [no safety net for those most in need of health care] — swung Colin toward Obama. Race a subtext, Obama’s ascension a
plus [undecideds vote for favorite in polls] — all tilted Colin toward Obama. No, it’s not in Colin to be a Mazie Hirono/Dan Akaka self-interested fence-sitter [neither endorsed anyone until Obama had the Dem nomination locked in]. BTW, Colin a huge boxing fan/Hank Kaplan’s 1919-2007 acolyte, & because of this, I don’t feel that Colin is an obsessed
opportunist like Hirono/Akaka — something about boxing grits/grinds one to be all-or-nothing — no vacillation/wishy-washy nature. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
“da gang” –Dan Inouye’s tough-boy attitude —
Dan’s rawhide has plus [MoH 442] & minus [Lenore Kwock]. His Emma St. tenement backdrop [like Hung Wai Ching's] is real, which is why Dan chooses to be authentic to Dan’s past. Which is why we heard of Kwock. Dan’s rough childhood comes a generation after Hung Wai’s, who was an adult when Dan was born in 1924. Both Dan/Hung Wai were straightened by
guardian angel Scot John Young 1902-1990, who almost certainly was a closet gay [no machismo/very effeminate]. Life’s strange turnabouts/blends. Fact is stranger than fiction. No one is more macho than
greatest-ever hoopster Ah Chew Goo born 1918. Ah Chew respects Young because of Young’s genuine compassion/aloha spirit, even if Young was “soft” in personality/manner!! Love always, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Roland Kotani murdered by wife Grace 1989 —
Just 4 yrs. before Roland’s estranged wife bludgeoned him repeatedly w/hammer, Roland authored “Century of Struggle” [100th yr. immigration]. Pearl City’s Roland was nascent solon House of Rep. when killed. Wife Grace shot/killed herself in bathroom at police hdqtr. after confessing to murder on day of killing. She looked at peace amid the violent nature of her death. She heinously/fit of rage killed Roland [as he slept]. Roland was honors grad Yale, civil
libertarian, & budding lawmaker [aligned w/activist Waihe`e]. After all, home life is so different from work life. Roland thought by some to be egocentric/self-centered, perhaps a reason why Grace felt used by Roland. Thank God we have our greatest AJA historian Franklin Odo, whose home life suffuses serenity. Fellow AJA guru/local boy Ron Takaki also exudes tranquility. Roland was all but 35 yrs. old when he died, a tragic loss personally & for Hawai`i. Roland was a proud/taisho guy, which explains his link to egocentric/narcissist Waihe`e. Love, –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Catholic Irena Sendler’s rescue of Jewish children —
Irena 1910-2008 risked her life to rescue 2,500 Jewish children. As w/Portugal’s de Souza, Irena stands among the greatest of humanity. Amazing bravery! –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Fielder-Ching link — In late 1942 Delos Emmons’ top aide Kendall Wooch Fielder directed Hung Wai Ching to escort Asst. Sec. of the War Dept. John J. McCloy to inspect military defenses on O`ahu. Hung Wai took McCloy to the VVV Quarry gang
at Kolekole Pass. This scene galvanized McCloy to get Gen. Marshall’s OK to form the 442 on 1/1/43. You can see how Fielder/Hung Wai were irascible twins, hombres who stuck out their necks for the
buddaheads. In turn, Emmons stuck out his neck to FDR for the buddaheads. Amazing untold heroes. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
From: Curt
Subject: transition into infantry unit to be 100th Batt. — separate
Ted Tsukiyama’s 1993 tribute to the 100th “for paving the way” per Ted — 4/6/42 Emmons asks War Dept. to earmark 298th/299th for Africa or Europe; 5/2/42 War Dept. rejects Emmons but recores result into service units or Zone of interior installations; 5/29/42
Gen. Marshall reverses rejection & orders Emmons to “ORGANIZE PROVISIONAL INFANTRY BATTALION OVERSTRENGTH IF NECESSARY CONSISTING OF ALL OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS
OF JAPANESE ANCESTRY IN 298th & 299th INFANTRY. SEND UNIT TO MAINLAND U.S. BY FIRST AVAILABLE WATER TRANSPORTATION … WAR DEPARTMENT PROPOSES THAT
CGAGF REORGANIZE AND TRAIN THIS UNIT IN CENTRAL U.S. AS AN INFANTRY UNIT ….”
On 6/5/42 the boys shipped out to Frisco. Upon arrival in Frisco, the War Dept. activated them into the 100th Infantry Batt. (Separate), meaning not attached to a regiment/unit [orphan unit]. Kendall Fielder/Moses Pettigrew both commanded Nisei pre-Pearl
Harbor attack, & were G-2’s staunchest Nisei backers for infantry units. Pettigrew even pushed for Nisei infantry units long before Pearl Harbor. Fielder relied on Bicknell, who transferred to D.C. 2/42 & worked w/D.C.’s Pettigrew. Bicknell had worked closely w/Shivers/Burns. Hung Wai’s enthusiasm for Nisei infantry units 298th & volunteers spilled over to prescient twin Fielder, just as Hung Wai’s oversight over Marumoto’s ESC enabled ONI’s Coggins/Admiral Nimitz to “second” infantry use of the Nisei soldiers. –Curt
——————————————————————————–
From: klching
Subject: “Japanese Americans Disunited”
Franklin, is it possible for one to check the National Archives to determine precisely how a decision was made by the US Government to authorize the 100th to be given combat orders; when and by whom? Some say that there was a “secret” understanding by Gen. Marshall to assign the 100th to combat prior to their departure from Hawaii. The actual orders were publicized later. Who got to Marshall, Gen. Emmons in May, 1942? Who made the recommendation to Emmons? How about Col. Bicknell when he was re assigned from Hawaii to Washington DC in February of 1942? Regards, KL
October 30th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Waipi’o Valley access —
My immigrant kin walked up Kukuihaele side of Waipi’o
rim to Herb Purvis’ plantation [also called Pacific
Sugar Mill] in 1889, despite conventional wisdom
today that such access to shoreline didn’t exist
back then [ergo, Waipi'o Valley inaccessible]. Yes,
in 1900 efforts were made to wagon road down to
Waipi’o Valley, to no avail [high fatality rate among
workers falling to their deaths]. Only in 1930 was
a primitive access wheel road completed. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Actually, David Watumull wanted to develop our ancient
habitation focused around Kamehameha’s law of the
splintered paddle/mamalahoe at Papa’i beach/bay area,
but failure to fulfill subdivision requirements
doomed the project. Not same site/area, but
Watumull’s Paradise Park development completed itself
but w/major snafus [substandard roads/infrastructure].
No, contrary to Keaukaha Tract II residents [area
misnomered as King's Landing at end of Kalanianaole
Ave.] sentiments, the so-called coastal road from
Tract II area going south toward Papa’i 5 miles away
is not the old Puna trail/gov’t road, but Watumull’s
private developer road, solely Watumull’s private
road. The old Puna trail starts at the old airport
site & meanders thru our National Guard site SE
toward Haena, which is Shipman’s property/estate.
Like I told you, none other than Papa’i rooted Don
Pakele born 1944 [Don's grand-aunts/uncles were born
& raised at Papa'i] knows Papa’i & its history like
the back of Don’s hand. –Curt
October 30th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
To: Curt
From: Marasia
Thank You My Friend. It’s an honor. We should talk details…sometime…soon, a collaboration perhaps. “Love Liberates” — great philosopher Marasia’s work can be seen at http://www.myspace.com/respectlife
October 31st, 2009 at 12:01 am
Edwin O. Reischauer 1910-1990
Reischauer was born/raised in Japan, & was our U.S. greatest Japan expert. Reischauer advocated U.S. all-Nisei combat unit in September 1942, on grounds that such patriotic unit would dispel Imperial Japan’s
propaganda that Japan’s war vs. U.S. was a racial war to counter White supremacy. Reischauer went on to become ambassador to Japan under JFK/LBJ. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 [internal economic collapse], current Japan expert Chalmers Johnson
born 1931 was radicalized when U.S. policy was to accelerate U.S. military expansion, an alternative to old U.S. imperialism of establishing more colonies [Naval godfather Al Mahan/expansionist Teddy Roosevelt]. By doing so, Johnson says that we created
a greater crisis in the volatile triangle of China/Japan/Korea, where China always distrusts U.S. motives. Better that we keep Japan unarmed except for self-defense, something that Reischauer deviated from when Reischauer went to work for JFK/LBJ. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:06 am
Helco & geothermal energy — Love it or leave it, Helco’s consumer bills are highest on the Big Isle
because of the cost of covering a wide geographical area, just as Haw’n Tel Com didn’t want to upgrade isolated areas like Pahala/Na`alehu. PGV now owned by international outfit Ormat, which has funds to increase output. Ormat won’t commit to other sites [Pohoiki equipment failures] because of Inquisition promoters who’ll cry bloody murder over sucking the lifeblood of the `aina. Yet, when we’re
forced to go Green, it’ll be a tad late to tap into geothermal as we are stymied right now by activists. Stem-cell research/GMO [wheat/corn/taro]/Mauna Kea telescopes — all Modern Inquisition
targets. Helco looks to recover its costs [Keahole], but in the long run to be no more than the transmitter, not explorer/energy source like PGV,
which right now competes vs. Helco for source/generator profit. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:08 am
Futoshi Frank Arakawa 1891-1977 “I am an American!”
Shoga nai [cannot be helped] that Frank was interned WWII. Frank wanted to come back to Hilo after WWII, but O`ahu-born wife livid w/anger vs. Hilo
buddaheads who “banished”/isolated her/kids because of haji/shame/internment, so Frank lived in Chicago, then Frisco [to be w/grandkids] where he died. Frank’s daughters Marion/Eva born 1922/1924 despised kotonk/Stateside AJAs who resisted WRA/internment [so-called No-No boys/resisters] because both girls
felt that this was AJAs’ moment to demonstrate unmatched devotion to U.S. Instead, resisters projected anti-patriotism/disloyalty to America, even if AJAs were interned. Both girls instinctively knew the 100/442 were going to carry japanees race on their shoulders & both girls/Dad/kazoku-family cheered
on the 100/442 riflemen. Boy, did both girls repulse at No-No boys!! Whoa! –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:16 am
Isn’t the point to be/die happy? —
Dean Edmoundson born 1946, a bear of a man. “John” a high school student [father in prison--drugs, mother died of cancer] –like his older brother — died of
terminal ailment before age 21. In high school, John bullies around in his wheel-chair/hell-bent, gets reported always to principal. Dean as teacher totally
exasperated w/John’s acting out/lashing out behavior. Finally, Dean asks John, “What do I want to do to make you happy?!” John shouts out, “Why da hell I kea [care], I goin’ die before too long!!” Dean instinctively chastens John, “Your life is eternal, where no wheelchairs hinder you, where no one looks down at you, where you will be happy!!” John chortles, “What da hell you talkin’ bout?!”
Dean bellows, “Jesus is the son of God, & Jesus died for your sins. Trust in Jesus, and you will live forever in comfort & bliss.” John mutters, “Wait, come again w/dat? Jesus died for what?” Dean answers, “Jesus died for all of flawed humanity’s sins. Jesus died for you, so that you will live in everlasting comfort & bliss.” John goes apoplectic, “Then show me da way… show me da way.” John grads from high school, but doesn’t live past the 1st semester at UH-Hilo. Just before John dies, bosom buddy/esteemed educator Dean asks John, “Let’s go see Benny Hinn!” John chafes, “4 what?!! No need wheelcheya in heaven, brah’!! I saved already. I no can wait to see Jesus. HE no kea how I look, HE goin’ take me as I am, & HE goin’ heal me quick. I no can wait, brah’!!” Man, oh man, isn’t the point, gang, to be/die happy, no matter whether
there is a Jesus or not??!! Enos Smith was kolohe/rascal/troublesome peer of Dean at hick Wheatpatch hamlet south of Bakersfield, CA. [migrant farmers--Dean Okie from Oklahoma]. Years later, when Dean became teacher, Enos was compelled to see Dean. Enos asks Dean, “Do you remember me?” Dean
says “Of course, Enos!!” Enos emotes, “Dean, I’m a pastor now, & you set me straight by the way you treated everyone — with respect & dignity. I
came to thank you for all that you have showed me by the way you live your life and for the man that you are and will always be. Thank you.” Dean was
floored. As w/student John-Enos Smith-Gerald Brown [bully who told his son decades later, "You'd better listen & learn from Mr. Edmoundson (teacher).
He knows what he's talking about."], Dean personifies agape love, unrequited
compassion/empathy for all near & afar. Dean made John happy by starting John on the eternal path of comfort/peace — life everlasting, as you will.
Dean idolized decade-older sis’ June’s hubby Clyde Robinson, dapper former AF flier whom sis’ June said smitten-struck, “I’m gonna marry that man!” –
when she first was intro’d to him via Dean’s family. When Clyde proposed marriage to her, she told Clyde 2 things, “Only if you don’t drink alcohol [Sis'
saw too much pain in alcohol-ridden lifestyle of country hicks (not her family itself)] & only if we go to church altogether as a family w/our kids-to-be.”
Clyde accepted her 2 conditions. Years later, Clyde’s flier buddy tells Clyde, “Let’s go have a 6-pack!” Clyde tells wife June, “I’m gonna have a 6-pack w/Fred. I’ll be back for dinner.” W/out turning her back while cooking dinner for kids/Clyde/Fred, she intones, “You’ll have dinner — by yourself — w/Fred if you want to. We [kids] won’t be here when you come back.” Clyde goes back into the living room & tells Fred, “I’m sorry, but I vowed
never to drink alcohol after I married June. I choose June. Sorry.” Fred understood, & respectfully left to go drink on his own. What did He-man Clyde see in June?? Strength of conviction. The same strength that cripple John saw in Dean/Jesus as savior. Gang, these are our real
heroes — our unsung incognito nobodies from nowhere. No, they don’t talk small talk. They talk straight — from the heart. They deal/turn cards of life w/no hidden hand. What you see is what you get — authenticity. And all ascribed — as Jesus’ silent disciples. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:18 am
Transcendence — KingLit Ching born 1936 entrepreneur but idyllic/for the little guy/gal.
Denise Takashima modest humility like KingLit/Herb Isonaga, all very unique/special individuals a la Scripture’s Amos. All commerce venue, but opposite of Wall St. mentality [that has working class holding
the bag of troubles]. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:20 am
Koji Ariyoshi 1914-1976
Let’s face it, Labor Day is Koji Ariyoshi Day [working person's messiah]. Just as I need the balance of the conservative GOP view [ergo, my Dad], so do business entrepreneurs/orgs need the Koji Ariyoshi point of view to set them straight. W/out
Koji’s grounded wisdom, unrelated namesake George Ariyoshi would be upended by regime change [overthrow George/Mehau]. George’s weakness, not Mehau’s fault [banana republic --George yellow on the outside/haole Big 5 patrician inside]. Koji Ariyoshi/colleague
Yugo Okubo 1924-1988 — gadflies of the State/necessary rebels. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:28 am
Not hindered by points of origin — Goso’s vision exceeds reach — YMCA’s team-first motto had big influence on Koji Ariyoshi pre-1940 [yes, John Young/Leigh Hooley's gang], but biggest impact on Koji was maligned Jack Kawano 1911-1984 [unionism], who is a better guy than his final epitaph [traitor to the working man]. Kawano’s obsessed hurt/rejection vs. Jack Hall 1915-1971 ruined Kawano’s rep among the masses. Blessings seem
to roll in 3s. YMCA’s triangle [mind/body/spirit].
Goso Yoneda’s first name means one man w/the strength
of 3 men. Which is why I saw universal audacity in Yoneda/Koji/Jesse Shima. Their point of place origins did not deter them from “seeing the world”/eyeballing personally historic places/people/practices. –Curt
From: KingLit Ching
Many of these far-reaching accomplishments had roots in congregationalism
and the YMCA or other denominations.
Curtis wrote:
ILWU holy grail kotonk Goso Karl Marx Yoneda 1906-1999 was Koji Ariyoshi’s 1914-1976 Stateside alter ego/sempai. Gang, look at the big picture/evaluate-find common characteristics–
fearless audacity unearthed via enormous hardship marks the historic trinity of Yoneda/Koji Ariyoshi/Hilo uchinanchu Jesse Shima 1901-2002 centenarian [greatest Nikkei in U.S. via D.C.
legacies -- WWII internment amelioration for kotonks/Japan/U.S. post-WWII success; Okinawan
sovereignty instead of U.S. commonwealth; Issei naturalization]. Geopolitics on international scale, this trinity not deterred by roots/points of origin — Yoneda seeks out marxist messiah all the way to China; Ariyoshi [no relation to panty-ass George;
why do you think opportunist Larry Mehau born 1929 lorded over sycophant George born 1926?] dives into “radical” unionism Stateside & is taught those ropes by Yoneda [thanks to Atherton/Hung Wai Ching, Koji mentored at Georgia U by Erskine Caldwell ohana ("Tobacco Road" plight of southern sharecroppers vs. landed gentry); Shima [Shokan Shimabukuro, Pi`ihonua's Henry's dearest uncle] breaks Big 5 yoke & pickbacks via military transport to D.C., surviving as street urchin (anti-Asian repression in D.C.)
until hanai’d into D.C. scion John Henderson’s 1826-1913 family–Henderson genesis of 13th Amdt. 1865 which eradicates slavery, which then frees greatest Black assimilationist Booker T. Washington 1856-1915, who is mentored by Maui boy/haole
Sam Chapman Armstrong; Henderson was orphaned White son of deceased sharecropper parents–sold unto slave master–which is why Henderson ohana embraced orphan Jesse]. Yes, geographic mobility globalized this unprecedented trinity. This is the big picture, & I thank Pastor Roy Kim born 1946 for globalizing my myopic mindset. Chou En Lai opposed Mao’s horrific slaughter/Cultural Revolution. Internationalist
Chou En Lai [like the trinity above & my pragmatic guru Hung Wai Ching] was head/shoulders above other world leaders — Khrushchev was jealous of Chou En Lai’s cosmopolitan polish/chivalrous perfection/mannered savvy, so Khruschev sarcastically tells Chou, “Interesting isn’t it, that I’m of peasant origin, & you’re (Chou) of
landlord origin?” To which witty Chou quipped, “Yes,
& we each betrayed his class!” Yes, Yoneda/Ariyoshi
were 442nd RCT [out of internment camps--Koji
stuck on Mainland 12/7/41]. Jesse Issei/too old
for enlistment. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:31 am
Working class messiah Koji Ariyoshi 1914-1976
Kona boy Koji [grew up w/my Mom's kazoku/villagers]
practical atheist/self-made man, religion is opiate.
