"It's always a good time." - Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen.
On August 24, 2024, members and guests joined us for our Karaoke Night! We enjoyed the performances, met new people, and ate/drank (responsibly) to our heart's content. To add into the fun, members and guests brought a breakfast themed dish to share.
Members joined us for our quarterly Member Golf at Coral Creek Golf Course on Sunday, August 18, 2024. We have 5 tee times starting at 11:16am. Members got to enjoy a day of golf, networking, and friendly competition with fellow HJJCC Members!
On Saturday, July 20, 2024 we had our annual HJJCC Installation Banquet at the Generations Ballroom at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. We installed our newly elected 2024-2025 Board of Directors, listed below, as well as celebrated our outgoing board members. We also be announced and recognized our HJJCC Director of the Year, HJJCC Member of the Year, and 72nd CBF Steering Committee Member of the Year award winners at the banquet.
2024-2025 Board of Directors:
Chairman of the Board – Aaron Muraki
President – Heather Furutani
Executive Vice President – Garrett Matsumoto
VP of Community Development – Alyssa Kano
VP of International Relations – Jennifer Ezaki
VP of Management Development – Eric Imada
VP of Membership Development – David Torigoe
Secretary – Jaren Iwasa
Treasurer – Lori Kim
Director – Kristin Alm
Director – Garrett Lau
Director – Kirstie Maeshiro-Takiguchi
Director – Sheri Morishige
Director – Scott Motobu
Director – Claire Tsuha
Director – Wolfgang Sakamaki
73rd Cherry Blossom Festival General Chair- Hailey Takayesu
72nd Queen’s Advisor – Ruth Shontell
Young Business Roundtable Chair – Tobie Egami
Historian – Kristyn Sugibayashi
Sports Director – Crystine Ito
On June 11, 2024, we had our Young Business Roundtable event, The Art of Connection: Elevate your Communication Skills.
We had an interactive workshop with Cynthia Yamasaki, Leadership & Life Coach and Founder of EEpath, where we decoded the secrets of effective professional and personal communication. From asking for a raise with finesse to navigating conflict for positive outcomes, we'll have you covered.
Members and guests learned how to communicate with confidence and build connections in various work-related situations.
On May 24, 2024, we held our annual HJJCC General Membership Meeting and Elections! We elected our 2024-2025 Board members, welcomed new members, and went over updates and upcoming events.
On May 4, 2024, we had our first-ever joint event with the Sakura Hawaii Alumnae (SHA) and the Urasenke Hawaii Association.
For those that are not familiar, Urasenke is a traditional Japanese tea ceremony that emphasizes the bond between the host and the guest. The Way of Tea is more than serving and drinking tea, it brings together many aspects of Japanese culture and it shows us how we can live each day with Harmony (和), Respect (敬), Purity (清), and Tranquility(寂)— basic elements to understand and appreciate each other and our community.
Members and their guests joined us in learning the Way of Tea! We had two (2) sessions, lasting 45 minutes, where we learned how the way of tea can be translated to our everyday life and business while learning to whisk and drink tea!
On April 28, 2024 the HJJCC hosted their second annual HJJCC Dodgeball Tournament - Invitational at the Halawa District Park Gym from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Members gathered a team and joined us for a day of friendly competition amongst fellow members and other JCI Hawaii organizations!
On March 24, 2024, our HJJCC Sports Committee reserved 5 tee times at the Royal Kunia Country Club. Members joined us for a day of golf, networking, and friendly competition amongst fellow members!
On January 11, 2024, we held our Young Business Roundtable: Building a Personal Brand on Social Media, featuring Brooklyn Clayton, local photographer and founder of Story Hawaii, a local social media agency. Brooklyn lead us through an interactive workshop on how to craft the content on your social media channels to meet your personal and professional goals.
