. : Palolo Elementary School Students Experience Artistic Endeavor

On April 29, 2011, 37 first graders at Palolo Elementary School were in for a treat as artist Toshiaki Tomita visited from Japan to discuss the topics of family and food as part of the Department of Art and Art History's Visiting Artist Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mr. Tomita was very engaging with the students and encouraging of their artistic creativity. During the class period, each student was handed a few paper plates on which they were first instructed to draw their most and least favorite food(s) along with a brief explanation. The students then shared their drawings and explanations with Mr. Tomita and their classmates. On another paper plate, Mr. Tomita asked the students to draw a picture of their family members around a dining room table, carefully placing each family member in relation to themselves. The goal was for the students to focus on the importance of family and family relationships. Many of the students really enjoyed sharing their creative drawings with Mr. Tomita!

The students' artistic endeavors did not end here. Mr. Tomita will be creating an art piece using the students' artwork upon his return to Japan. The students and teachers are very excited to see this final art project! Interestingly, Mr. Tomita was able to learn about typical American or local Hawaiian foods that the children often eat, including oatmeal and lau lau, which people do not often eat in Japan! The Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) would like to thank Mr. Tomita for a wonderful event, and Mr. James Jack, MA candidate at the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, for arranging this event through JASH. A special thanks goes to Palolo Elementary School's Principal, Ms. Ruth Silberstein, and Grade 1 teachers Ms. Lily Masuda and Ms. Suanne Kim for graciously hosting us and for the delicious school lunch!

. :Students at St. Theresa School Benefit from Cross-Cultural Exchange

Laughter, music, and excitement exuded from the two Kindergarten classes at St. Theresa School in Honolulu on Friday, March 4, 2011 as the students participated in an exchange of cultures with members of the China Welfare Institute (CWI). Based in Shanghai, China, six Kindergarten teachers and members of the CWI were hosted by the International Cultural and Friendship Association (ICFA) of Hawaii and had the opportunity to observe the Kindergarten classes and compare the curriculum and educational culture with their own. During the second half of this cross-cultural exchange, members of the CWI introduced Chinese kung fu and other fun Chinese games to over 30 energetic students. Each year, ICFA hosts a US-Japan-China Friendship Youth Delegation in Hawaii and has collaborated with the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) for the past several years to bring a cultural program to local youth in Hawaii. Following the exchange program, members of CWI were able to experience a typical Friday lunch with the students: personal pan pizzas!

JASH would like to send a big mahalo to Ms. Liane Bilonta, Kindergarten teacher, for graciously welcoming the China delegation at St. Theresa School, and for providing the pizza! We would also like to thank Ms. Kelli Keener, Kindergarten teacher, for allowing her students to participate in the program. Mahalo also to Mr. Yuhi Yamasaki, Project Manager at ICFA, for sponsoring the Youth Delegation and collaborating with JASH for another successful exchange program!

Students enjoy practicing Chinese kung fu with members of CWI.

. : JASH Sponsors Soroban Math Class at Olomana School

With assistance of Mr. Hideaki Oshima of the Honolulu-based Araki-Hiroya Soroban School, JASH presented a series of Soroban (abacus) math classes to students at the Olomana School in Kailua, Oahu in May 2010. Part of the Hawaii Department of Education, Olomana School is an alternative education school which offers classes for students in seventh grade through twelfth grade. The school provides educational services for Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, Secure Custody Facility, Ho'okipa Canoe House, and Olomana Youth Center and Detention Home Facility.

Holding soroban math classes at Olomana School was the idea of Hawaii State Senator and Education and Housing Committee Chair Norman Sakamoto through his connection to Olomana School Principal Mr. August Suehiro. JASH had discussed its previous soroban math classes for the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii with Senator Sakamoto. Once the idea was accepted by Mr. Suehiro, JASH worked with Mr. Oshima to structure several soroban math classes for students in the correctional facility. The purpose of the program was to present an interesting and engaging program to the students while challenging them to improve their mental concentration. JASH will follow up with Olomana School to structure other presentations as they may desire.

Oshima-sensei teaches Soroban math calculations to Olomana School students.

. : Nagaoka Student Delegation Visits Honolulu to Promote Friendship

Twenty-two students and four teachers from Nagaoka city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan were greeted with lei by JASH staff upon arrival in Honolulu on Monday, March 29, 2010. Their six-day visit marked the first of potentially many visits to Honolulu in hopes of fostering a friendship between Nagaoka and Honolulu. The Nagaoka delegation's busy schedule included a homestay experience with a local Hawaii host family, a day at school with their host sibling, and visits to popular tourist attractions around the island. On the day of their arrival, the delegation visited Bishop Museum and Moanalua Gardens, presented a wreath at the National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl Cemetery), and took pictures in front of King Kamehameha's statue and Iolani Palace before heading over to City Hall for a courtesy visit with Mr. Kirk Caldwell, Managing Director, City and County of Honolulu. The students rehearsed their speeches and questions for Mr. Caldwell as they anxiously awaited his arrival. When Mr. Caldwell arrived, he greeted them with kind words and told them of the great time he had when he visited Nagaoka last year and saw the city's famous fireworks display. The students presented Mr. Caldwell with a framed photo of the fireworks display and thanked him for his time. During the question-and-answer portion of the visit, all hands were raised as the students patiently waited for the opportunity to learn more about Mr. Caldwell and Honolulu. At the end of the visit, Mr. Caldwell handed each student and teacher with a City and County of Honolulu pin. One lucky student won an extra pin as well!

(L) Nagaoka students and teachers listen intently as Mr. Caldwell (far left) shares his wonderful experiences in Nagaoka at City Hall.      (R) Nagaoka delegation learns the "shaka" with Mr. Caldwell and Mr. David Asanuma (JTB) at City Hall.

The visit with Mr. Caldwell was only the beginning of their Honolulu experience. From March 31 to April 2, 2010, the Nagaoka students participated in a homestay with local Hawaii families, arranged by the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH). They were able to experience a day of school with their host sibling, attend classes together, and give short presentations about Japan and their customs. April 2 was a holiday (Good Friday) so the students were able to sightsee with their host families before saying goodbye later that afternoon. As many tears were shed, it was obvious to see the connection made between the students and their host families despite the short duration of the homestay. JASH wishes to thank Mr. Caldwell, the Nagaoka delegation, JTB Hawaii, and the following schools, teachers, and host families for their generosity, hospitality, and support in providing these students with what may be for some of them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of living with an American host family:

Participating Schools	Teachers
Hanalani Schools	Yumiko Mattison - Hanalani Schools
Hawaii Baptist Academy (HBA)	Toni Normand - SHA
Punahou School	Yuriko Tcheou - HBA
Sacred Hearts Academy (SHA)	Masa Yamaguchi - SHA
	Yoko Yamaguchi - SHA

Host Families

Davey Andrew and family - Punahou School

Jacqueline Arelliano and family - SHA

Bryeana Fajota and family - SHA

Erica Fang and family - SHA

Megan Martin and family - SHA

Bryce Matsuda and family - HBA

Amanda Ng and family - SHA

Jennifer Nishida and family - SHA

Christopher Nishijima and family - Hanalani Schools

Kellianne Pang and family - SHA

Kristen Pang and family - SHA

Ashley and Courtney Seki and family - SHA

Brad Suenishi - HBA

Jordann Tamayo and family - SHA

Michelle Uchida and family - SHA

Charles Yamashiro and family - Hanalani Schools

Yuna Kaneuchi and Marin Oya (front L-R) pose with their host sisters Megan Martin and Amanda Ng (back L-R)