Koji’s symbolic headstone reads “He served humanity.”
Humanity’s tribute — “Well done, my faithful & loyal
servant.” I met Koji — Koji ethnic studies icon,
Koji a bear like Mao in Koji’s younger days. Koji’s
indulgent son Roger born 1949, tour operator, says
that Koji always took flowers to Hung Wai Ching
1905-2002, in appreciation of Hung Wai’s scholarship
for Koji to U Georgia journalism [Yale of the South --
our greatest leaders are Georgia alums]. Roger
doesn’t
know about Georgia’s calibre of schooling, or of
buddahead apostle Frank Atherton’s bankroll of
Koji’s scholarship [Frank Merchant St. oyabun/top
mogul-godfather 1878-1945 -- spiritual son Frank
Atherton Chong 1944-2008 named after him]. That
Koji annually made pilgrimage to Hung Wai brings
me to my feet — what class/dignity!! You gotta
love Koji for Koji’s inexorable loads of heart!!
Roger doesn’t know about Atherton because fearless
Frank died 4 yrs. before Roger was born. Give
kudos to loving son Roger, grassroot like Koji.
Hey, Kona gold, baby!! [my Mama is Hanato girl
from the steep coffee lands] Koji learned his
longshore licks/unionism from Kapoho’s Jack
Kawano, whom Roger dismisses as the ingrate
snitch [vs. nemesis (haole control via Frisco)
Jack Hall]. I emoted to Roger that quicksilver
readers discredit Koji [radical noisebox] the
same way that Roger feels about Kawano
[coward/traitor to the working man]. Had
Kawano beat out egomaniac Hall, Hawai’i
would’ve seen greater/more expansive/
speedier labor reforms a la CIO’s John
Lewis over AFL’s Sam Gompers. Kawano
molded successors [Koji/Dan Aoki/Tadao
Beppu/etc.], Hall glorified himself, although
Hall married police detective Jerry Ogawa’s
Ola`a sister Yoshiko. Kawano’s fatal flaw
was his sad decision to retaliate vs. arch-
enemy Hall via HUAC confessions [Hall &
Kawano as crimson-red Commies], hence
Roger’s antipathy vs. scorned snitch
Kawano. Decision/decision, Kawano’s
terminal mistake to stoop down vs. Hall.
Same could be ascribed to Koji, duped
by Mao/Gang of 4/not Chou, despite
history’s major malevolent event,
demented/paranoid aging Mao’s
genocidal Cultural Revolution.
Actually, Hall is more Mao as
Kawano is more Koji. “All are
not what meet the eyes.”
Roger’s sis passed away, &
Roger is the only one left
to give clarity to Koji’s life
as the working class messiah.
Yes, Koji had unmistakeable
presence as a bear of a man
in size/mystique/destiny. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:33 am
Scripture was Hung Wai Ching’s strength
Irascible [noble fire] HW’s idealism was steeped in Scripture. What he risked is incomprehensible. A Chinaman who gives up a charmed life for oppressed J_ps. I utter what Jesus emoted upon Jesus’ crucifixion, “Father, they know not what they do.” [Jesus' naysayers] HW is Jesus incarnate. 442nd RCT Isamu Kanekuni born 1921 put it viscerally, “Hung
Wai is like a God.” Chou En Lai was wary of HW’s fulfillment of the American Dream, & Chou accordingly respected U.S. culture/psyche. HW 1905-2002. Mahalo, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:36 am
Wainaku Camp 2 was photo dream site for tourists —
Nikai Japanese camp was at the base of Ma’ili stream adjacent to today’s Wainaku Camp 2 ballpark. It was made up of thatched leaf dwellings & a photo favorite for tourists. It was established in 1885, just after
Hilo [Wainaku] Sugar Co. was incorporated. A massive fire started by charcoal sparks wiped out this quaint rural scene in 1895. Douglas Fir was imported to rebuild this village as post/pier dwellings. The rural charm of this former primitive enclave is a real sore spot for us buddaheads, who were subjected to such indignities/deprivation. My dad’s parents
immigrated from Kumamoto Japan to this very spot. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:41 am
Dillingham railroader/harbor construction mogul —
Ben Dillingham Sr. married a missionary’s daughter, became a railroader, built a warehouse to handle sugar, & became the Pearl Harbor dredge/construction
mogul. But actually his son Walter Dillingham carried the load, not lightweight Ben nor his other son lightweight Ben Jr. By the time Puna Sugar Co.’s Charles Mason used bagasse [cane stalk fiber/residue] to produce wallboard/”canec”
as a building material [ceilings/wall fill], the Big 5 sugar Factors [Castle & Cooke/Alexander & Baldwin/C. Brewer/Am Fac/Theo Davies] immediately jumped in to profit from their waste product bagasse, with Walt Dillingham 1875-1963 as building magnate leading the way, though the Dillingham family was not part of sugar Factor Big 5. Dillingham’s Haw’n Cane Products Ltd. in 1930 bought out Hilo’s Haw’n Cellulose Ltd. & started its canec plant where today’s Waiakea Villas complex is along the banks of the Wailoa pond. This centralization of power in the hands of an interlocking directorate along Merchant St. [including those industries which serviced the Big 5 such as Hon Iron Works/Lewers & Cooke builders-supply houses/Matson Shipping Lines] ensured a monopoly stranglehold over every aspect of life in our Territory of Hawai’i. Haw’n Cane Products typifies this vertical/horizontal integration. Nonetheless, Haw’n Cane Products
built its huge complex but polluted Wailoa pond w/arsenic used to termite-proof the wallboard. Haw’n Cane Products eventually was sold to Flintkote Co. of NY in 1948, but sugar strikes & the April 3, 1960 fire that caused damages in today’s value of 4 million dollars resulted in the closing of the bagasse-to-wallboard industry. C. Brewer bought the property & built today’s Waiakea Villas complex. -Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:42 am
Johnny Bellinger only had high school diploma —
Bellinger was hard-knocks old school [Roosevelt, not Punahou], mentored commoner Portuguese/Luso Walt Dods, in whom Bellinger saw himself [not privileged class, but grassroot]. Thence Bellinger’s pidgin English, but Dods the marketeer was smooth as silk [fluent in English]. Actually, Bellinger vicariously copied rival/national banking pioneer Rudy Peterson,
who rescued Bank of Hawai’i out of the doldrums 1955-1961 vs. Bellinger’s 1st Haw’n Bank. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:45 am
Empathy —
Army G-2 intelligence chief Moses Pettigrew lived among the buddaheads while stationed here pre-WWII, & was the 1st military officer to advocate all-Nisei infantry battalion, even imploring high command to have Moses lead them [no pun intended]. Moses expounded enlistees [later 442]. It was Hung Wai Ching who goaded the 298th-299th National Guard
conscripts to be given the right to fight for America, & Hung Wai made his point to military brass via informal dialogue [Hung Wai headed Morale
Committee as liaison b/n civilians-military]. Historians overlook the symbolism of the eventual 100th Batt. in the chaotic days after the Pearl Harbor attack, all because our local Nat’l Guard 298/299 conscripts were true grunts/no high school diplomas except for city boys, where high schools were existent, only handful of whom ascended to loftiest reaches of power [via advanced schooling] in later Statehood era [unlike the prolific younger 442 boys like Dan Inouye]. And in the haze of bypassing
the conscripts at the outbreak of WWII, also overlooked is the immense figure of Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002, right there in the thick of the internal
battle to give our conscripts the right to fight/combat duty. Which is why in 2009, WWII pundits regret overlooking the role of Hung Wai Ching in advocating infantry use of our eventual 100th Batt. [later incorporated as 1st Batt. in overall 442 RCT]. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 12:47 am
Liberty [Thomas Jefferson/Abraham Lincoln] —
Inspired by Englishman John Locke, Jefferson intoned that all members of society are entitled to the fair measure of judgment, & to participate fully in public affairs. The pursuit of happiness means the right to own property/safeguard it, & to strive for the good/comfort of all people, not just for one’s personal needs. And that generation after generation of patriots pledge their very lives to fight tyranny
over the hearts & minds of humanity. Though Abraham Lincoln was inspired by abolitionist Henry Clay, Lincoln thrust Jefferson’s essence via Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, closing w/”And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.” –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:30 am
Curtis-
My experiences at, Waiakea Villas, have me believe that certain buildings and areas are haunted.
Could you Curtis, on Halloween, tell us any haunted stories that you know of the Waiakea Villas or any other haunted areas. My grandfather worked at the Cenic Mill before he retired and his home and the home I live in currently, my ceiling is made with cenic from the mill.
My grandfather also told me a person he worked with died by falling in the furnace and also many people have told me the basement of the former banquet building and bathroom under Miyo’s is haunted by a faceless lady and a misty, smokey apparition.
This would be a great topic for you to write about on Halloween.
And thanks, I do enjoy your stories.
October 31st, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Hi Mr. Kai [Go Lakers]– you are the sweetest soul this side of Eden!! You lighten up the mood, & we readers always are amazed by your versatility [from Cris Autor ergo Ali, to your vuvu/gung gung George Kai 1913-1988, the peoples' champ from Hilo --Dept. of Labor savior to the working man/woman]!! About today’s Waiakea Business Plaza [site of former Flintkote-Canec complex] Carol Bufil was collection mgr. for Realty Investment subsidiary some 2 decades ago. She’d stay late at nite to process daily closings. Yes, startling explosive sounds of file drawers opening & slamming shut. Got to the point where she flat-out was too afraid to work beyond sunset!! Probable explanation for supernatural bursts — in the dead of nite, other offices astride Carol’s outfit have folks/custodians slamming cabinets — sound carries/amplifies where no other sound interferes with reception. The Flintkote furnace was not where Miyo’s is. The point about Miyo’s site is the lagoon which causes the fog. No obake stories should emanate from there. Bluntly, no Hawaiian spooky tales should emanate from Flintkote [Waiakea Villa complex] & Waiakea Sugar Mill [Island Chevrolet] sites. But the medical offices north of/adjacent to Island Chevrolet car lot SHOULD have spooky tales, because this “sump” area during Waiakea Sugar Mill’s heyday 1920s-1930s was a sugar field which Flips/Porinkis from mill camp [Pu'ueo Poi factory to Hilo Shopping Ctr. complex] regarded as a Roman arena where knifings/feuds were settled via “mortal kombat.” Thanks. Sorry for the late response. I was out all day. Happy Halloween, & as sensual drop dead gorgeous editor Tiff Edwards Hunt says, “Boo!!” [I'm thinking of '80s sex siren Elvira too] Aloha, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
To lighten up the mood here, gotta’ thank Mr. Kai, all-purpose common saint. Do you know that the Hilo Hospital which stood where today’s new Veterans Home is
had loads of spooky tales too?? There still are nurses/etc. who lived these heart-stopper events. Go ask these employees. Of course, gotta’ tell you that temperature variations from just inches apart have practical explanations. Temperature variations are just thermal properties at work. Outside example — as I walk our quaint neighborhood at nite, this one spot not more than 10 feet in scope always has a chill to it — why?? Because the elevated roadway crosses a former little gulch some 15 ft. below the roadway which funnels the mountain chill down this narrow gash & upwells the chill onto the roadway. Thermal properties at work. Thanks, Mr. Kai. Aloha, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Because I miss my deceased parents a lot, & I miss my deceased pets, I don’t see the spooky side of death. I see loss of my dearest companions. Maybe I’m a party pooper debunker of spooky tales. Nonetheless, here’s one from my baby girl Staycie, now age 36, half-Hawaiian — as a little child, Staycie used to wonder who are these shadow human form/figures on her bedroom wall as she tried to go to sleep at nite. Of course, the outside moon/streetlight causing the shadows on her bedroom wall fired up her imagination. But it got to the point where she kept asking who are these people?? Well, after talking to a kahuna, the kahuna explained that Staycie was able to make contact with the spirit world of the night marchers, who meant no harm, & for Staycie to consider it a special gift/blessing that Staycie was able to connect with her ancestral spirit world. Beautiful!! Love always, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Upward mobility —
Buddaheads [Hawai`i japanees] had greater upward mobility than Stateside kotonks [Mainland japanees] because there were no haole middle class/well-
earning laborers. Kotonk/Nisei asks of son-in-law, “why did you become a lawyer?” Ergo, circa 1960 there was no clientele base for Sansei/3rd generation
lawyers on the Mainland. Those japanees who could afford lawyers went to haole lawyers anyway. A+ & A students became M.D./A- & B+ students became D.D.S. dentists. No work for japanee lawyers Stateside half a century ago. Upward mobility here in Hawai`i mirrored immigration timeline. Chinese/Luso/
Japanese/Puerto Rican/Korean/Filipino in chronological order of ascension.
Because Stateside labor market saturated w/workers from all classes of society, new ethnics formed insular societies, esp. Asian ethnics, who were non-white. Upward mobility a problem, so ethnics stayed in protective/sheltered enclaves. In Hawai`i office work–bookkeeping/clerical — was the ladder up, vs. outside hard labor. From office tedium a person could rise higher into mgmt. position.
