2025 JASH Bridge Awards Dinner & Silent Auction Tomodachi – Eighty Years of Friendship, Commerce and Alliance
Presented BY: ALOHA BEER COMPANY
Reyna Kaneko, Honoree Governor Josh Green, Karen Knudsen
Reyna Kaneko, Major General George Rowell, USINDOPACOM, Karen Knudsen
Reyna Kaneko, Honoree Steve Sombrero, Karen Knudsen
On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) hosted its 49th Annual Bridge Awards Dinner & Silent Auction at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort Ballroom. With this year’s theme Tomodachi-Eighty-Years of Friendship, Commerce and Alliance, the event honored Governor Josh Green, Major General George Rowell accepting the award on behalf of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Mr. Steve Sombrero, for their outstanding contributions to promoting friendship and understanding between Hawaii, the U.S. and Japan.
Taiko Center of the Pacific
Emcee Barbara Tanabe, Senator Brian Taniguchi
Candice Ishikawa, Presenting Sponsor Aloha Beer Company
The evening began with a thunderous performance by Kenny Endo and the Taiko Center of the Pacific, instantly energizing the crowd and setting the stage for a vibrant cultural celebration. Guests enjoyed a private reception ahead of the program, where Board Director Ms. Barbara Tanabe and Board Chair Ms. Karen Knudsen welcomed nearly 450 attendees, including major sponsors and distinguished guests. Ms. Candice Ishikawa, from Presenting Sponsor, Aloha Beer Company provided opening remarks.
Mr. Hideaki Chotoku, Consul General of Japan in Honolulu offering the kanpai toast
Bishop Kosen Ishikawa, Hawaii Jodo Shu offering the invocation
Hiroshima Peace Scholar Mia Nishiguchi on her experience in Hiroshima
Hiroshima Peace Scholar Chloe Tonda on her experience in Hiroshima
Are You Smarter Than A Japan Wizard Game
Team 1: Karen Knudsen, Dan Dinell, Steve Sombrero
Team 2: Hawaii Baptist Academy Winners-Lexi Kamikawa, Ryder Kadooka, Max Okazaki
The program spotlighted JASH’s educational initiatives and featured our two Hiroshima Peace Scholars, who recently traveled to Japan and shared their powerful, transformative experiences.
We also showcased a special segment inspired by the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?—our own Are You Smarter Than a Japan Wizard, highlighting JASH’s signature Japan Wizards Competition, in which high school teams from across the state compete for trips to Japan.
For the “gameshow,” Team 1 consisted of our board executives, while Team 2 featured the 2025 winning team from Hawaii Baptist Academy. It was a close and exciting match, but Hawaii Baptist Academy ultimately took the win!
Reyna Kaneko, President of JASH
Afuso-Ryu closing performance
The evening ended with an upbeat performance by Ryukyu Koten Afuso-Ryu Ongaku Chochi Kai USA who are dedicated to preserving and sharing the classical tradition of Okinawan uta-sanshin following the teachings of Grandmaster Choichi Terukin, National Livery Treasure of Japan.