On December 14, 2023, we held our holiday season mixer, Make It Rein Beer! Members and their guests played some holiday games and enjoyed some BEER. A big mahalo, to Beer Lab HI for hosting us again for this exciting event!
In the spirit of giving, we continued our tradition with supporting Toys for Tots.
on November 25, 2023 we held a Karaoke Night!
Members and their guest came out to sing their hearts out!
On Wednesday October 25, 2023, members joined us for a night of HJJCC Pickleball at Moanalua High School!
Members had fun playing Pickleball while networking with fellow members and guests.
We had a night of great night of shopping on Wednesday, September 27, 2023!
Always A.line, Cherry Blossom Festival Donor, is offered HJJCC members and their guests an exclusive discount of 25% off their entire purchase and a surprise gift when you spend $200 or more. In addition, Always A.line invited Phases Hawaii to do a jewelry pop-up during this special shopping event.
We also had a pau hana at The Social Honolulu! Members could join us for a pau hana or after they finished shopping to meet and hangout with other HJJCC members!
On September 21, 2023, we held a YBR networking event. Will Yeh and Marissa Machida, Co-Founders of MANIFEST, shared their expertise as Cherry Blossom Festival Instructors in Communications and Visual Presentation Training, respectively, to guide you toward a more relaxed state during social interactions.
They helped us become more comfortable when speaking with people you don't know! Even if you are already a pro, we learned how creating a solid social game plan can help you make the most meaningful connections and how your first impression makes a difference.
On September 3, 2023, we volunteered at the 41st Okinawan Festival! It was held at the Hawaii Convention Center! We joined forces with Shinka Hawaii to help volunteer at the admissions booth.
We held our annual Anne Namba Fashion Show on August 31, 2023, featuring the 71st Cherry Blossom Festival Court! Anne highlighted her beautiful designs and allowed guests to purchase her items in-store after the show.
Due to COVID-19, we didn't have this event for the past couple years so we were excited to bring it back. As a new addition this year, Anne partnered with Sulwhasoo Skin Care and they provided samples to guests in attendance.
On August 20, 2023, our HJJCC Sports Committee reserved 5 tee times at the Turtle Bay Resort & Golf Club (Palmer). Members joined us for a day of golf, networking, and friendly competition amongst fellow members!
On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 6:00 PM we held our annual HJJCC Installation Banquet at the Generations Ballroom at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. We installed our newly elected 2023-2024 Board of Directors, listed below, as well as celebrated our outgoing board members. We also announced and recognized our HJJCC Director of the Year, HJJCC Member of the Year, and 71st CBF Steering Committee Member of the Year award winners at the banquet.
Chairman of the Board – Sheri Morishige
President – Aaron Muraki
Executive Vice President – Heather Furutani
VP of Community Development – David Torigoe
VP of International Relations – Kirstie Maeshiro-Takiguchi
VP of Management Development – Eric Imada
VP of Membership Development – Kacie Hirotsu
Secretary – Kristyn Sugibayashi
Treasurer – Scott Motobu
Director – Tobie Egami
Director – Lori Higashi
Director – Ashley Ishimura
Director – Crystine Ito
Director – Garrett Lau
Director – Hailey Takayesu
Director – Claire Tsuha
72nd Cherry Blossom Festival General Co-Chairs – Kristin Alm & Garrett Matsumoto
71st Queen’s Advisor – Gina Maeda
Young Business Roundtable Chair – Kristine Okada
Historian – Kathryn Fujitani
Sports Director – Curt Ueda
On July 10, 2023, we held a Sushi Social! We were very grateful to be partnering with Fukurou and Buho Cocina y Cantina for this event. Attendees had the opportunity to learn how to make temaki (hand roll), enjoy pupus from Buho and mingle with other HJJCC members.
We had our annual Nijikai event returns on Friday, June 16, 2023. It was an evening of delicious food, refreshing beverages, and live entertainment as we bring Nijikai 2023 back to the Generations Ballrooms (at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii).