As Mas Marumoto’s magnanimous son Dell explains, this is how Kaua`i Nisei Charley Ishii became the son which Charley Rice never had. Ishii went from office
errand boy to being Rice’s trusted aide/confidant. Ishii’s kids went Ivy League schools, daughters married M.D.s, son died in plane crash. At 15 yrs. of age in 1908 or so, Charley Ishii rose up the ladder like no other. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Ambivalence triggers righteousness –
Per Pastor Roy Kim, Jack Burns was correct in not signing the Abortion Act [strong Catholic], but per oath to serve constituents, not Catholic Church,
had Act become law over his non-endorsement. Per Pastor Roy, if one succumbed before to temptation/self-serving act, that person’s “make-up
call” [sport phrase] upon maturation is to act righteously that another person will not succumb the same way. Hisakichi Hisanaga 1890-1978 was our district court japaneez legal eagle/interpreter, big shot [Kalakaua Park site was his fiefdom -- old courthouse where today's reflecting pool is, then at today's Cultural Ctr. which was the later police station/courthouse]. But Hisa apparently led a double life, as our courtesano/cortigiano Mameya lane oyabun/big shot, so to speak. Which is why his kids flailed at any mention of our age-old vices [you know what they are]. Which is why Hisa’s famous/renowned son Kazuma 1918-1998 [jock trailblazer/100th Batt. war hero/disciplinarian coach-educator] went ballistic at the thought of the underside of the Hisanaga fame/fortune. So angry a man was Kazuma that when he courted his eventual wife [renowned sportster/realtor Mukai's daughter] just as he returned from WWII, he got harassed by Hawaiian J_p-haters at Reed’s bay [white coral sand dredged from Hilo Harbor project by Hukilau hotel/ice pond]. Truth be told, He-Man Kazuma [huge bear for a japanee] beat the living daylights out of these hooligans, single-handedly. Till this day, the lore of Herculean Kazuma suffuses among Kazuma’s worshippers Kiyo Hamakawa/Boston Blackie Nakasato/etc. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Epistles/maxims [apostolic letters] — Be quick to listen, slow to speak [James 1:19]. Denounce favoritism [preferential seating/treatment to those dressed in expensive clothing, while ignoring/mistreating the shabbily dressed]. “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the
world to be rich in faith & to inherit the Kingdom He promised to those who love Him? [James 2:5-6]. Compassion for the ill is a hallmark of Christians, & during the Middle Ages hospitals were built not by secular authorities, but by churches to bestow mercy on the afflicted. Clergy lost two-thirds of its
members during the Plague of the 1300s [James 5:14-15]. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Judy Hayashida’s boxing tribute — Paul Lou born 1930 is our greatest boxing historian/archivist [Paul is tough Kauluwela housing native -- Korean, name supposed to be Yu, not Lou]. Paul gave to photo-slide producer Judy Hayashida his newsclip archives for the benefit/perpetuation of the
O`ahu-based Oldtimers Boxing Club. Judy produced her
photo-slide documentary titled “Lords of the Square Ring.” Her presentation will leave you breathless. I thank Paul Lou for sending me a vintage DVD of Judy’s heartstopper/exceptional DVD. It is 45 minutes long & features the greatest-ever boxers from the Hawaiian Islands, including David Kui Kong Young/Dado Marino/Frankie Fernandez/Bobo Olson. It is a slide show, so no film is shown. Of course, for you Kona fans, Duke Artuyo [who just died] is glimpsed. It’s $10 or so [to cover Judy's costs/postage]. Paul/I have actual film of Wainaku’s pride Dado [way past peak losing title to Yoshio Shirai]/Frankie [getting outboxed by masterful New Orleans Pinoy Bernard Docusen], credit to deceased Hank Kaplan &
his archivist/videographer [Hank 1919-2007 IBHoF starlight/guru/enshrinee over his objections]. Of course, films abound of Bobo’s fights. But sadly, David Kui Kong Young 93 yrs. old, threw away the only film of him that exists, vs. Manuel Ortiz bantamweight title fight. David/California’s
Manuel rank among the world’s best-ever bantamweights in boxing history. Lore is that David, who got shorted by esteemed referee Walter Cho [who called a fight-ending legitimate body shot a low blow], went ballistic in watching the film, & threw it in the trash can. There went our holy grail/consecrated masterpiece. So sad! David’s lovely/loving wife is Isabel Dart of Hilo. Again, thank you Judy Hayashida for a splendid photo slide history of Hawai`i
boxing!! Her exquisite DVD also feature past/current Oldtimers Boxing Club members, a virtual
“Who’s Who” of boxing in Hawai`i [including her handsome husband Bobby Hayashida, 1956 Olympic Tryouts entry from the Army's European theatre elite squad][Bobby born 1931 is Waiakea-Uka Camp 6 Naichi, stablemate of my cuzzes Hasegawa brothers/Nakaoka brothers, trained by Jimmy Nakaoka at Dickie Furtado's Lanai Garden Boxing Club --former Green Door bar at junction of today's Pauahi/Kilauea Ave. where giant banyan tree is], & the Club’s revered history [Fred Yasui, founder]. Yes, even obscure forgotten past greats like Earl Arakaki’s dad [greatest-ever left hook king Alfred Palmeiro] are in there, not to mention unimaginable segregated roster entrants of J_ps 1943 [Roster A/Roster B -- messiah Bill Kim of Fort St. CYO changed our patriotic AJA citizens' names to Chinese monikers/noms de guerre/pseudonyms -- thank you Paul Lou for enlightening us all]. Aloha/heartfully, [thanks again, Paul Lou] –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hung Wai Ching’s contacts w/military-industrial complex —
Hung Wai’s r/n w/Northrop’s boss had Taiwan incessantly shouldering up to Hung Wai. Amazingly, like Scrub Tanaka, Hung Wai never profited off such power/patronage/control. By sharp elbowing away Taiwan’s enticement to riches, Hung Wai smartly rebuked making a “pact w/the devil [of being captive].” Like Scrub 1915-2006, Hung Wai 1905-2002 died penniless. But his heart was richest in altruism/bounty. BTW, just to let you know the magnitude of moolahs here, to date Northrop is the 3rd largest DoDefense contractor 17 billion dollars p/yr., exceeded only by Lockheed $23 bill./Boeing
$22 bill., both top 2 also pals w/Hung Wai. Geostrategy — Camp Smith Pac nerve ctr., which was Hung Wai’s back yard. Like Jesus, Hung Wai had an unimaginable sense of disarming his “enemies” [ergo Gen. DeWitt/Gen. Delos Emmons/DoD John McCloy-Henry Stimson/etc.]. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Geography often determines relationships —
Geopolitics are about power circles. HPM Bldg. Supply’s Bobby Fujimoto born 1927 knows nothing about Waiakea, even though his mother’s Kobayashi kazoku/family is from Waiakea, as is Bobby’s ojisan/grandpa Kametaro Fujimoto [gave home to start
Higashi Hongwanji Church on Kainehe St. 1928 just after Kametaro/Kawasaki contractor opened HPM on Kam Ave. in 1921 makai/across today's Bayside Chevron]. But Bobby’s dad Barney raised Bobby/sibs at Barenaba Lane along the Waiakea Stream by Villa Franca. It was there that Kazuma Hisanaga met/courted eventual wife Ichiko Mukai. Again, never forget Waiakea
as the genesis of our largest businesses today [Kametaro's HPM]. Yes, Fujimoto is Hiroshima ken/district. Need more proof of Waiakea’s bombshell auspicious seeds of growth? Shigeru Oda mentored later contractors like former Honoka’a boy Masaki Sonomura. S.K. Oda was based in Waiakea [site of today's Big Island Candies factory]. A stone’s throw
from Shigeru is Hisato Isemoto contractor. Even though Larry Isemoto suspects Kiyo Okubo of turning in so-called saboteurs, magnanimous Larry still donated $5Gs to Okubo’s museum. Larry’s shin Issei dad Hisato was interned. Isemoto Hiroshima
ken/Oda Yamaguchi/Saga-Kyushu ken. S. Hata sa-ke/Y. Hata Hiroshima ken. Taro Nakamoto yoshi’d from Ka`u Honda name, Yamaguchi ken, as is Isamu Kanekuni. Largest group of immigrants from Hiroshima, followed by Yamaguchi [both from Chugoku region], followed by Kyushu region’s Kumamoto & then Fukuoka. Later Okinawans were outnumbered only by Hiroshima/Yamaguchi. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Vasco Ferreira U.S.S. Oklahoma 12/7/41 —
David Figueira’s Vuvu/grandpa Vasco Ferreira was among the civilian welders who risked their lives to rescue the forsaken men of the overturned ship Oklahoma. Vasco & his crew were recognized by Congress Delegate Joe Farrington for such daunting heroics. Vasco’s son Gerald also helped rescue the
Oklahoma sailors. Tragically, Gerald was KIA Korean War. Tragedy after tragedy marked Vasco’s/Gerald’s lives. Which is why they are immortalized heroes in my opinion. Yes, Gerald was Vasco’s only son [had tribe of daughters], but chose to serve his great country w/his last ounce of devotion! Amazing, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Hilo “Living Legend” 1999 Robert “Steamy” Chow born 1922 — Beautiful article in Hawaii Tribune-Herald by supremely gifted writer Bret Yager on Steamy Chow born 1922, 9/29/08, on book published by Connections Public Charter School on Steamy’s reminiscences of oldtime Hilo. Steamy always prefaces in cadence, “As I recall . . .” Steamy’s homespun/fireside chat serenity is timeless. His word pictures mesmerize you to no end. I call him my “oyabun” [King Solomon]. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Hung Wai Ching had much more impact on society than Mike Masaoka —
Hung Wai catalyzed the 100th as infantry unit instead of service unit. Hung Wai catalyzed the formation of the 442 on the glorious template of the 100th. Mike Masaoka advocated gestational idea of “suicide battalion” [bushido/honor] but it was crystalized by Hung Wai a year before via the 100th. Mike’s thrust was the draft/conscription, hence the loyalty oath.
False revisionist Frank Sogi of Keopu Kona got it all in reverse. Mike’s post-WWII victory was the 1952 Naturalization Act accepting Issei as U.S. citizens. Hung Wai’s post-WWII victories consisted of Truman’s
military racial integration/penitent Earl Warren’s Brown v. Bd. of Education decision 1954/Ike’s nascent Civil Rights Act/Hawai`i Statehood/post-Statehood prosperity. Hung Wai’s proven record also far surpasses Jack Burns’ changing of the political/social order. Of course, “Moses” Mike Masaoka’s results pale vs. Hung Wai’s. Hung Wai’s economic impact is surpassed only by Dan Inouye’s solon longevity as of 2009. Worldwide, Hung Wai is the reason for Japan reconstruction/recovery. Japan restored trust in America via Hung Wai. China’s Chou En Lai was astounded that such a simpleton of immigrant southern Chinese dirt-poor farmers Hung changed the face of America and the world, including Chou’s China, which opened up to Nixon thanks in large part to Hung Wai’s unspeakable fortitude. “To serve others” is upbringing. Hung Wai’s poverty-stricken past turned out to be his positive
life lesson. Hung Wai served others [J_ps/Yobos/Pinoy]. Masaoka served AJAs. Hawai`i was melting pot/polyglot, Masaoka’s Utah was white potato soup w/Japanese corn. Their childhoods/geographies were their destinies.
History is replete w/exemplars of supreme selfless-sacrifice. Civil War’s Boston 54th Regiment/
our African-American Buffalo soldiers/Tuskegee airmen. –Curt
——————————————————
From: KingLit Ching [Hung Wai's son born 1936]
Subject: Same drummer? [No, Masaoka for AJA/Hung Wai was internationalist]
Curt,
Could one make the case that Hung Wai and Mike Masaoka were listening to the same drummer by exhorting AJAs to go beyond the call of duty despite serious discrimination and violation of their civil rights to demonstrate patriotism by volunteering for combat in WWII? What is the basis of this mindset? What are the historical examples of similar efforts? Usually a minority group fighting for rights looks solely to its own interests; not to sacrifice their lives for a higher good (idealistic view). — KL
October 31st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
100th Batt. non-AJA Young Oak Kim [LA Korean conscript] — Young Oak Kim is our 100th Batt. Paul Bunyan, yet his men figured he dared death like Kazuo Masuda, always upping to go on mission/increasing the odds of his boys getting killed. Young Oak would personally recon w/out his helmet, just his winter cap. Yikes! When Young Oak was asked why he joined the samurai 100th, he figured they had something to prove, so why not? –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Mokuola [Coconut Island] –
Mokuola was place of refuge like Honaunau City
of Refuge. Mokuola sacred rock still lies in the
inlet where toddlers swim today. Mokuola point
is where ancient Haw’ns preserved ancestral
bones/islet jutting to sea is where bones were
cured by elements [decaying flesh is why islet
was used for curing human bones]. Most recently,
Ike Keli’ipio’s family was Mokuola’s keeper/caretaker
[Ike tsunami victims' hero for saving lives 1946].
–Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Fumiko Iwamasa welfare dept. head Big Island —
Gov. Jack Burns gave Scrub Tanaka unfettered singular authority to pick/choose dept. heads for the Big Island. Scrub chose older/experienced Iwamasa over newbie Margaret Ushijima, & hubby John never lived down Scrub’s rejection of Margaret. Scrub’s defense was Truth: Iwamasa was the better candidate! Never mind political machinations a la today’s Gerald De Mello & his sweetheart deals w/horrid influence peddlers. John was no Scrub Tanaka in terms of the public’s best interests/Social Gospel-Dharma. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Style over substance —
So Jesus gets railed for blasphemy by healing a paralytic on the Sabbath [Jewish Holy Day]. It’s about heart/substance, not form/ritual [Matthew 9:3]. Joshua conquers Jericho because of prostitute Rahab, who gives sanctuary to Joshua’s 2 spies. Memorialized as a great leader, Joshua places substance [Rahab] over form [intolerance/ritual vs. unclean of society]. Joshua dismisses self-idolatry & positively recognizes Rahab as a person of redemption/great character, despite her unfortunate predicament. Jesus tells Peter, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will bind in Heaven. Whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in Heaven.” [Matthew 14-18]. Catholics see this declaration as the basis for the office & ministry of the bishops of Rome/Popes. Form. Isaac’s half-brother Ishmael is the son of Abraham & maidservant Hagar. Islam claims its connection to Abraham through Ishmael, whereas Judaism flows from the line of Abraham & Isaac. Forms. The woman anoints Jesus w/perfumed salve. Disciples question
this. Jesus says, “She has done a beautiful thing. What she has done will be told in memory of her.” Compassion/substance over utility/form [Mark 14:1-16:8]. Jesus’ crucifixion deters sedition.
Yet the Roman centurion stands in front of Jesus on the Cross & cries out, “Surely, this man is the
Son of God!” [Mark 15:39] A stout-hearted Roman warrior/substance proclaims Jesus’ Divinity over
the crucifixion/form of deterrence. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Okay, Monjou Masutani was labeled such moniker by his lady French teacher, who was amazed at his eating [pidgin monje for eat], just as pidgin guye is to taste [well]. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Jesse Shima’s foreordained alter ego, Sen. John Henderson —
Former Civil War soldier/abolitionist Sen. John Henderson cast the deciding vote to acquit President Andrew Johnson of impeachment. Johnson was wretchedly tried on trumped up charges by his
political enemies. Which is why JFK extolled Sen. Henderson a century later as among the great men of history, who stood up for righteousness in the face of inevitable failure to win re-election.
In 1974 President Nixon was subject to impeachment, but he resigned before proceedings began. In 1999 President Clinton was acquitted of impeachment over oral sex perjury, which had nothing to do w/his duties as Commander-in-Chief. Though impeachment failed in 2 of 3 foregoing instances, it remains in
the U.S. Constitution as an integral part of checks/balances in the U.S. Gov’t. Every U.S. State except Oregon has impeachment procedures. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Vicarious pleasure — I take vicarious pleasure in experiencing long-ago friendships of historymakers/untold heroes via my queries/research. Thankfully, people willingly share their observations
& personal experiences, which make it possible for me to put 2 & 2 together, so to speak. My biggest inspiration after my parents is Pastor Roy Kim, Korean ancestry, Maui native born 1946, who feels it most important to make Scripture relevant/applicable to every matter before us. I have tried to emulate Roy via my writings.
I feel that we frail sentient beings drop before a higher calling, metaphysical, which
then galvanizes us to try to see the big picture of our lives, whatever that picture may be. Thank you, Roy, for showing me a more meaningful way to find
happiness/comfort. Love always, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Obama’s grassroot support — Obama is the most successful fundraiser in history, remarkably getting grassroot donations via half of his donor base [less than $200 per donor]. Which is why KingLit Ching applauds Obama for rejecting public financing. PAC/Sec. “527″ soft monies/Party National Committees render impotent the public financing system, which are why Obama wants to have leverage vs. McCain’s
soft money sources. Obama’s moral strength is Obama’s grassroot support [maximum $2,300 per hard money donor general election], which is prescient egalitarian/altruist KingLit’s point — grassroot support. The irony is that Obama’s soft money sources are sprouting up like Spring daisies all over the place [everybody loves a winner][no limits on contributions/no income tax owed by PAC]. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
UCC Pastor Ronald Fujiyoshi born 1940 —
Who is this goofy-looking busy-body buddahead parading around being hustler fomentor to the down & out of society, I ask?! Remember when the Romans asked the same of Jesus, the itinerant hippie?! Yikes, it’s Ron Susumu Fujiyoshi, sans ancient robe/cane/mule! Sansei/3rd generation Ron’s ojisan/grandpa settled on Maui, where Ron’s dad was raised/became Congreg. minister. Ron lived in Hilo cusp of Statehood yrs. [otosan/dad led Hilo's Holy Cross/Japanese Church] but Ron is alum of Mid-Pac/Chicago Theol. Sem. [Jesse Jackson's
edu. there also]. As w/Yugo Okubo [Jim Albertini's `aina], here was jesus in Ron right under our skin! Google reserved [in private] Ron. Gatz, dis’ bugga’ stay all ova’ da place!! Ubiquitous man of tremendous substance!! Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:50 pm
When tengara/conceited Karl Kawahara asked Isamu
Kanekuni what would Isamu think if Karl ran for public office like eccentric brother Farmer Bill, Isamu dryly told him “You ought to get your head examined.”
Karl never ran for office. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Ken Hupp born January 1956 — Ken Hupp is Heinz [57 varieties], though Mom is full Swedish. Ken was raised in Wash. State & moved to O`ahu in 1972, where he got into radio broadcasting. He’s humble because his dad quit school in the 10th grade. Ken graduated from UH-Hilo Political Science 4.0 GPA. Ken brought John Burnett to Hilo’s radio industry a quarter century ago, & John is UH-Hilo English grad valedictorian [born Oct. 1953]. JB says that radio industry broadcasters come from humble beginnings vs. TV broadcasters. Ken & JB have silver throated voices, the finest anywhere. These mythics choose to live here in rustic/quaint Hilo. Our great gain! –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Waiakea lore — Capt. Matson monopolized shipping. His 1st facility was his warehouse on the bank of Wailoa River [across Suisan]. The Waiakea Christian church bell which was swept ringing in the throes of the 1877 tsunami now hangs as the courtyard centerpiece at Hilo’s YMCA. Coconut Island’s Mokuola
Rock [healing] sits in the middle of the shallow bay inlet west of the diving tower. The 1903 metal trestle RR bridge at the entrance to Wailoa harbor
was dismantled in 1921 [RR wharf/Isles Landing was closed down after today's Hilo Harbor was built][RR bridge abutment was shaved down to 2 ft. above water level -- still existent today at river's mouth], & used as “siding”/RR bridge across Pepe`ekeo’s Kaupaku`ea stream. Of course, the phenom 800 ft. long RR wharf wood pier also was torn down & its lumber used for scrap wood. Heiau where Suisan parking lot is [makai bank-Japanese cultural park berm is manmade/artificial rise to service 1903 Mamane St. buggy/vehicle bridge & oceanside RR bridge--buggy bridge abutment still existent as 10 ft. tall lava rock/mortar "tower" -- trough/chasm b/n RR & buggy rd. where Dr. Pete Okumoto's home was, got filled w/dirt after RR wharf closed down 1920s], along
w/heiaus where Mokuola parking lot is & where new clearing is oceanside of Harrington’s Restaurant, were stripped for road building. As recently as 1970, embedded rock still surfaced at the entrance/Keli`ipi`o Way to Mokuola parking lot. Ancient Hawaiians would dry their ancestral bones on the Mokuola islet off the shore [rancid smell/fumes/flies]. Central Japan’s Yamaguchi [Suisan/IK Motors] & Hiroshima [KTA] districters inhabited Waiakea a century ago, just about when Hawaiian athletic forebearers [Herman/Jimmy Clark's tutu][Herm
Wedemeyer's ohana][Tommy Kaulukukui's kin] were leaving the area. My in-laws Namahoe had century-old feuds over both sides of Kam Ave. w/n their Mahoe family. Which is why one branch, Hoe, became ubiquitous Hoe/Kapena for Henry Hoe Lane [where KTA got its start across Suisan on Lihiwai St.]. Legend has it that the twin warriors
on our State seal impelled the Mahoe family to pull together, inasmuch the twins were the Mahoes! Yikes! Lore from hither & ‘yon! As to current [1960 tsunami] site recall of residents/commerce, contempos Rich Nakamura born 1921 ph. 959-7450/ Tomoe Nagahisa Nishi born 1923 ph. 959-8615 pm 934-9611 am are Waiakea’s aces. I refer Sanborn/TMK map IDs
to them, not to me. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Current Pope Benedict —
Predecessor Pope John Paul lived thru the dual specter of Nazi & Communist tyranny. Jesus was
here to be among the untouchables, & so felt John Paul amid secular autocracy. Thence John
Paul’s intrepid odyssey thru the world’s inhospitable venues. Spiritual salvation breaks secular
one-man iron-fisted rulership. Canon governance by committee pretty much sums up Pope Benedict’s reign today. No way is Benedict accorded arbitrary authority/life span-long rulership as w/his predecessors. Benedict’s gaffe is when he self-glorifies by narcissizing to his German brethren — “I never knew how many people look up to me. It is dizzying. I am so honored by my authority.” Like when a priest chafes, please don’t lay your hand against
the wall — I don’t want to clean it. Turf-touchy/self-serving possessive behavior — me/me/me. Selfish. Committee oversight infuses checks/balances. So that if the Pope, who has the
supposed final say/word/authority, suddenly wakes up one morning & edicts that clergy shall be allowed to have spouses, he will be constrained by council from “going off the deep end.” We shall not see for the next 2 decades absolute Canonical one-man rulership of long tenure. Rule by committee is the advisory precept. Erasmus was a reformist, Luther was a
revolutionary. Luther was more into I/Me — Erasmus was into We/Team-first. Unity of Christianity, not 2 separate churches! And certainly not capricious leadership! Current councillors promote balance/harmony, not risk of one-man absolute rulership. Such rule by committee averts handicap of age senility [evident w/predecessor tenures such as recent John Paul] — & averts administrative stagnation — & averts radical change/edicts. During the last decade of John Paul’s rule, idle governance stymied mission strategy/outreach. Catholic propagation actually receded into loss of parishioners, not gains in number of devotees. Thence rule by commitee/Benedict’s advanced age in his appointment — ensure a relatively satisfactory & short tenure.
