Membership Information

The Japan-America Society of Hawaii Membership Directory will be published and mailed in 2007. The Directory is a useful reference guide of those who actively support the Society's mission of promoting U.S.-Japan relations. Through advertising, you can get your company's message to this unique, targeted readership. Advertise in English or Japanese, or both!

Membership is open to anyone interested in learning more about Japan, the United States and the U.S.-Japan relationship. There are several categories of membership, which are described below. Membership dues are deductible as charitable contributions. Please consult with your tax advisor.

. : General Membership

• Lifetime - $2,000 one-time payment; includes spouse
• Sustaining - $125 per year; includes spouse
• Family - $75 per year; includes spouse
• Individual - $50 per year
• Student - $10 per year

Download application form:

PDF document - You will need Adobe Reader to open.

. : Corporate Membership

• Benefactor - $2,000 per year; up to twelve corporate representatives
• Patron - $1,400 per year; up to eight representatives
• Donor - $1000 per year; up to six representatives
• Supporting - $800 per year; up to four representatives
• Regular - $650 per year; up to two representatives

Note: Spouses of corporate representatives are admitted as Associate Members of the Society with full membership privileges except voting rights.

Download application form:

PDF document - You will need Adobe Reader to open.

. : Entrepreneur Membership

• Entrepreneur - $275 per year; one representative (limited to companies with no more than 10 employees)

Note: Spouses of Entrepreneur members are admitted as Associate Members of the Society with full membership privileges except voting rights.

Download application form:

PDF document - You will need Adobe Reader to open.

. : Membership Benefits

1. MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

a. Publicity in Society's Newsletter

• Features company
• Reaches over 1,100 recipients (members plus Societies in Japan and the mainland and selected addresses)

b. Listed on the Society's Website

• Hyperlinked to company's website
• Visited by about 150 people per day from through the Pacific Rim and around the world

c. Listing in the Society's Membership Directory

• Goes to all members and Societies

d. Hawaii 5:01 Programs

• Most popular corporate program; helps corporate members to network
• Corporate member can also sponsor a 5:01 program for marketing purposes, i.e., to showcase the company

e. Access to Society's Network and other Organizations

• 28 societies in Japan from Hokkaido in the North to Kagoshima in the South
• 38 societies in the U.S. and Toronto, Canada
• Extensive network of contacts including the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and U.S. consulates in Japan
• Close working relationships with Japanese Consulate in Honolulu and other local organizations

f. Annual Friendship Golf Tournament

• Opportunity to network and sponsor

g. Annual Dinner

• Opportunity to sponsor and network during Society's largest function with keynote speaker from Japan or U.S., e.g., Ambassador Foley or Yoshihiko Miyauchi of ORIX Corporation

2. SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SOCIETY

The Japan-America Society of Hawaii has extensive community outreach programs to help educate our younger generation about Japan and the importance of the Hawaii-Japan relationship. From a broader and deeper perspective, the Society's programs are helping our students to develop an open-minded attitude towards others of different cultures and to new and different ideas. The Society believes firmly that these programs will have long-term benefits for Hawaii and the overall Hawaii/U.S.-Japan relationship.

a. Chance to volunteer

• Members are encouraged to participate in the Society's programs
• Receive training and help our younger generation and the Society

b. Opportunity to Participate on the Society's Committees

• You can join any of committees and be an active participant in the Society
• Choose from any of the committees: Membership; Community Service; Program; Public Relations & Communications; Sister Society Development; Tomodachi

c. Japan Day

• Purpose: To stimulate student interests in the Japanese culture by complementing classroom teaching with hands-on experience with various Japanese cultural activities
• Featured in the U.S. Department of Education's publication, Building Community Partnerships for Learning: Change in Action (Nov 95)
• 38 schools and over 6700 students have benefited from Japan Day

d. Japan Wizards

• State-wide academic team competition on general knowledge about Japan and on the Japanese language
• Began in 1997 as part of National Japan Bowl Japanese language competition in Washington, D.C.
• Japan Wizards started in order to continue providing students motivation to study about Japan and its culture in addition to language learning
• Two public and two private school winning teams will receive trips to Japan

e. Japan in a Suitcase

• Most important program. Focused on elementary school students to help them learn about other cultures in a fun-filled way
• Tremendous implications for future as Society encourages our younger students to develop an open-minded attitude by exploring similarities and differences between themselves and Japanese counterparts
• In heavy demand by teachers. Society staff and volunteers carry out this program with Japanese school items in the suitcase
• In a year's time, over 100 presentations have been conducted reaching over 3,000 elementary school students

f. Asian-Pacific Children's Convention

• Organized and run by the APCC in Fukuoka, Japan
• Provides 11-year old students to take part in home stays, global camp and other activities in an environment that enhances multicultural understanding
• Society is Hawaii Coordinator

g. Pamphlet for Japanese Visitors

• Provided information about safety, tipping, water safety, etc
• Distributed 10,000 copies
• Featured in Honolulu Advertiser (Jan 97)

h. Resource Handbook

• Features over 30 Society members with expertise and experience in Japan or cross-cultural area
• Teachers can call on members to speak to their classes
• Distributed to all schools

i. Japanese Friendship Dolls

• Special program to spur interest in Japan
• Puuhale Elementary School is the first school in Hawaii to receive the doll

j. School Relationships with Japan

• Facilitate relationships between schools in Japan and Hawaii
• Toyo High School (Tagawa Town, Fukuoka, Japan) and Tagawa Homestay Program for Hawaii's high school students
• Sister School relationship between Ikeda Junior High School and Mililani Middle School (exchange program to start summer 2001)
• E-mail exchange program between Hiroshima and Hawaii schools; Onchi Elemenary School and Hokulani Elementary School

3. SOCIETY PROGRAMS

a. Educational Programs (monthly breakfast, luncheons, quarterly roundtable sessions)

• Educates members and the community to better understand issues affecting the U.S.-Japan relationship
• Opportunity to meet and discuss issues with experts

b. Affiliated with the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation

• Provides scholarships to U.S. and Japanese graduate students Coordinates with Keidanren and Japan-Hawaii Economic Council
• Only scholarship to bear the name of the Emperor of Japan
• 105 scholars have benefited from this scholarship since 1973

c. Affiliated with the Ehime Maru Memorial Association

• Owner of the Ehime Maru Memorial in Kakaako Waterfront Park
• Responsible for maintenance of the Memorial
• Promote Ehime-Hawaii relations

d. Special Programs

• 1995 International Symposium of Japan-America Societies
  • First gathering of all the societies in Japan and U.S.
  • Promoted closer ties between societies across the Pacific
• Trilogy Series
  • Looks at how a third country impacts the U.S.-Japan relationship
  • Three trilogies held (China, Korea, Russia); Taiwan; next on Southeast Asia
• Sumo Tribute
  • Society led a State of Hawaii "Salute to Our Sumo Champions"
  • Honored Hawaii's four sumo champions for their contributions in promoting Hawaii and the sport of sumo