Jesus became an untouchable himself by touching the deformed/lepers. So did our St. Damien. So did Mother Teresa. Joan of Ark was burned at the stake because she defied church hypocrisy. Recent John Paul defied staid protocol by reaching out to untouchables a la Jesus, in conformity w/open-minded/welcome sign Vatican II. Our Bishop Stephen Alencastre, Luso/Portuguese [1st ever native Bishop], was spurned by the Vatican for mission support, & in turn worked w/the Maryknoll Fathers/Brothers to spread the Word/
Canon. Strategist/starter/outreach virtuoso, our Stephen Alencastre was a wunderkind. Current Bishop Silva, Luso, is an introvert to Bishop Alencastre’s people skills/deftness. Different eras, different calibre. Alencastre was beyond compare. He was a young
John Paul! But he did not suffer long decline like sad decrepit John Paul. To see exemplars of anti-rigid Catholic church hierarchy, bio-up on Martin Luther protege Phillip Melanchthon
1497-1560 & Marcus Aurelius stoic protege Jeanne Marie Guyon aka Madame Guyon 1684-1717. Muito obrigad/abencoe, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Positive/great role model Morgan “Bajo”[short] Tulang
1. Morgan 1970-2007 intoned Mom, “This is who I am” when Julie beseeched him to reconsider his deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bajo’s wife Megumi had a premonition just before his death in which Bajo instructed her, “I’m here to serve my Country so that another daddy [not me] will come home alive.” Do you know the divine question “Why God why?” is more powerful than any answer? Morgan always said that bad things happen when good men do nothing. Yes, Morgan’s holy trinity is measured by his eternal
precepts patriotism/supreme self-sacrifice/service to humanity-world. Extraordinary valor/heroism. Unmatched. Greatest is the man who lays down his life so that another may live.
2. I reprise/redux Morgan’s forebearer in time, Kalaupapa’s Saint Damien, to whom history bestows, “Noblest of men, impelled by his love for humanity, our Saint Damien forsook the association of mankind and devoted his life to serve the betterment of his afflicted, giving up his life & dying willingly, a martyr to extraordinary devotion and altruism.” A young child once asked his momma Mommy, “Do people die young because they become too good for this Earth?” Yes, the question is more powerful than any answer. Bajo’s Vuvu/grandpa Willie died young in a ranching accident [Kuka`iau horse whisperer][only went to the 6th grade but had indomitable quiet strength/inner peace], & Bajo has joined his
ancestral hero in Heaven. To Bajo’s wife Megumi & very young children Mia & Mitchell, no words can measure such loss of husband/father, but may they be comforted by his devotion to duty, at the cost of all which he held dear, to hasten the day when a peace-loving people as ours shall secure our blessings for our progeny. As Douglas MacArthur said on our Gerald Ferreira’s KIA Korean War 1950, “Our Faith enables
us to withstand the shock and grief of death. It is my earnest prayer that God Almighty shall sustain and strengthen you in this time of sorrow. While the loss of your dearest son Gerald is impossible to describe in words, we know that no life can be lost for those
who have faith in God.”
3. Hero worship. Who finer to exemplify such precept than our Morgan Bajo Tulang. The Lord is my shepherd. Positive/great role model. “Dear Madam, I have received word from our War Dept. about the passing of your son. I feel how weary and fruitless any words of mine could attempt to beguile you from the grief, the loss, so overwhelming … but I shan’t refrain from tendering to you the consolation which may be found in the thanks of our Republic your son died to save — I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the Loved lost — and the solemn pride which is yours — to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom and Liberty. —Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln.” Consuelo y amor, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Kiyo Okubo & buddahead pioneers —
1. Kiyo Okubo 1905-2001 worked for philanthropist/publisher Dr. Saburo Hayashi [Kona Echo], who first moved to Honomu in 1892, to be succeeded by Pastor Shiro Sokabe in 1894. Kiyo considers this dynamite duo of M.D. Hayashi [1867-1942] [whose son Chisato also was M.D./philanthropist] & theologian Sokabe [1865-1949][Fukuoka samurai] as our greatest
Issei.
2. Other Issei/immigrant pioneers include Isojiro Kitagawa [car dealership]/Eiji Fujimoto [importer-
engineer Akira's dad]/Gunji Kono [trucker-dad of atty Russ & educator Elaine's hubby Hiro]/Ryoji Sumida [fish cake factory]/Minezo Nakahara [Tommy's dad]/Yosaburo Kohashi [442nd hero Wataru's dad (fish cake factory)]/Sadahichi Miura [Pahoa store]/Kenji Yamato [Honoka`a store]/Sadayoshi Miyamoto [cash & carry branch stores]/Yurimatsu Yamane-Sanzo Kawasaki-
Kametaro Fujimoto contractors/Hisagoro Yasukawa [blacksmith]/Masayuki Narimatsu [taxi]atty Kango Kawasaki [facilitated Hawai`i - Japan relations -- had quaint Wailoa pond estate]/Sada Hata [Hata dry goods] & baby bro Yoichi Hata [Y. Hata --pol insider Frank's dad]/Hawaii Mainichi publisher Nobuji Tokushiro/contractor Haya Iwashita. Nisei trailblazers include Taro [meaning first-born son] Nakamoto [Gladys Sonomura's & atty Roy's dad]/Sanji Abe [banker Stan's dad]/Futoshi Frank Arakawa [engineer who did Hilo High Auditm.-Hilo Police Station]/Democratic Party founders Dr. Ernest Mitsuo Kuwahara, Richard Imai, Tetsuo Morinoue, Charles Otani, Hardy Shimizu, Seichi Morita/atty Al Kimura/
contractor Matsuto Ono/1st AJA legislator Tasaku Oka [along w/O`ahu's Andy Yamashiro]/Dr. Takeo Ota/dry cleaner Ernest Matsumoto/Dr. Kaname Nakamaru/det. Shun
Ushiroda/solon Sakuichi Sakai/banker Norio-acct. JoeYamauchi/bottler-crackerman Shiro Ikeda/contractor Tada Yamane/Dr. Yutaka Inokoji/club owner Hisakichi Hisanaga [Kazuma's dad]/office mgr. James Higashida/Dr. Al Shimamura/candymaker Rioichi Rich Uyeno/Yoshio Tanimoto [store branches/theater chains].
Young Issei TR Saiki was same age group/peer of oldest Nisei here [born 1880s thru 1900][banker Saiki's Hilo Rice Mill], and to TR’s credit [unlike insular pure blood master race peers] TR married “out of race” [paddler genesis Tommy Forbes sister]. Contractor SK Oda was Nisei [born in my native Pauka`a along w/County Band genesis Carvalho] & incorporated lava rock veneer into his structures [quaint Moto's Inn Restaurant pre-'60 tsunami on Kam/
Kumu Sts.-Hilo Library]. Contractor Hisato Isemoto [Larry's dad] [built Pu`ueo St. concrete arch bridge] was Issei & was interned WWII, despite supplying the flatbed trucks for July 4 parades annually. Sad that even Nisei like Abe/Arakawa/Kuwahara were interned, the seething resentment being that Kiyo Okubo had a hand in such internment [did not rebuke FBI hit list, in order to avert internment himself & to continue publishing as Hochi scribe-- Okubo was briefly detained at KMC after Pearl Harbor attack-outbreak of WWII]. Yes, even Issei progeny like current boss Les Isemoto [sansei-3rd generation AJA] question
ancient Okubo’s sincerity. Till this day. Yikes!
3. Man, oh man, such redux of oldtime names is for the ages!!– Despite accusations vs. Okubo of turncoating vs. his people [internment/detention]!! Nisei pathfinders include Dr. Tadashi Oto/Dr. Sada Kasamoto/Judge Tom Okino [rallying cry for formation of 442nd here]/solon Tom Sakakihara/Kyuichi Hayashi/John Fujii/Dr. Richard Arimizu/Masao Miyazaki/Seichi Matsu/Ernest Matsumoto/Dr. Toshio Kutsunai/Dr. Harry Urasaki/banker Ray Otsuka/teacher Sanae Kanda/etc.
4. So many names/figures/personalities/historymakers!! Sonkei mukashi no [revere the past]— Do you know that Nisei Rex Matsuno got perturbed when Kitagawa progeny denied Rex’ Suisan discounts on vehicle purchases? I don’t blame Rex. Rex’ dad/IK Motors’ founder all partnered/tanamoshi as young entrepreneurs here a century ago, only to find a half century later [pre-'60 tsunami] such bosom bonds cut loose out of profit over preservation [of ancestral links/kokoro].
5. Names galore — Teru Takahashi/Gil Miyata/Kiyo Yamamoto/Herb Taketa/Jin Murashige/Frank Gota/Barney Fujimoto/Harold Oda/Dr. Masao Kubo/Frank Ishii/Nobu Maruyama/Juichi Doi/Tom Machida/Toku Morikawa/Paul Sakamaki/Hide Taguchi/Kaz Kimura/HI Nitta/Rich Dodo/Dr. Hide Nishimura/Sid Hamada/Dr. Jun Matsumura/Shige Ageta/Alex Akita/Kaz Fukuda/Mas Fukuda/Mas Hamamoto/Mas Hiraiwa/Ben Ishikawa/Charles Kohara/Mas Kimura/Gil Kobatake/Jim Miyake/Rich Nishimoto/Dr. Ken Nowaki/Tom Saito/Teru Shiigi/Harry
Urata/Kintaro Yokoyama/Sada Yokoyama/Ed Yano/etc.
Kansha, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Honolulu’s 1st mayor, Joe Fern, was Dem 1909-1920
Do you know that Honolulu’s 1st mayor, original Kohala pathfinder Joe Fern, was Dem? He served ably as the fighter for the common lot, 1909-1920, when he died in office [diabetes]. He was succeeded by ubiquitous Dem Kanaka Johnny Wilson, 2nd-longest serving mayor [17 yrs.], who is topped by the longest-serving mayor, Dem firestorm Frank Fasi [21 yrs.].
Muito obrigad, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Waiakea Congregational Church bell 1867 is at today’s YMCA —
Haili Church’s outreach included its Waiakea chapel 1867 furnished with its own church bell. The church was situated across from today’s Suisan boat harbor, & swept whole with its church intact & bell ringing in the 1877 tsunami. It came to rest near today’s
Waiakea memorial clock across from Coqui’s Restaurant [former KK Tei]. Waiakea Sugar mill mgr. CC Kennedy erected what later was known as the Waiakea Social Settlement bldg. 1901. The old chapel bell was placed in a new bell tower at this site by where
today’s memorial clock is. CC Kennedy died in 1919 at age 71, & the new settlement gym complex replaced his old complex in 1939. Today’s memorial clock was erected in 1939 in honor of educator Martha Wakefield’s mother Mrs. C.E. Richardson. The settlement became the YMCA in 1959, but following the
calamitous 1960 tsunami, the YMCA relocated to today’s
site by our UH-Hilo, where the beautiful chapel bell reposes serenely in its display alcove. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Take advice from the labor movement — ethnicity divides us —
Look at our immense labor struggles — ethnic strikes divide us, a la the Japanese 1909 strike, the 1920 & 1924 Filipino strikes. Advocacy directed at economic conditions without reference to ethnicity is what impelled the forward movement of the ILWU
behind seasoned warriors Louis Goldblatt/Harry Bridges/Jack Hall [though Bridges repulsed vs. Hall's egomania]. This remains a portention of failure to come for sovereignty promoters Osorio/Trask/ill wind Blaisdell, who make money their god, plain & simple, under the guise of ethnic superiority. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Scribes as wordsmiths — Greatest of wordsmiths are familiar names — Sandburg/Tennyson/Pope/etc.
Scribes who master the art of metaphor incl. Will & Trib’s Bret Yager, along w/this website’s great editor Tiffany Edwards Hunt. What seem effortless/utterly imaginative may well be second nature to these gifted writers, but for the most part, these masters’ providential talents were honed thru years of sufferance/honing-sharpening their creative skills-edges. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Steere Noda 1892-1986 Hongwanji church linked Steere to Fred Makino 1877-1953 —
Steere took his name after Trust Co. boss Fred Steere Sr., who helped Steere be accepted by Big 5 haoles. Gigaku Steere Noda, born at `Ewa plantation of Kumamoto extraction, was the 1st scholarship student of Prince Fushimi endowment [Fushimi was arranged by Kalakaua to marry Ka`iulani but Mutsuhito turned it down -- pure blood rule] & graduated as Hongwanji’s
inaugural student. While Steere was building his Asahi baseball dynasty [started club in 1905 at age 13, just as innate leader Francis Wong started Hilo's
Wanderers Club at age 14 in 1933], son of England trading merchant Fred Makino successfully stopped assembly line/conveyor belt Christian ceremonies
forced on Issei/Japan immigrant picture brides at our immigration compound, which were violation of religious liberty, being that brides were Buddhist.
Noda went to work for the IRS in 1915, the 1st Nisei/2nd generation Fed Gov’t employee. Thanks to Makino’s fellow English brew/kin Joe Lightfoot,
Noda was mentored by J_p-hater Lightfoot as a court clerk/interpreter/district court practitioner, all because Noda wholly backed up Makino’s crusade to stop forced Christian marriages on incoming Japan picture brides, along w/Makino’s crusade to save our Nihon gakko/Japanese language schools [haole oligarchy/Big 5 sought to eliminate coercively such bi-lingual mode to defeat "Tokyo-inizing" Hawai`i kids], a crusade that Hongwanji chief Yemyo Imamura 1867-1932 fully sponsored [immigrants mostly
Hongwanji Buddhists, not Christian]. Of course, Noda was a made man by Imamura himself a la Brando’s Godfather cinema. Christian leader Takie Okumura 1865-1951 vehemently opposed Makino/Imamura on
grounds that “when in Rome, do as the Romans do, ergo do unto Caesar as secular currency emblems Caesar’s inscription.” Makino’s chief rival publisher Yasutaro Soga of Nippu Jiji 1873-1957, though Makino’s compadre/spiritual kazoku in the unified Nikkei Sugar Strike 1909, sided w/assimilationist/
accomodationist Okumura. Ironically, Soga was imprisoned/interned WWII, not White man Makino the provocateur/instigator. That Noda also was the
1st National Guard volunteer pleasantly aroused esteemed attorney Lightfoot’s cackles [Lightfoot's progeny C. Joseph Lightfoot 1917-1944 Navy KIA WWII].
In other words, power relationship cemented Noda’s legacy [Englishmen Makino-Lightfoot][Noda's unfailing allegiance to Hongwanji protector Makino]. Irony is that Hirohito’s/Tojo’s Imperial Japan persecuted Christians/Catholics, but worked w/Hawai`i Christians to promote language schools so long as Big 5 would permit such endeavors — yet tolerated Buddhists in Japan despite forced State Shinto [not Buddhist, but "paganism"], but undercut Imamura in Hawai`i [Imamura protested Tojo's forced takeover of Buddhist churches]. So Makino tried to “Tokyo-inize” Nikkei here, despite being wholly at odds w/Hito-Tojo vicariously via Imamura, & Okumura/Soga tried to Americanize Nikkei here, despite being supported by Hito/Tojo [vs. blowback from Buddhist Imamura]. Man oh man, manifold prism, huh??!! Odd alliances!!
Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Fortune or misfortune of circumstance —
Gotta reprise Franklin Odo’s blockbuster book “No Sword to Bury,” wherein Herb Isonaga 1921-2009 chafes at Herb’s VVV college peers who inflate their role in forming the eventual 442 RCT. Herb flatly retorts that the VVV was just a gimmick to show our mettle/AJA patriotism to America, that the boys were in the right time/place aka “fortune of circumstance.” Apt/true.
Legend is that thief Gestas ridiculed Jesus on the Cross, but thief Dismas exhorted the Jews/pharisees to set free Jesus, inasmuch Jesus did no wrong. Dismas/Gestas were partners in crime who stumbled upon Mary, Joseph, & baby Jesus fleeing into Egypt. Dismas convinced Gestas to let this poor family go by w/out robbing them. At the moment of crucifixion, Jesus pronounced calmly to Dismas, “Today you will be with me in Paradise [Heaven].” [Luke 23:43] During
Resurrection, when the women came to Jesus’ tomb to finish ceremonial anointing of the body, they didn’t find Jesus, but 2 men in white robes shouted to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?!” [Luke 24:5] The women were the first to come to the empty tomb. Jesus’ disciples followed next. Thence, Luke’s Gospel also is the Gospel of Women. Notice that Luke gives equal footing to women who get acknowledged a la the fortune of circumstance [foreordained per Jesus]. Jesus was mocked amid his misfortune of circumstance. When Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath, the Sanhedrin [so-called keepers of Mosaic Law] accused Jesus of violating Mosaic Covenant. Eventually, the famed/powerful/wealthy societal elite crucified Jesus on the Cross [John 9:3]. Yes, Herb, Book of Signs–Last Journey [John 11:1-12:50] — Jesus used Jesus’ Divinity to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet Jesus’ humanity brought Jesus to tears at the death of Lazarus. This, along w/Jesus’ passion/suffering/death, showed Jesus’ human nature, whilst the
miracles/Resurrection showed Jesus’ Divinity [John 11:25-26]. Finally, after Peter denies 3 times
knowing Jesus, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Peter’s repentance/commissioning [John 13:38].
Peter is then instructed to “feed my sheep, feed my lambs” by Jesus [John 21:15-17]. After appearing before the Sanhedrin, Stephen is taken outside & stoned to death. Twist is that Paul of Tarsus, violent Christian persecutor, approves stoning of Stephen for blasphemy. Yes, this is the subsequent St. Paul the apostle/ardent defender of the Christian faith. Stephen is my Herb, who is outnumbered by the tengara/talking heads among the infant post-1920 born 442 Nisei. Paul of Tarsus typifies the Ichiyamas/Tsukiyamas of the educated high-collared Sanhedrin. You know, life is strange. Ever since our greatest AJA historian Franklin Odo born 1939 published “No Sword to Bury” [we are Americans, not Japs], nary any 442/VVV commended poor Franklin [they're too much into their own legend], except Sanhedrin Tsukiyama, whose attitude stinks but who recognizes Odo’s book as great, great history. Where I come in, unsolicited by Odo or anyone else, is that the 442 infant boys [post-1920 born] love themselves too much, & get caught up in their own press clippings. Franklin, I know their ilk way better than you do. Keep up the faith [history for time immemorial]. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
U.N. Security Council
U.N. Security Council’s 5 permanent members’ unanimous vote required for peacekeeping forces — U.S./Russia/Red China/Great Britain/France.
3 other countries beside these 5 countries have strategic nuclear weapons — North Korea/India/Pakistan. U.N. peacekeepers total 2,100
in U.S.-aided separatist Kosovo. U.N.’s forces totalled 210 in Georgia before Russia’s invasion. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Buddhist bishop Yemyo Imamura rebuked Japan’s repression vs. Buddhists —
Industrial Japan’s State Shinto [Meiji's Hito era 1868 onward][secular emperor as Shinto god]
repressed traditional Buddhism. Thence, our Imamura’s backfire vs. Japan Consulate. Although
Christians [gaijin/hakujin] were more severely punished in Japan, Japan’s Consulate here expediently
worked w/Takie Okumura’s Christians for language schools. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Dennis Ogawa/Masaji Marumoto —
Granted, Dennis is esteemed UH AJA expert. But Dennis is post-WWII mentality/recoil over anti-J_p prejudice, not collaborative/co-opt a la Masaji Marumoto [or antecedent Yasutaro Soga], who overcame bigotry by adapting to/being accepted by overlords [e.g. Makiki Pastor Takie Okumura's New Americans 1927-1941 outfit]. Our champions/inspirations? None other than our great public school teachers/educators, who were imbued w/bedrock idealism of everybody’s equal! Yes, they were haole, they were Protestant, but they believed in
Samaritans/Matthew/Isaiah. They typified the fresh/invigorating pioneer spirit [which
emerged of necessity to overcome class barriers], Oren Long being the exemplar [grassroot
Kansas boy who grew up amidst railroad/banker cartel chokehold/vise-grip over bankrupt farmers].
Yes, in our struggling ethnics Oren saw his own life flash before him — deja vu — & Oren’s
gang was inspired/levitated by our pursuit to Americanize/assimilate. He saw himself in
the mirror. He fell in love w/our immigrants/perseverance. Oren’s feelings typified most of our champion educators who saw in us much of themselves [to overcome hardship/poverty], such as Miles Cary. Yes, Nisei Masaji born 1906 made Oren born 1889 utterly proud to be a Hawai`i educator!!
Dennis looks at Oren as the Old Order/plantation-era mentality/benevolent paternalism. After all, young Dennis is post-WWII thinking/Kotonk who came here when Jack Burns already was Governor. Essentially, Dennis rebukes territorial-era accomodation/acceptance a la JACL’s repudiatory militancy. Extremist, yes, in relation to a Marumoto or forebearer Soga. Masaji is just about the most unspoken Nisei hero [Kuakini Japanese Charity Hospital leader/averted mass internment of buddaheads here/post-war Okinawa reconstructionist (Masaji is Naichi, not Uchinanchu)/1st ever AJA high court Justice nationwide 1957/1st ever AJA Big 5 bd.
member/etc.]. Soga’s moderation/peacemaker distinctions sped acculturation/assimilation
for pre-WWII buddaheads [Soga was Nippu Jiji newspaper editor]. After all, unlike Stateside
Kotonks, we buddaheads were the majority race lorded over by a teeny-weeny number of elite haoles [who were well aware of our prolific population growth]/our geographical isolation in the middle of the Pacific prevented mass migration to Hawai`i of Stateside haoles/we filled the vacuum of what otherwise would have been a Stateside haole middle class, being that early territorial Hawai`i had the haves vs. the have-nots, no in-between middle class.
Yes, totally opposite of Stateside rule over Kotonks. Our plantation mgrs. were compassionate, most of whom were new immigrants themselves [Scots], & who saw in us buddaheads a true reflection of their own aspirations/idealism. Our educators were crusaders for the underclass, inasmuch our educators themselves arose from want/humble roots. Our
missionary descendant businessmen [C & C/A & B/etc.] were respectfully wary of their Biblical precepts to uplift/catalyze feelings of self-worth among the immigrant have-nots. Even our most brazen non-missionary Merchant St. capitalists were forced to co-exist w/our immigrants in our geographically small island community. Yes, co-exist, not beat the hell out of each other. Translated — aloha spirit, inclusive/welcome wagon-like, thanks to progenitors/Hawaiians Kamehameha I/Kalakaua/etc. Beautiful convergence of events/people who exuded the
aloha spirit!! Ubiquitous Hung Wai Ching? Our greatest buddahead hero. This intrepid Chinaman came along w/majority buddahead UH enrollment by 1940. “And the rest is history” [Hung Wai inspired the creation of the 100th fighting soldiers/442nd RCT/jump-started Hawai`i to Statehood/became exemplar for eventual co-existence b/n Red China-U.S./etc.]. Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Tom Okuyama/Kiyo Okubo — Japan class structure —
Tom Okuyama married Nippon-attuned Kiyoko/Kay, hence Tom’s affinity w/Nippon Kiyo Okubo. Tom’s wife was Kiyo’s dutiful gal friday. No, merchant Tomohide [Tom's dad] was not linked w/Kiyo. Point is that Kiyo [from farmer Niigata ken-district] mixed more
w/plantation laborers, not w/fishermen [such as from Yamaguchi ken-district] like Suisan/Kawachika fish market [swimmer Ed's kin]/Sumida fishcake/etc. Result is that Kiyo paid attention to civics/leaders from the verdant green hills of King Sugar [Sakuichi Sakai/Shunzo Sakamaki/Hardy Shimizu/John Fujii/Yoshio Tanimoto/Jingiuyei Mijo/Matsuto Ono/Yoshigazu Morita/Dr. Yutaka Inokoji/Ray Otsuka. Waiakea fishermen were not Kiyo’s domain. Kiyo’s most valued peers included patricians Dr. Tadashi Oto/Sanji Abe/Tasaku Oka/Nobuji Tokushiro/Dr. Albert Shimamura/Kango Kawasaki. –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Dr. Sexton’s beautiful home perched over Pu`u’eo Pali/ocean cliff [where the wooden bridge crossed over the Belt Rd. at the end of Halaulani Place] was relocated to Waimea across Manuel Ulysius Ferreira’s home [our Johnny Waimea's wife Justina's youngest brother], backdropped by beautiful green pastures [including Johnny Waimea's former acreages/ranch shed]. Dr. Sexton’s home is unique for its phalanx design [which pointed toward the blue Pacific/Hilo Bay].
–Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Back to fishermen/Waiakea[Yashijima] — furyoshonen/troublemakers are what shantytown/
tenement residents were called along what is now Banyan Drive peninsula. Fishermen in Japan had higher status, even though life also was difficult there. When feudal Tokugawa era Japan modernized into Meiji Japan [Commodore Perry's black ships], samurai were relegated to farmwork [see The Last Samurai w/Tom Cruise-Ken Watanabe-Hiroyuki Sanada], & merchants rose up the social ladder [which included entrepreneur fisheries]. Japan martial arts emerged from Kyushu [Fukuoka/Kumamoto (kendo master/Dad's
baby brother Charley Narimatsu is a direct descendant of samurai tradition)], where samurai were banished back to. By nature, Waiakea/Yashijima was apolitical, not fiercely outspoken like Kea`au/Pepe`ekeo. Light note: Dem Party daimyo/shogun Scrub Tanaka detested female buddaheads from militant Kea`au/Pepe`ekeo. After all, ILWU’s top haole leaders married Kea`au AJA girls. Scrub’s Dem genesis Rich Imai born 1910 laughs to no end at Scrub’s phobia. Which is why Scrub always detested the ILWU [which supported GOP pre-Statehood][which
chose GOP Lofty Cook over Scrub for mayor 1960]. Rich is from militant Kea`au [large plantation communities such as Kea`au/Pepe`ekeo/Honoka`a (Goto lynching 1889)--militant-- had stratified caste system/division of labor/social class hegemony -- in topography, haole mgrs./supervisors at the highest elevation/totem pole, below them are Luso/Portuguese
lunas, below the Luso are Jap laborers, & on down to the Porinkis/Yobos -- but yikes! -- Uchinanchu sent to God-forsaken forest line some 6 miles above civilization -- the ape men stigma]. Chinese — aah, so individualistic the Chinamen predated mass labor immigration & set out on their own. Like the haole aristocrats, Chinamen made the most use of the
Great Mahele land distributions — the Hawaiian chiefs strong-armed/shook down their own hoa`aina/farmers/maka`ainana/commoners — & then turned around & sold their vassals’ lands to the haoles/Chinamen. It certainly helped the Chinamen that these single testosterone-laden lads married nubile Hawaiian girls, & thus assimilated well into so-called “host culture” [term foisted by sovereignty separatists/extremists]. Whoa! Love, –Curt
October 31st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Blushing, Curt, mahalo.
My mom watched Elvira. Now, she would make a good Halloween costume.
November 1st, 2009 at 8:00 am
Treasures come in earthen vessels, 2 Cor. 4:7, meaning 1) for all of erudite editor Tiff Edward Hunt’s unpretentious folksy nature, she has the unmatched heart of a martyr in her devotion to humanity and to the world; 2) Tiff’s tita look with bra strap hanging out belies her stunning physical beauty — look at her face [not to mention her Amazonian torso] — combo of East/West ancestral backdrops. Brussels Belgium and our Hawaiian Islands have this incredible polyglot blessing of the “hapa” or mixed descent look in our residents, a combination of dark/light complexioned folks. Amazing confluence. Aloha, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 8:21 am
As you head south down the bend of old Wailea [old Mamalahoa highway] scenic road where Akiko’s Bed & Breakfast Serenity Retreat is, you’ll see what looks like an old industrial concrete incinerator on the makai side of the road. It’s the old safe for the long-gone Wailea Sugar Co., a Portuguese-owned sugar plantation which was located on the north side of Kolekole gulch/bridge. Our Kaiwiki/Wainaku plantation also was Portuguese-owned, by Congregational Christians of Rev. E.G. De Silva’s ilk, the same Luso who owned the Hawaii Mill where today’s Central Fire Station is, who supplanted earlier Chinese sugar masters [such as Tong Ai Yee, genesis immigrant of communicant Mr. Kai on this website, who [Mr. Kai] apparently goes by assorted pseudonyms like Go Lakers/Ivan Tatum/Anonymous/anonymous], & who then were supplanted by eventual legendary planter Kimo Henderson 1876-1965. Aloha, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 8:36 am
Hung Wai Ching’s earliest role models YMCA’s Lloyd R. Killam 1885-1981, Leigh Hooley 1898-1982, & John Young 1902-1990 —
Hung Wai Ching’s parents immigrated to Hawai`i from Zhongshan [same region as Sun Yat Sen] outside Canton in the early 1890s. Hung Wai’s dad was a merchant seaman who always was on the open sea, never at home in Nu`uanu across Queen Emma Elem. School. Hung Wai’s mom raised her 6 kids along w/her widower brother’s 5 kids. Geography is a huge influence
on a person’s fate. Hung Wai’s positive figures were Nu`uanu YMCA/Congregational leaders Lloyd R. Killam/”Lee Houley”/John Young. Hung Wai got so caught up in his heroes’ altruism that he wanted
to be a youth leader like them. And via their outreach to the breakaway/separatist Chinese Community Church at Emma St. [vs. the Beretania St. 1st Chinese Christian Church, now on S. King St. across McKinley High], he wanted to be a faithfinder like them. These were Hung Wai’s formative
influences. Absent father [work duties], overwhelmed child caregiver mother, Hung Wai 1905-2002 hero-worshipped his conveniently located leaders Killam/Houley/Young on his block. Top alter ego propagation/successorship, from Killam/Houley/Young down to impressionable/hungry heathen Hung
Wai. Aloha, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 8:51 am
Oldtime Hilo scribes — Do you know that Dave Shapiro/Fred Reedy were UH-Hilo PolicSci Black prof Bea Markey students when UH-Hilo became a 4 yr. university? Shapiro married a Keaa’u 2nd generation sweet Filipina — good choice for moralistic Shapiro –who correctly refused to partake of amenities
provided by newspaper convention sponsors — nonjudgmental loving engaging type wife to counter Shapiro’s straight spine. Yes, Shapiro is Hilo High alumnus after moving here w/his family as a teen. Shapiro’s scribe daughter thankfully is very
indulgent/welcoming/engaging like Shapiro’s homegrown plantation village wife. Reedy was so unlike Shapiro in that Reedy [not Jim Rood] really dived into being ichiban #1 lover of anything/everything local. Like great scribe Howard Pierce, Reedy absolutely loved being involved in our local chop suey culture, & Reedy’s columns showed Reedy’s fullest immersion into everyday people. Of course, Fred’s weakness was his love for skirts [women]!! Unlike inept wanna-be
comedian Shapiro, Fred stuck to our cultural heart-tugs [like revered oldtime community enablers] to keep our attention, no attempt at Shapiro’s brand of coma-induced comedy. After all, Fred’s extra-curricular life was a genuine & Oscar-winning ton of fun. Why should Fred imitate life in his columns
like Shapiro STILL tries to do w/Shapiro’s banal contrived zombie humor? Yes, both men were total opposite in their lives — Fred the terminal happy
hedonist, Shapiro the drone wanna-be comedian. I gotta go back to Howard Pierce. Pierce had the sharpest mind for details/facts, & Pierce absolutely loved Hawai`i. After his life was done, Pierce knew more about us than we knew about ourselves!! He truly was a superhero to everyday folks who worshipped his columns that extolled simple living. Maxine Hughes/Helen Shiras Baldwin were awesome
scribes who really were YODA, indispensable eyes/ears like Howard Pierce. Russ Apple was a reduxer of oldtime lore a la Ted Kelsey/Bill Westervelt, as was Quentin Tomich’s daughter Margot. Of course, auspicious Hugh Clark born 1940 [same age as Pee Wee Kai 1940-1996] is our greatest scribe, especially by reason of Hugh’s longevity — 4 decades. Hugh knows us better than we know ourselves [like Pierce] & better than Hugh knows himself!! Aloha, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 9:11 am
JACL’s hypocricy — Sovereign immunity vests in the legislative branch of government, not in an ethnic group like Hawaiian or in OHA. Only in insular/secluded tribal enclaves is any residue evident of sovereign immunity [& not even then, inasmuch only Congress/legislative body has the
power to confer/remove such immunity]. That JACL argues that ceded lands are owned by Hawaiians/OHA on behalf of Hawaiians means that ethnic superiority trumps over precedent [only recognized tribes are
given quasi-immunity]. Does JACL recognize that racial superiority is what plagues AJAs [J_ps as master race], that AJAs’ guilt complex over
repressing Haw’ns doesn’t remove precedent that sovereign immunity vests in gov’t of the people/by the people/for the people, & not in ethnic Haw’ns or OHA?? Self-inflicted guilt of JACL does not remove
precedent. JACL ostracizes its founding father Mike Masaoka 1915-1991, that Mike was a scheming collaborator w/despotic WWII internment camp overlords. Not true, albeit Mike’s “they call me Moses” egomania had as much to do w/Mike’s repulsive nature, not his salient societal goal/assimilation-
Americanization. And yet, it is JACL itself today that collaborates w/racial supremacists like Trask/OHA/Osorio, who mask “it’s all about money” under
the guise of “justice for Haw’ns.” Greed/avarice are what JACL is duped by. So is our AJA Hawaii Herald, tragically, an unwitting organ of deception by
racist Haw’ns. The joke is on JACL, reminiscent of Nazi collaborators who were too afraid to stand up to tyranny. Yes, JACL, you are the Vichy in your mirror. On the other hand, a U.S. Constitutional Amendment recognizing Hawaiians as a valid political entity would do wonders to make up for America’s guilt in overthrowing the Monarchy and shaming Hawaiians into irrelevance, so to speak. Aloha, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 9:19 am
Issei/immigrant Japanese hero Joseph B. Lightfoot –
Gang, it’s about ethnic affinity. Englishman Lightfoot comes to the Big Island in 1886 at age 22 to teach school, then moves to O`ahu to teach, then becomes naturalized U.S. citizen 1900, then passes the
bar exam in 1905 at age 41, then practices law w/fellow WASP Joe Poindexter, who earlier practiced law in Montana, native of Oregon, both Joes up for U.S. Dist. Ct. judgeship, w/Poindexter being appointed
1917. Lightfoot’s son Bert later partners law w/dad Joe. Progeny Charles Joseph Lightfoot KIA Navy WWII 1944. Joe Lightfoot enables fellow Englishman Fred Kinzaburo Makino [Fred's dad wealthy English merchant in Japan, married Nippon native] in everything, incl. Fred’s lucrative de facto law practice, & incl. Fred’s bust-out of imprisonment in 1909 sugar strike/1917 immigration issues/1922 language school case won by Makino in U.S. S.Ct. Englishmen stick up for each other, just as Scots/Irish/name them, everyone sticks up for his/her ethnic group. Dem Party Poindexter gets FDR appointment as Territorial Governor 1934-1942 [retired old age/WWII]. Dem Stainback of Tennessee took over, appointing all GOPs to patronage posts. Stainback kicked out by Jack Burns in 1952, Oren Long is appointed by Truman, & Stainback moves up to S.Ct. CJ as consolation prize. Joe Lightfoot’s renowned England iconic Anglican namesake big help for Joe vs. Big 5 oligarchy, who looked down at King-does-no-wrong ancient repressive England native [Big 5 nouveau upstarts/Yankees except for Welsh Davies]. Ethnic affinity the key to all power relationships. Maine mafia refer to New England missionaries who became cogs in Big 5 [godfather C & C/Maui A & B]. BTW, Joe Lightfoot regarded Japs/buddaheads as 2nd class wanna-bees. English snobbery. But because Lightfoot not part of
original Big 5 aristocracy, Lightfoot had axe
to grind vs. elitists. Like how non-Big 5 Tom
Gill dismissed Japs/buddaheads as American wanna-bees but had axe to grind vs. uppity Merchant St. elitists. Yikes!! We’re all ambivalent, baby!! Love everlasting, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 9:21 am
Luke was a physician/Gentile but grounded himself among the teeming masses & began w/commoner Adam [understandable to vassal Gentiles], not Abraham as
Matthew did among the Chosen Jews. Thence, Luke is called the disciple of mercy & forgiveness. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, & self-
actualized at backwater Galilee. But Jesus acknowledged that “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” [Luke 4:24] Which Luke illustrated via the good Samaritan, a total stranger to a robbery/assault victim. A temple priest & a later Levite passed by the victim & offered no assistance, but the Samaritan stranger, dusk-hued/alien-foreign, bandaged the victim’s wounds & rehab-ed him to recovery. Point is that Luke shows that your helper might be a foe instead of your convenient/conventional neighbor. [Luke 10:29-37] In a sense, we all are in no-man’s land in this fleshly life/existence. Rhetorically, do we justify our being alive? Or just live for fleshly pleasure/social status? Why, if anything, are we here? Love eternal, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 9:23 am
Amazing astronomy/flight history — Imagine, we went from Newtonianism a century ago to today’s Big Bang on the origin of our Universe, thanks to Einstein. And aviation started w/my dad’s birth in
1913/WWI planes, accelerating to deep-space robotic
missions by the time Dad died in 1998. Unimaginable/
exponential leaps in science over the past century. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am
Classy May Bradley Cook 1914-2008 R.I.P.
Thomas Lofty Cook [whose grandfather was gannen mono 1868 1st Nippon immigrant Matsugoro Kuwada -- took last name as Matsu] married classy/gorgeous/petite May Bradley, & together they had a whole bunch of daughters, no sons. Lofty was our County Chairman 1959-1962. May’s legacy is her tremendous earthy/down
home comfy personality/character. I sensed she was forgetful toward the end of her life when Hawea Waiau corrected me when I recited that May had told me
that May grew up on Kapiolani St. where today’s Seventh Day Adventist Church is. When I re-asked May where May grew up, May told me Pepe`ekeo, & not Hilo. May was very compassionate/open-minded/
indulgent — a super-wondrous person. And she was utterly devoted to her husband & her keiki. To me, she was the greatest First Lady [mayor's wife], no question about it in my mind. She may be gone,
but she’ll not be forgotten. Love, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 9:31 am
GOP leader Brian Jordan born 1955 — The sex harassment charge vs. Brian was thrown out, DOE gang mission to ruin Brian. Brian is his own worst enemy in that he is so brutally honest that he shakes up the world. He needs to tone down his image, because
he really has a heart of gold. Brian is blessed w/tremendous life experience, having grown up in D.C. as a fighting Irish Catholic Democrat. He quit
school [got his GED], & was a career military man, retiring as Master Sgt. A/V technical support. He came here in 1987 while still in the military & retired in 1994, after which he started his safety consulting firm/taught ROTC at Waiakea High. Brian switched to Reagan GOP [limited gov't/strong military] & lost 3 times for Puna House Rep. 2002-2006 — to Hale twice, then to Hanohano. In my opinion, Brian is a winner because he stands up for GOP creed of teaching one how to fish, instead of giving fish to the needy. Brian delivered the most GOP delegates to confab via 4th District, yet Lingle banished him for fabricated charge of not being a team player. Sam Aiona, Lingle’s patsy, was run out for catering to megalomaniac Lingle & disenfranchising fellow GOPs. Boxing czar Bobby’s Lee’s nephew Willes Lee is naivete sample & unlikely to staunch Lingle’s despotism of her & only her as GOP leader, to the exclusion of her whole GOP outfit. Brian recalls that when he spoke out vs. oil companies, Lingle lamented & Brian never got oil company campaign donation, a badge of honor for him. As Brian says, cannot make chicken sh_t into chicken salad [Lingle is no good for GOP -- authoritarian personality]. Brian’s epitaph — “He tried to do right.” Harry Kim? Brian says that controlling personality Harry micromanaged Troy Kindred out of CD job. Lingle/Harry — insecure kin. Brian is very special, a real catalyst for societal improvement — on housing/education/health care. To me, Brian personifies our oldtime GOP authenticity/compassion a
la Joe Farrington 1897-1954. Hiram Fong 1906-2004 beams down w/approval/pride at honest/loving Brian. Lingle’s policy pro Linda Smith is super-sweet, but cannot makeover “Linda-o-kalani/Lili`uoka-Lingle” self-congratulatory queen of her throne. When
Awana exited, Lingle’s world fell apart. Look at Lingle’s HSTA/DOE gaffe on drug tests/Turtle Bay absurdity [Superferry was understandable choice, redeemable, no need to deflect attention]. Imagine, exponential reduction of GOP solons in Lingle’s era. Look at the GOP rosters in the pre-Lingle 2002 era. Resonant/verdant growth. Attrition like no other post-2002. Lingle a dissonant minus, Joe Farrington a super unifier plus. Brian is my Farrington, but he needs valorous souls like Merle Lam/Sharon De Mello Vannatta [Gerald's wife's De Mello kin -- Gerald's wife Claudette unrelated maiden name of De Mello to Gerald] to tell the world how honest/loving Brian is. Love, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 9:36 am
Reed’s Bay on Banyan Drive — Reed’s Bay named for early business man Reed, originally black pebble/sand beach, later covered w/dredged coral by Blonde Reef [for harbor construction]. Reed’s Island named after same man, up Kaiulani Drive by Hilo Union School. Baker beach named for theater pioneer Adam Baker [John T. Baker's kin--island gov.], also covered w/dredged coral. Jungle on west side of
Baker’s Ocean View drive is site of old heiau. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Stanley Hara born 1923 told Gov. Sam Wilder King in 1953, “You haven’t seen the last of me, Mr. Governor,” when King rejected farm produce outfit headed by Stanley to ship island produce to Mainland
during winter months. King was for Big 5, not grassroot joes like Stan. Which is when Kazuhisa Abe 1914-1996 had 30 yr. old Stan run for House [Dem
Revolution 1954]. Abe/Stan got big boost from Jack Hall’s ILWU — until hothead Eddie De Mello [Hilo dock clerk] wrongfully told members that Stan cozied up w/Big 5 via watered-down work comp law 1956. As Stan intones, politics are the art of compromise, & Gov. King vetoed record # of Dem Bills, unequalled to date — so Stan/solons had to get half a loaf instead of none. Faladoo/idiot/noisebox Eddie De Mello was incapable of comprehending politics. When George Martin 1924-2009 came along, the ILWU was in much better hands. Everyone respected George Martin. Stan credits Masato Doi/Vince Esposito for polishing
up Stan on legislative procedure, topped by Stan’s alter ego Abe. Stan says that Abe galvanized Territory-wide [primary upgrade to Manoa] enrichment of university role/function, while Tommy Sakakihara 1900-1989 compelled expansion of UH-Hilo. Abe unrelentingly told Manoa’s boss Holmes to updraft UH’s calibre/fiscal needs. Gerald De Mello born 1943 enshrined Stan so late [only after I badgered influence peddler accomplice Gerald into doing so] into UH-Hilo’s hall of honor/fame after picking [like decadent influence peddlers like Russ Okata. Why not create an "inspiration/molder" category to enshrine non-UH Hilo alumni like Scrub Tanaka/Tommy Sakakihara?
Stan's dream almost has come true -- what Stan reached for was a 5,000 Arts/Sciences enrollment w/various advanced degree programs, on 500 acres of land. Stan got the South Pacific/Micronesian influx in the 1970s. Tremendous vision/pragmatism. Stan says that Jack Burns pushed for a UH satellite North Hawai'i campus focused on astronomy/marine biotech. I know personally that Scrub Tanaka supported Burns in
such outreach/branch, w/core function at UH-Hilo in Hilo. Scrub catalyzed land expansion for UH-Hilo to provide affordable housing for non-resident locals from Kona/Ka`u/Kohala/Hamakua/Puna.
Stan tried to buy Naniloa Hotel lease w/2 others but
financing fell thru, which is when Kazuhisa Abe told Stan to buy commercial property [such as Stan's current Keawe St. block across the old Food Fair Supermarket b/n Mamo/Ponahawai Sts.]. Stan even visualized redeveloping Keawe St. downtown from
Ponahawai St. up to Haili St., where a pedestrian mall would connect up w/developer Tai On Chock’s projects from Waianuenue Ave. down to Haili St. Grand designs/creative plans stymied by recession/high interest rates/counter-culture protest [old town atmosphere].
Stan disputes Scrub Tanaka’s disapproval of Stan’s real estate investments. Stan says that Stan was ever afraid to accept a complimentary cup of coffee from a patron/voter/business owner, which would
make Stan owe an obligation to such donor. It wasn’t until Kaz Abe told Stan to loosen up & be more sociable that Stan accepted next-to-nothing in money value gratuity. Stan applauds Scrub for Scrub’s purity/devotion to clean government, but Stan says that Stan tried to make a living to support his family, & should not be condemned for that, or for Orchidland [affordable land ownership]. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 10:25 am
Kekuni Blaisdell was born 1925, labor agitator Ed Berman born 1908, Herb Camp born 1892 [trust co. pioneer], Clarence Ching 1912-1985 was St. Louis High 1932 grad, Kim Fat Chong [Hakka Kohala] born 1907 [Anson's dad]—baby brother Rev. Kim On Chong born 1910 [Frank Atherton Chong's dad/ex-leftist Elly's dad], brothers engineer Bob Chuck born 1923—atty Walt born 1920. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 10:39 am
1868 Gannen Mono immigrant Kintaro Ozawa’s son Ken became the 1st Nikkei lawyer in Hawai’i, & Ken’s untimely death was acknowledged by Hawai’i barons, who came in droves to pay respect to him. Ken’s oldest brother was our 1st Nikkei cop. Sis Itoko was international translator who married Japan banker & moved to NYC. Matsugoro Kuwada was Gannen Mono who married Hawaiian lass, & mayor Lofty Cook 1959-1962 is his grandson. Matsu’s well-known sons included Seiichi & Lindo Matsu. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 1:39 pm
YMCA avatar Lloyd R. Killam 1885-1981 Missouri flavor –
Yes, like Sam Clemens [Mark Twain]/Jesse Shima’s John Henderson, race inclusionist/John Young’s 1902-1990 mentor Lloyd R. Killam had Missouri roots, having come here in 1912. Shunzo Sakamaki’s brother George & Aiko Tokimasa Reinecke’s older brother David
were Killam’s devotees. Arthur Ken Ozawa 1877-1917 parents are gannen-mono [1868 immigration], U Michigan Law 1910, 1st AJA lawyer here [brother Yotaro 1st AJA policeman here]. Attendees at Ozawa’s funeral incl. Gov. Pinkham/James Dole. As antiquity’s
Tacitus said, “The principal function of history is to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten.” Rassler Curtis I`aukea’s great-grandad Curtis I`aukea I should be credited w/Japanese emigration to Hawai`i. I`aukea was our messiah [Japan suffered major economic depression]. Lloyd R. Killam revered both I`aukea/Ozawa. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Hung Wai Ching alter ego John Young 1902-1990 —
Yes, John Young born 1902 is Springfield College grad [YMCA][Antioch College in Yellow Springs Ohio founded by father of American education Horace Mann --Mann's successor John Dewey is Pastor Stephen Mark's idol]. Young/Mark were buddahead wayfinders amid the anti-Jap hysteria WWII. Mark/Leigh Hooley [Aquinas devotee -- everybody's equal] are enshrined at Nu`uanu’s Community Church, buddaheads’ divine providence/sanctuary, though Chinese. Only in Hawai`i do you find “out of race” Chinamen restoring dignity to their graven demonic foes our Nipponese. History’s blended link again goes back to Henry Opukahaia 1792-1818 [whose death inspired tremendous racial tolerance/altruism -- Congregational Central Union Church/etc.]. Love one, love all. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Twist: Punahou greatest catalyst to African-American achievement —
Punahou grad/Maui native Samuel Chapman Armstrong 1839-1893, son of Congregational missionaries, was mentor/alter ego to the greatest Black assimilationist, Booker T. Washington 1856-1915, Armstrong founder of Black Hampton U., made Booker T. Washington head of Armstrong’s Tuskegee U. Booker was freed via Sen. John Henderson’s [Jesse Shima's
spiritual ohana] 13th Amdt. which eradicated slavery 1865. George Washington Carver 1864-1943 was molded under Booker. Booker’s later peer W. E. B. Du Bois 1868-1963 was the militant reformist who sarcasticlly called Booker “the Great Accomodator” a la our Takie
Okumura, our greatest assimilationist. The most extreme figure was pan-African Marcus Garvey, separatist who advocated liberation via return to Africa. Du Bois was our militant reformist
Dan Inouye, Garvey was separatist Trask. Du Bois was the 1st Black Ph.D. Harvard 1895. Booker was half-White like Obama, though Booker didn’t know his White slave master father. Du Bois commented that among the worst attacks on civilization’s
heartfulness were the slave trade/Nazism/Spanish Inquisition. Yes, Congregationalists’ White Man’s Burden benevolent paternalism catalyzed Black achievement via Booker/Carver, as it catalyzed
Hawaiian assimilation via Kalakaua/Kuhio. The twist is that plantation era hegemony repressed Asian immigrant achievement — Punahou’s odious 10% Asian quota was removed for good only in 1966 via Hung Wai Ching’s acolyte John Fox. Nonetheless, Punahou is the greatest enabler of Black pride via Armstrong’s influence & Obama’s success symbolism over a century later. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Hilo’s AJA Veterans Council came before O’ahu’s friction-laden one —
Because Hilo is very small vs. Honolulu, our 100th Batt. conscripts [born before Sept. 1918] got along with our impudent 442 enlistees [post-1920 born
high school diploma graduates]. But in Honolulu, the 100th conscripts saw the 442 irascibles as aggressive insolent wanna-be types who were too big for their britches. Thence the so-called AJA Council took longer to form on O’ahu. Still today, vestiges of cynicism remain by 100th vs. 442. In social class, the 100th are blue collar, the 442 are white collar [younger/GI Bill for fresh-out-of high school grads, unlike 100th whose country boys only went to 8th grade]. Class hegemony, although both 100th/442 boys
came from plantation camps — diff is level of education before military service. Again, thank DPI chief Oren Long 1934-1946 for getting post-1920
born plantation kids into high school/diploma. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Representative democracy vs. participatory democracy
1. Hawai`i electoral college advantage — small States have greater say as opposed to popular [citizens' votes] elections, twice as much. Such weighted formula are premised on levelling the playing field between the haves [traditional urban hubs] & the have-nots [rural regions]. Thence the notions of representative [electoral college] democracy vs. participatory [direct citizen vote] democracy.
2. Which bring us to current GOP vs. Dem Party thinking. GOP started as the party of anti-slavery’s Abraham Lincoln, which caused post-Civil War Southern solons to turn Dem. Thence the Southern Bloc of the Dem Party, which caused huge rifts between liberal Northern Dems vs. the right-wing Southern Bloc. Today’s Southern Bloc ID — the Dems switched party labels to GOP over a decade ago in conformity w/current GOP conservative bent — and lost in last year’s changeover to Dem majority Congress, after previous 12 yrs. of GOP rule. The South shall rise again now hinges on GOP fate. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Hitobi to wo sonkei shimasu [respectful of older folks/the past] —
Biggest thing the post-1920 born AJAs have over their pre-1920 born AJAs is their high school diploma, which was denied to the pre-1920 born plantation kids because of Big 5 cabal repression [to keep kids chained to the plantation camps]. Next big diff is that the post-1920 born kids are impudent/defiant/anti-authority, which are why the Dan Inouye/Isamu Kanekuni generation repudiated everything smacking of
accomodation/subservience of the pre-1920 born kids who, because of job preservation, stayed GOP. Great thing about the pre-1920 born plantation kids is hitobi to wo sonkei shimasu [respectful of older folks/the past]. You see only repudiation/revocation
w/the younger post-1920 born rebels/nonconformists. Sad. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Adversity builds character —
Jeremiah Wright’s egocentrism is a good character-builder for naive Obama, whose duty is to America, not Obama’s church. Such adversity makes a man of Obama. Great experience. Obama’s speech of a lifetime in March 2008 will stand the test on race relations/
tolerance/hope/comfort/love. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Pi’ihonua catalyst Henry Shimabukuro 1983-1995 [Henry born 1931]
Retired career Air Force Colonel Henry Shimabukuro [D.C. wayfinder Jesse Shima's nephew] knew that his mother Matsu wanted to leave something/inheritance for her children. Her leasehold residence was to revert back to the State once C. Brewer gave up its Pi`ihonua master lease in 1991. So Henry, Conrad Hokama, & Byron Toma went on a mission to convert Pi`ihonua leasehold lands to fee simple. But without Henry’s spark, their mission would not jump start to fruition. Pi`ihonua role model Yoshito Tanaka [former County atty -- today's version of Corp. Counsel/Prosecutor combined], whose mother was still alive in 1983 when Henry began the village quest [Yoshito's mother still lived in her original matchbox dwelling], did not lift a finger to help Yoshito’s villagers [BTW, Yoshito looks like Waipahu ILWU icon Major Okada]. Neither did Ed Taira born 1951, who bellowed, “My dad already bought a piece of property [which happened to be in Pi`ihonua], so why should I help?” Ed was supvsr. of vital ally County Housing/Community Development Office. Again, Henry Shimabukuro is Pi`honua messiah who preserved its intact villagers/properties. Tremendous village/unit cohesion, unmatched. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Native Hawaiians/Indians
Native Hawaiians are not like American Indians in that 1) Native Hawaiians lost no land from the 1893 overthrow; 2) Public lands held during the Monarchy were for the benefit of all citizens, and this continued under the Territory after annexation; 3) The U.S. always treated Native Hawaiians as equals, not as subordinates. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Shunzo Sakamaki, whose Kea`au Camp 8 home was dynamited when Shunzo was a teen [retaliation by Japanese agitators for Shunzo's father Juzaburo's alleged collaboration w/Puna Sugar managers to quell the 1920 labor strike], was a non-team player guy who
did not inspire others as a UH scholar. His polar opposites were his former UH classmates Hung Wai Ching & Shigeo Yoshida, all 3 mentored by Merchant St. icon/UH trustee Charles Hemenway. Ching & Yoshida went on to become matchless positive socio-political historymakers, Ching w/formation of the all-AJA WWII soldiers/Statehood, Yoshida w/averting
mass internment of Hawai`i buddaheads/AJAs. Ching/Yoshida served divinity/metaphysical singularity during the most trying times, ergo — their Truth which set them free to meet their destiny. Remarkable larger-than-life heroes. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Our City of Refuge at Honaunau —
It was none other than new County Chairman Jimmy
Kealoha in 1949 who approached Bishop Museum to get
land title deeded to Hawai’i County for park use. At that time the Federal Dept. of the Interior via HVNP wanted to include the City of Refuge as a historic shrine/landmark if the Territory of Hawai’i acquired the land & donated it to the Dept. of the Interior. Asst. chief of the National Parks Service Tolson tellingly intoned to our Hilo Rotary Club later in 1949 that from an economic standpoint, preservation of sacred sites no doubt will boost the tourist trade to be our No. 1 industry [behind Ag industry & military spending back then]. After much discussion,
Bishop Estate gave the City of Refuge to our Territory
a decade later in 1959, at the cusp of Statehood, & our Territory in turn gave it to the Federal Government. If anything, it was Dept. of Interior
proponent/Hawai’i Delegate to Congress Joe Farrington’s untimely death [heart attack] in June 1954 that martyred his crusade to get our City of Refuge sacred/Federal recognition, on top of Joe’s death resulting in the demise of our GOP & the ascension of Asian bloodline turks Dan Inouye & Spark Matsunaga. Later Trib local folklore columnist Russ Apple was the 1st City of Refuge resident superintendent. Today our City of Refuge tops our local tourist destination. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Labels —
WASP a misnomer, in that non-English are Scot Carnegie/Scot-Irish Mellon/Dutch Roosevelt-Vanderbilt/German Rockefeller-Astor/French DuPont.
Remember Chrysler bailout [after all, Chrysler built our WWII attack tanks] & Chrysler being in our national interest? Iacocca not WASP, but saved
Chrysler/Ford [via Mustang, Ford's best sell]. Detroit typified our huge manufacturers/base that served our national interest in war. Human nature
generation after generation, where Germans shamed us when we landed N. Africa WWII & couldn’t pierce German tanks w/our 33 mm shells. We were unprepared for war, & should’ve had better intelligence information to protect our troops. Ted Tsukiyama takes credit for VVV seeding the formation of 442, but Marshall presciently formed 442 as replacement [via attrition--KIA/WIA] for 100th Batt. [went into combat 9 months before 442]. Hung Wai Ching simultaneously did just what Marshall thought about
442 use/utility, Hung Wai having had military training himself. Baseball umpire Hide Yamashita
collected dues for eventual 100th Batt. clubhouse, which shows that the 100th Batt. regarded
the 442 as young squirts who didn’t know any better [no future aspirations/plans]. Turns out that the accomodationist 100th boys were pre-empted by the impudent/irascible 442 boys [at least 5 yrs. younger than the 100th GOP boys] in the political arena. Marshall/Hung Wai natural-born geniuses because 442 RCT was mini-divsion w/eng/infantry/tank batt. components. Which is why 100th was merged into later 442 to become 442 1st Batt. Hung Wai/Marshall something else, heh?! Rumsfeld something else in bad way — Rumsfeld wanted to run the military — a disaster. When reporter asked Rumsfeld about a General’s retort vs. Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld said, “He’s one General out of many Generals!” Meaning Rumsfeld didn’t give a rip about morale. Tommy Franks a saluter/ass-kisser to Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld then tells Gen. Franks, “Let’s eat sushi?” Franks meekly asks, “What’s sushi?” On the other hand, Patton defies authority & his tanks run out of fuel, stuck/target practice for German tanks. Gotta have balance. B-17 for Midway 1942? None came back. Clarence Tinker has AFB Oklahoma named for his martyrdom [1st top general killed WWII/1st Indian Okla. Osage General]. Ensign George Gay Jr. only torpedo man to come back. Delos Emmons got deserved credit for Midway [below Unity of Command's Nimitz]. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Onekahakaha Beach Park —
Keokea, meaning white sand, is Onekahakaha Beach
Park that was started by pharmacy owner Tomozo
Machida a century ago. When Machida died in
Japan in 1919, his family retained a government
lease on the property & it came to be known as
Little Tokyo’s hideaway for its large number of
buddahead beach enthusiasts. By 1931 Machida’s
heirs gave up their lease, & our Territory then transferred 20 acres here to our County for use as a public park. But it still remained the favorite beach for buddaheads, & in 1934 the 1st beach house was dedicated on Hirohito’s birthday by County Chairman Sam Spencer & Nippon Ass’n head Kango Kawasaki [who was sadly interned WWII, a loyal American but unable to be naturalized because INS didn't allow Nippons to be citizens until after 1952]. Of course, this & later beach houses were gifted to our County by our buddaheads. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Scuttlebutt on Pacific Islanders —
This is what one’s Maori friends say: Maoris are warriors, Tahitians are lovers, & Haw’ns are peacemakers. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Noboru Larry Iwami 1921-2008 — Iwami a cantankerous arrogant guy who thought himself to be tenno heika/imperial emperor. When he retired from Hilo Coast Processing mgmt., that was the best thing to happen, per his detractors. Iwami’s ibaru/braggart ways reminiscent of Amau`ulu Hilo Sugar Mill industrial relations mgr. Anastacio Luis [wife Librada hated J_ps], more so than retired State Highways head Alvah Miyamoto/retired Health Dept. head Masao Koga/insurance man Mits Akiyama. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
William Kimi Sr.’s Palm Inn/Sewalle Garden [where Bayside Chevron now is on Kam Ave.] — “Rich Dad” 1925-2008 Richard Kimi’s dad William Kimi Sr. 1898-1971 bought all the liquor he could at outset of WWII & made a killing off liquor sales esp. at his Palm Inn/Sewalle Garden [named for P.I. sewalle furniture] where today’s Bayside Chevron is, & at Sky Rm. behind Kimi Bros. bldg. 500 ft. north of Kam/Pauahi intersection. Buddy Azevedo always
could hear their shoes squeak, & for such a “destitute” family, Buddy asks how come the Kimi brothers [William Sr.'s generation] were like
aristocrats here [richer than others][swimming pool/etc.]? –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Book Book aspersion — Hung Wai Ching embraced Sakadas/Pinoys —
Hung Wai had an imperious personality in his private moments [savored the cream of crop UH VVV boys over Kalihi Palama grunts], yet in real life/action hero impact, Hung Wai inspired everyone, incl. his 100th Batt. boys [original 298th Nat'l Guard infantry conscript grunts] & Chinatown’s Book Books/Filipino gamblers — as w/olden day evangelists, Hung Wai was multi-lingual, easily converting from Chinese
to Ilocano or Tagalog/Visayan, to Haw’n, to Japanese. Ah Chew Goo born 1918, ever observant/intelligent, also has this uncanny knack for “speaking in tongues” [different languages]. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Culvert at seashore in front of Mo`oheau Park 1940s photos —
Alena`io/Waiolama Streams emptied into the sea in front of Mo`oheau Park before land reclamation occurred [to cover up the ponds -- now bayfront soccer fields] in the 1920s. Drains then emptied into sea via culvert that looks like boat pier
in front of Mo`oheau Park 1920s-1990s. The only piers in Hilo Bay were at the foot of Kam/Waianuenue Sts. [lighthouse site] & assorted ones b/n today’s
Suisan boat harbor & Gov’t pier [today's outcrop lookout in front of Lili`uokalani Park], though the lumber RR wharf pier jutted out 800 ft. toward Coconut/Mokuola Island 1902-1924, starting from today’s Isles Landing. Of course, Kuhio
Wharf/Hilo Harbor opened in 1912. Historian Gloria Miyashiro Kobayashi’s The Yashijima [literally, coconut island] [Waiakea town] Story is the quick go-to guide on aquatics, among other topics pertinent to Hilo. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Eichi Oki born January 1, 1925 [John Young's protege] –
Harvard law’s Eichi [daughter is fed judge Susan, who cowers to Haw'n supremacists] worshipped Scotman John Young 1902-1990, & it’s no wonder that Eichi’s international hero is Albert Schweitzer, altruist like
Young. Eichi grassroot backdrop [Maui commoner]. Former prosecutor Barry Chung is Chinese [C.K. Ai's grandson]. Walter Chuck could be gruff but not obnoxious like protege Wally Fujiyama. Shadow Hirai/Ed Honda/Tany Hong/Tom Ogata/Al Shim Maui boys like Oki. My favorite silent disciple/altruist is Paul Kokubun, born Kohala, raised Ka`u, Burns pick for family judge. Kaua`i boy Michael Medeiros was Carlsmith partner in Hilo but died young from heart attack. Louis Rodrigues was not local Luso, but from
Mass. State. Oldline Merchant St. haole law firms were Big 5 retainers, not altruists like J. Garner Anthony. Barney Hajiro born 1916 Medal of Honor recipient 442, yet regarded as yogore/low class by fellow boys [rogue/street-rough]. This is the social climber illness at high altitude which our post-1920 born 442 boys are afflicted with. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Joe Itagaki 1906-1963 442nd sempai/winged angel –
Kemoo Farms [Wahiawa] mgr./Kewalo Inn 1950 owner Joe
Itagaki treated his 442 boys like monarchs. From nothing, Joe would make stuffed celery [unheard of among buddaheads] & namasu w/watermelon rinds [watermelons plentiful at Camp Shelby Miss.][substitute for home delights]. Although Mike
Masaoka 1915-1991 of Utah dismissed buddaheads as
dimwits [pidgin English/crude-rowdy ways], Mike looked up to Joe Itagaki. It’s too bad that Joe’s down-home earthiness didn’t leave on Masaoka an indelible impression. BTW, for the older Luso/Portuguese folks, icons 2 generations ago
were Joseph Canario 1888-1966/Gilbert Canario 1899-1976/Lucille De Silva Canario [Ernie B.'s sis] 1904-1979/Tristan Osorio 1890-1972. No, these Luso had nothing to do w/442, but they were ubiquitous during this WWII era. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Fact is stranger than fiction: Alaska/Hawai`i VP/President of U.S. —
Political pontiff Scrub Tanaka 1915-2006 would’ve needed his head examined for delirium tremens had he lived to see 1958’s 49th State Alaska’s Palin/1959’s 50th State Hawai`is Obama tiff for the 2 highest offices in the Land. These are beyond what I comprehend even now as we speak. Never mind Palin’s destiny-making foray [gender/age] on this count — 49th State Alaska has a VP candidate!! Who is the happiest person up in Providence [not Rhode Island!]?? Indubitably, Jack Burns 1909-1975. All that Burns lived & died for — to make it possible for
an Obama to ascend to President of the U.S.!! Gang, think big, think really big — worship the name RUDY PETERSON -Swedish immigrant 1904-2003, forward-
thinking banking brain who put Bank of America on the map, but who had his holy hand in the making of today’s Hawai`i — Rudy always evoked Hawai`i as his Golden Years 1955-1961, when Rudy was drawn away from Stateside wayfinding, to head Bank of Hawai`i atop First Haw’n Bank in size/branches, like David toppling Goliath. Rudy transformed staid stiff-collar BoH into the PEOPLE’S BANK a la Hilo’s namesake a century ago [across Lycurgus Bldg. on
Waianuenue Ave.]. Renowned First Haw’n Kanaka Johnny Bellinger has Rudy’s example to thank for re: Bellinger’s “open-welcome” style to consumer draws & not just upper crust haole customers. Luso Walt Dods in reality is a cookie-cutter layout of impoverished immigrant Rudy Peterson. WHY DO I TALK RUDY RUDY??!! Because Obama has Rudy to thank for in Obama’s run for President of the U.S. — thank God that Obama’s tutu/grandma [no college degree!] came when Rudy revolutionized banking to welcome EVERYONE,
incl. wahines!! It was Obama’s tutu that got Obama connected to Punahou [BoH is Cooke(Castle & Cooke) genesis -- Punahou is Cooke/missionary genesis].
Obama’s tutu wahine is the Canaan to Obama’s diaspora in life. Of course, pragmatic Peterson got Exec. VP Robert Sasaki to draw Asian-American working-class & upper crust customers that doubled deposits & tripled earnings via BoH’s new 22 branches. The grassroot credit card was issued [that improved everyone's standard of living], & recruiter Walt Dillingham [non-missionary who dueled in commerce vs. non-missionary Bishop-1st Haw'n psyche] was ecstatic
in building today’s Hawai`i via prodigy/recruitee Rudy Peterson. Dillingham 1875-1963 had so much “making up to do” w/local non-haole residents [Walt vehement anti-Jap agitator WWI era], & was so gratified that messiah Rudy Peterson came to fulfill Walt’s making-up to Walt’s non-haole brethren via opening up BoH to working-class people/grassroot population!! Now you see why Obama/Peterson are interfaced forever?? Yes, tutu wahine!! One more thing, rather titillating to men/women who make money their god [yikes!] — every January 2, Rudy would
publish in the newspapers BoH financial statement w/symbol “WE’RE RIGHT UP THERE!! WE’RE No. 1!!” Point is that anyone who accountanted/bookkept for
BoH must’ve just hated NEW YEAR!! Sleepless nite after close of business Dec. 31!! Yikes. Capitalism/mercantile psyche!! Love everlasting, –still stunned by Palin/Obama candidacies –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Who are you? —
Pontius Pilate to Jesus: “They say you are the Son of God.”
Jesus: “So they say.”
Pontius Pilate: “Why are you here?”
Jesus: “To be witness to Truth.”
Pontius Pilate: “What is Truth?”
Jesus: “God’s Will.” –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
What if?? Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002 were to vote McCain vs. Obama —-
Irrefutably, GOP Hung Wai plunks for McCain. Hung Wai loved pomp/pageantry/GOP gilded starpower. Power relationships titillated super-contacts exemplar Hung Wai 1905-2002, who was pals w/McCain’s dad, & the military-industrial complex [Northrop/etc.]. Which is why Taiwan god-ed up to Hung Wai [to suck up to the U.S. military-industrial complex]. Yes, for
all the wrong reasons Hung Wai would’ve voted for McCain. The only consistent measure of great great leaders like Hung Wai is their Jekyll/Hyde nature. Hung Wai espoused elitism, but when the fate of humanity rested on Hung Wai’s shoulders, Hung Wai’s overriding idealism/Matthew 5-Isiah 58 carried the
day/carpe diem. Amazing paradox. Fact is stranger than fiction. When son KingLit Ching born Dec. 1936 married an African-American woman, Hung Wai & KingLit’s Mom fell silent. Sentence them for hypocrisy, but easier said than done. Which is why
KingLit Ching sees virtue in Jeremiah Wright of the Old Testament/fire-brimstone –God damn America [for its blatant hypocrisy]. Love, –Curt
Hands-on Kapi`olani Community College
KCC is the grassroot link to Red China’s New 21st Century dominance, w/pundits’
preference for KCC’s practical approach to draw China’s tourists. Hung Wai had
November 1st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
continued from prior post:
Hands-on Kapi`olani Community College
KCC is the grassroot link to Red China’s New 21st Century dominance, w/pundits’ preference for KCC’s practical approach to draw China’s tourists. Hung Wai had more impact than Leigh Wai Doo’s family’s sponsorship of Sun Yat Sen’s military airplanes because Mao ended Sen’s democracy, but Chou En Lai
kept a wary eye on Hung Wai Ching’s new social order in Hawai`i & America. What was the American 20th Century will be the Chinese 21st Century via Hung
Wai’s exemplar of free enterprise/individualism/grassroot social progress. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Dan Tuttle was more expansive than Tim Russert 1950-2008 —
Dan had 2 huge plusses over Tim — 1) Dan’s folksy comfy manners/ways; 2) Dan’s mantra to emote childhood/power relationships. Dan was a lover of politics — politics were Dan’s lusty Cupid. Dan especially coveted the bizarre/quirky ones like Nelson Doi [whom Dan always asked me about -- Nel/we were Pauka`a neighbors]. Since we live our childhoods [psychoanalysis], Dan knew that AJA primordial Dem Takaichi Miyamoto 1897-1981 was much too wheeler dealer/do or die survivor for stoic Tadao Beppu, fellow Maui country boy. Different eras, personalities, differrent role models [Takaichi's was exuberant Kanaka Johnny Wilson/Tadao's was 'ole stoneface Jack Burns]. Locally, scholar Rick Castberg is more into the courts, not the run ‘n gun motion offense of hardwood politics which Tiff Edwards Hunt is suited for. Tim Russert was a former political operative who dived into the day-to-day practical reality of issue-solving. No one was better at this than Tim. Tiff Hunt’s dad is a solon, & Tiff grew up in politics, so politics are second nature to Tiff. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Jump from urban mayor to governor —
Happens often enough nationwide. Jeremy Harris had the unique advantage of going from country Kaua`i
councilor to urban Honolulu, thence positioning him perfectly to be governor, until his campaign finance scandal ruined him. Fasi the city slicker got dumped often by neighbor islanders for governor. Rusty Blaisdell chose not to be defeated by Jack Burns for governor [Rusty's Maui boy Angel Maehara unable to corral country/neighbor isle support]. Last year’s U.S. President will have jumped from Congress to the White House, a rarity [governors best positioned to be President via past history of elected Presidents]. Maui’s most popular mayor Eddie Tam died of a sudden heart attack but didn’t covet higher
office [country bumpkin]. Big Island’s most popular mayor/chairman Jimmy Kealoha dueled vs. Bill Quinn/
lost in a bitter GOP primary battle. Jimmy said that Quinn’s only patronage to Jimmy was Luso Al Felix’
judgeship. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Provenance [Julie Nixon Eisenhower's donation to Obama][home is in the heart, not head] —
Where thou the GOP when Nixon deserved recognition for advising Reagan/Bush? Nixon was outcasted till his dying day by his very GOP. Where dost provenance/origin if Nixon’s own GOP abandoned/deserted him? Free will, brah’. Thence Julie’s selection[s]. I remember my kin turning
away in revulsion when I’d take out to restaurants my
sports guru Pat Baptiste, who was a hobo but had a heart of gold [not to mention brilliant mind]. I told myself then that I know exactly how Richard Nixon/Julie feel [don't judge a book by its cover][encourage the better thoughts in us -- not status tripping/aggrandizement]. No matterhow my peers emphasize piety/holier-than-thou arrogance, I know who are my gurus — hobos they may be. Was Jesus a patrician or peasant? Yes, practical politics dictated public suppression of Nixon, but knowing how much fighting heart/rebel instinct Julie Nixon Eisenhower has, it’s understandable why she donated to racial wayfinder Obama. Love, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002 was former ROTC/athlete –
Hung Wai’s son KL Ching born 1936 did not realize
Hung Wai chose the VVV officers, all local boys.
VVV brainchild Yempuku, UH asst. AD, revered
Hung Wai via Hung Wai’s prior ROTC experience & hoops/
track star prowess. Hung Wai proudly stood
next to Aloha Air founder Ruddy Tongg as
civilian defense soldier after Pearl Harbor
attack. Hung Wai trained at Ft. Lewis, Wash.
& knew 1st-hand of military tactics. Point
is that superhuman Hung Wai was a man of
tremendous depth/life experience. The VVV
outfit worshipped him, as did 100th former
ROTC boys Spark Matsunaga/Sakae Takahashi/
etc. G-2 Kendall Fielder had commanded a
battalion w/the 298th National Guard, &
w/Hung Wai thoroughly endorsed the 298th’s
use as an infantry combat unit in Feb. 1942. By
that time, Fielder was Gen. Emmons’ point
man to the War Dept. [today's Pentagon],
while Moses Pettigrew promulgated Nisei as infantry
soldiers at Moses’ Army section at War Dept. [Moses
also commanded AJAs in Hawai'i].
Hung Wai knew how to connect the dots
w/military top brass [Army was point
unit for internal security here], w/Walter
Dillingham working the Navy angle [w/Adm.
Nimitz/ONI's Cecil Coggins]. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Dan Inouye’s posture vs. Obama’s “elitism” —
Dan says that Obama is elitist via Obama’s Punahou backdrop. Class prejudice fomented by Inouye.
Punahou teacher Norris Potter 1904-1985 profoundly influenced his students to think for themselves & expand their world to get beyond xenophobia/later McCarthyism. On Lenin/Russia, Norris explained that “you can’t think democracy if you’re starving &
have no roof over your heads.” Yes, this is the Punahou which Inouye curses. As I said before, AJA punks born after 1920 [like Inouye born 1924][when DPI/DOE made possible in 1938 for them to reach/grad from high school] are clueless on the immense generosity of money/heart by haole “overlords” like Potter/Big 5 godfather Frank Atherton/Navy contractor Walt Dillingham/Stateside import messiah Frank Midkiff/etc. Love, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Leasehold here a remnant of feudalism/Monarchy —
Stateside outright land ownership trickles down to the everyday guy/gal. Look at the Civil War era Homestead Act. Kalakaua encouraged immigrant
fee simple here via his own Homestead Act, but it was just a tiny fraction of overall land ownership by cabals like Kamehameha Schools [fka Bishop Estate]. Only 4% of land here is available for the regular joe/jane. As libertarian Andrew Walden says, the top 40 private New Mexico landowners together own only 8% of the State land area, where private ownership is
diversified. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Gerald De Mello born 1943 was hired at UH-Hilo in 1991, a quarter century after Scrub Tanaka 1915-2006 laid the groundwork for expansion of UH-Hilo. Though Gerald got Scrub the Regents Award for development of UH-Hilo, Gerald doesn’t credit Scrub for UH-Hilo’s vision/expansion. Instead, Gerald says that Gerald’s
tenure [collective effort w/Land Bd. members] saw the acquisition of 55 acres behind our YMCA, 326 acres above Komohana St. adjacent to the top of Sunrise Ridge Estates, & 38 acres mauka of Waiakea High School
[of which Gerald gave 2 acres to Waiakea High after it beseeched him for expansion]. Gerald says that UH retail services/shops at the 36 acre parcel won’t take away business from area merchants. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Constitution & religious freedom —
No, if a private school is not solely religious, it cannot have only faculty of a chosen religion. Which is why Kamehameha School is not able to have Protestant-only teachers. Contrast this w/Oral Roberts U. or BYU-Provo.
Compelling gov’t interest outlaws polygamy [to protect children of marriage/monogamy furthers family stability/security].
Conscientious objector status only is for religious opposition to war in any form, not to a particular war. There is a substantial government interest in
procuring military manpower. Conversely, Veterans’ educational benefits/GI Bill aren’t available to CObjectors, inasmuch the gov’t has a substantial
interest in rewarding the greater disruption caused by military service & thereby enhancing its attractiveness.
“In God We Trust” in currency/historic documents is secular/patriotic, not religious in purpose/effect. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Mentorship: Frank Atherton down to Hung Wai Ching via Nu`uanu YMCA —
Do you know that Frank Atherton 1878-1945 catalyzed creation of YMCAs here, & formed the 1st racially integrated Nu`uanu Y in 1917? Frank’s sister
Mary 1869-1951 & hubby Ted Richards 1867-1948 established cross-cultural exchange programs amid WWI’s race/cultural prejudices. Alex Hume Ford preceded the Athertons w/Alex’ Pan-Pacific Union in 1911. Buddaheads’ 1st internationalist Rev. Takie Okumura 1865-1951 traces Takie’s Americanization to alter ego/promulgator Frank Atherton. Takie’s
1st church/school/dorm sites were bankrolled in Nu`uanu by Frank, where Frank also resided at times. Frank sponsored our 1st buddahead Punahou student, Takie’s son. And Frank bankrolled Nu`uanu Y’s illustrious alumnus, Hung Wai Ching 1905-2002. Do you know that Walter Dillingham 1875-1963 interlocked w/the rest of the Big 5 except Frank’s C & C? And that Frank’s C & C was the 1st [& most powerful oligarch] to recognize/work w/Jack Hall’s ILWU? Yes, physically frail Frank [looks like Oscar's Peter O'Toole of Lawrence of Arabia] was a mentally
indomitable giant of his time, someone even Navy-supported Walter Dillingham acceded to. Frank
physically was frail/strokes from young age, whereas Walt Dillingham was He-Man strong [swimming/polo/etc.]. Yet Walt couldn’t overcome Frank’s immense empathy/altruism/compassion, owing in part to Frank’s frail body [Frank sided with the weak/powerless in society], Frank being more religious than Walt [Walt's mom was missionary's daughter, but Walt more secular, not Grace Christian like Frank]. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Kansas granger Oren Long as DPI [DOE] boss 1934-1946 opened the floodgates to the high schools via his mantra that “all children have access, without discrimination, to tax-supported schools.” Progressive educator Long ID’d 3 threats to equality: 1) Unaffordable public school tuition, especially from the 8th grade & above; 2) purposeful
reduction of students from 8th grade & above; 3) burdensome travel costs/distances to go to school from 8th grade & above. Thanks to Long, Isamu Kanekuni born 1921 was able to graduate from high school, but my Dad 1913-1998, Scrub Tanaka 1915-2005, etc. preceded Long’s angel winged liberation. Dad never completed the 9th grade, schooling/tuition/costs were unaffordable, expensive public fees like private schools, foisted via Big 5 to keep kids chained to plantation feudalism. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Luso/Portuguese Edward N. Sylva, well-known “red-bait” anti-commie lawyer, was chosen by Gov. Stainback to chair DPI [DOE] & to fire
the Reineckes, which he did in 1948. Sylva got his come-uppance in 1956 when Gov. Sam Wilder King fired Sylva for attending ILWU’s Jack Hall’s testimonial. Sylva was King’s AG/chairman of local anti-Subversive commission. Sylva’s conciliatory speech emoted that
“there has been too much wall-building between ourselves & the ILWU– & communism.” Retro King in turn was replaced by Ike in favor of moderate Bill Quinn, who sadly brought down the GOP curtain
1957-1962 by excluding popular local GOPS from Quinn’s outfit [such as Mas Marumoto/Kats Kometani/Hung Wai Ching]. Quinn did not want the spectre of Statehood Joe Farrington 1897-1954
[the most popular solon until Joe's fatal heart attack] hanging over Quinn. Quinn’s egotism ruled out collaboration/coalition. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Yes, Tom Gill’s dad was an FDR devotee [grew up across the Hudson River from FDR], Tom’s mom a Woodrow Wilson devotee. Tom & his dad were anti-Big 5 monopoly populists, & Tom’s dad even told Mayor Wright to shove Wright’s payback demand up Wright’s ass when Tom’s
architect dad got a city contract. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:28 pm
C & C’s Malcolm McNaughton born 1910 [Boyd born 1908] was a Portland Oregon boy who was critical of Jack Burns’ godlike stature. MM attributes Statehood affluence to tourism/military cold war presence, 1959-1973, which paralleled Burns’ tenure. C & C
infused Stateside talent when Ed Tenney chose Alex Budge over Atherton Richards 1959. Malcolm succeeded Alex in 1973, but Malcolm was Alex’ prexy/understudy 1959-1973. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Maui’s Tadao Beppu born 1919 got politicized when his 442 CO Sherwood Dixon became Adlai Stevenson’s Lt. Gov. Illinois, while Beppu was in grad school in Chicago on the GI Bill. Beppu adored Miss. boy Earl Finch, who earlier befriended British troops, then our 442 boys, Finch intoning that “they’re fighting
our enemies just like we are.” No, Finch was not gay, just patriotic. Beppu chortled about oldtime Dem pioneer & fellow Maui boy Takaichi Miyamoto, who was Beppu’s landlord in Nu`uanu. Miyamoto believed in arm-wrestle wheeler-dealer political tradeoffs, whereas Beppu believed in no self-gain. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Najo Yoshinaga born 1919 & Skinny Hagiwara born 1921 –
Najo was 442 Cannon Co., Skinny [had fraternal twin brother who was chubby/called Fat] was 100th Batt. replacement. Both ended up in field hospital for a week [shrapnel] & got along well. But when Skinny became childhood pal Nelson Doi’s longtime campaign manager, Najo went ballistic because Najo [Burns soldier] & Doi [Gill guy] were mortal foes in the State Senate. Skinny always told Doi to be more patient/unselfish, but Doi just wouldn’t listen. And when Doi lost power in Senate reorg, Doi goes to foe Jack Burns to be appointed a judge, which Burns willingly does [to get rid of Doi from political arena]. Geez, Nelson has no humility at all. All the 442 boys love Skinny, but couldn’t stand
442 wanna-be Nelson Doi. Ironically, Pa`ahau Masato Doi born 1921 went to Honoka`a School along w/Skinny & Nelson Doi, but Masato is not related to Nelson at all. Masato has Japanese cultural humility, Nelson does not. Doi twain no meet at all. Kuni no tame — Issei precept to Nisei kids — be loyal to America,
die for America, your native soil — give it your best shot. Skinny lived by this creed, in Skinny’s words, “we gotta take care our folks [Nikkei]
back home [in the States/Hawai`i].” AJA agronomist/icon Baron Goto woke up Skinny at 3 am to join up w/the newly formed 442. That’s how Skinny got involved w/the all-Nisei soldiers. Skinny’s wife Harue is Nippu Jiji reporter Minoru Murakami’s daughter. As you know, Minoru was interned
WWII for greeting Japan dignitaries dockside at Hilo Harbor. Minoru’s son was Hilo Printers longtime owner. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Star-Bulletin editor Riley Allen on Charles Hemenway 1875-1947 —
“Charles Hemenway had a personal and active and continuous interest in his fellow residents — it was his exceptional ability to recognize the problems of people that gave him such a hold on the respect and affection of those who knew him. So this quiet, unassuming, soft-spoken, often self-deprecating man became a positive force in territorial development, the extent of which can hardly be measured. Some of these monuments in human form lie below the ground –
under simple white crosses in the battlefields of Europe — which are testimony to his belief that young men who live by American ideals will die for them.”
Okay, Wally Farrington, Star-Bulletin owner & Riley
Allen’s boss [Texan Riley was magnanimous editor 1912-1960], was a political ingrate [though from Puritan New England woods like our missionaries in Hawai'i], yet kept flaming civil libertarian Riley on for a whole lifetime as prescient editor. Of course, Wally’s son was the incomparable Statehood Joe Farrington, who really pushed hardest/longest for Statehood because of the Massie Case [which fueled talk of a military commission gov't in Hawai'i], Jones-Costigan Act which taxed/tariffed Hawai’i sugar like foreign import levies, & proposed rescission of 3 yr. residency requirement for Hawai’i appointed governor by Interior Dept., among other factors. In other words, no home rule, no fair play, all these drove Joe Farrington to crusade for Statehood. Joe was the People’s champion, despite being GOP. –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Hung Wai Ching’s legacy [100th/VVV/442nd/Statehood/Asia prosperity] –
1. Thank you, KL! Great DVD! Uncle Willy Okino Thompson has Hung Wai’s speech video when the VVV honored him in 2000. Hung Wai had irrepressible pizzaz!! He had his boys in stitches when he said that the best part of the gala event was the cocktail
opener! What a people-person! Uncle Willy, like all the 100th/442nd boys, worships this
remarkable Chinaman! When Jesus said let us drink by the water, Hung Wai took that to
affirm the cocktail hour!
2. Hung Wai’s UH mentor Charles Hemenway knew that Charles’ finest protege/understudy Hung Wai was best suited as intermediary between military-law enforcement/civilian authorities, & hitherto sole civilian advisor to military Hemenway had FBI’s beneficent Bob Shivers handpick Hung Wai to lead the pre-WWII Council for Interracial Unity. After the Pearl Harbor attack, Shivers had Hung Wai lead the Morale Committee as the key link between
military/civilian authorities. Irrefutably, Hung Wai had the people skills/persuasive-disarming-charmingly infectious personality to move mountains in a blink/wink of an eye. Hung Wai had the complete backing of Merchant St. boss Frank Atherton [Big 5 godfather], who adored/respected Hung Wai. As you know, Atherton’s Castle & Cooke ohana enabled Chinese upward mobility & supported Hawai`i-bred Sun Yat Sen, father of modern China. Charles Hemenway was nearly Atherton’s equal as Big 5 oligarch, though
Hemenway is regarded as the template/genesis of UH Manoa. Hemenway’s only son died tragically, & Hemenway took in Hung Wai & Hilo’s Shigeo Yoshida as Hemenway’s spiritual sons.
3. Yes, Shigeo Yoshida 1907-1986 Hilo High ‘26 alumnus is our greatest AJA historymaker [averted
buddahead mass internment], but Hung Wai Ching is our greatest AJA enabler, way more impact than Yoshida [genesis of 100th/VVV/442nd/Statehood culmination]. Not only in public altruism, but also in personal beneficence. Hung Wai is the auspicious sugar
daddy to innumerable suffering souls, among them his 100th boys, for whom he secured their Ala Wai club facility. Name any local joe/jane — in some sense, he/she has been bestowed w/grace/generosity by Hung Wai. That’s why Hung Wai, a bigtime baron in
his era, died broke-okole — he gave it/others his all — he gave away everything he had. Unlike his rich peers/hoarded wealth/Christian miserliness–WASP austerity, Hung Wai was the complete opposite — a Jesus sans robe/donkey/cane. Look at Hung Wai’s
baby brother Hung Wo Ching [Hung Wai 1905-2002][Hung Wo 1912-1996], millionaire investor/power broker [Dem godfather Jack Burns' financier] — Hung Wo’s name
immediately flashes owner Aloha Airlines [Kukuihaele's Ruddy Tongg, Mike's dad, was the original owner] — Hung Wo’s name stirs awe — whilst Hung Wai’s name is relegated to the dustbin of forgotten social/political history. But yet Hung Wo’s legacy falls far short of Hung Wai’s incomparable feats/historymaking events. Minor vs. major in impact/results. Japan/China trust us because of Hung Wai [restored faith that America is not condescending vs. Asians -- LBJ/Sam Rayburn (Congress bosses) always thanked AJAs for the rescue of Texans LBJ/Rayburn's Alamo lost battalion. President Truman opened up the colorblind military as a result of unity of service by diverse ethnicities (Negroes/Asians/Latinos/etc.)]. East Asian prosperity today is a direct result of Hung Wai Ching’s uplifting of down & out buddaheads here. Love, –Curt
November 1st, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Curt,
Refresh your page and find the newest Dispatch from you. You can add post scripts to that entry. This thread is getting a little too long. I’ll try to publish your Dispatches more frequently.
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 am
Just checked home/main page. Thanks, Tiff. Much mahalo. –Curt