Article: JAs a ‘weakening’ voting bloc in Hawai'i

An article in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin by Richard Borreca and B.J. Reyes cites the past dominance of Japanese Americans in the Hawai'i Democratic Party and the waning influence of the JA "voting bloc" due to generational and other changes.

It was ethnic campaigning at its strongest, and it formed a political engine that powered the Democratic Party for more than 50 years.

National political analyst Charlie Cook described it as one of the enduring political machines, with Japanese-American voters cementing an alliance with the powerful private union, the ILWU, or International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

"Japanese-Americans ... working in unions and government tended to be the heart of the Democratic Party," Cook wrote in 2006 in the National Journal.

If Japanese-American voters voted together, it was not without reason, [Roy] Amemiya recalls.

"The war generation had a common issue: Their patriotism was being challenged. If they didn't band together, they would eventually been interned like AJAs were on the mainland.

"So they came together and became very strong for the party and the labor unions," Amemiya said.

The decline of JA loyalty to the state Democratic Party is because the party failed to live up to the expectations of the past and produced some bad apples when the party had its firmest grip on government and politics.

There were enough incidents of corruption that it overshadowed the good work of many other Democrats, include the primary source for this story, Roy Amemiya, and his extended family, which includes former state Senator and 2006 Democratic nominee for Governor Randy Iwase, someone I worked for in the State Legislature.

Amemiya's family tree is a Democratic Party who's who, including former Attorney General Ron Amemiya, uncle; state Intermediate Court of Appeals Associate Judge Corrine Watanabe, sister; and former City Councilman and Sen. Randy Iwase, brother-in-law. But Amemiya said intermarriage and the increase of other groups make the AJA vote a less significant factor.

Part of the shift is simply a change in demographic numbers. Japanese Americans in Hawaii were once 40 percent of the state's population. New census data now puts Japanese Americans at 16.7 percent, although the portion with mixed ancestry is much larger because the Census Bureau counts mixed race as a separate category.

‘Ukulele Legend OHTA-SAN Shares the Romance of Brazilian Jazz in Santa Clara

International recording artist and ‘ukulele legend OHTA-SAN will conduct a workshop on the history and technical artistry of the ‘ukulele at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 26 at the Yu-Ai Kai Senior Center in San Jose’s Japantown in California and at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, June 28 at the Dusty Strings Uke Fest (www.DustyStrings.com) in Seattle, Washington.

On Friday, June 27 at Santa Clara University and Sunday, June 29, at Town Hall Seattle, Hawai’i Music Live and Pumehana Productions present “OHTA-SAN LIVE” featuring jazz guitarist Nando Suan and world renown ‘ukulele artist, Herb Ohta, Jr. Tickets are available through www.BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006. Join us for this two-day celebration! For more information, visit: www.HawaiiMusicLive.com.

Known for his Bossa Nova jazz sound and technical artistry, OHTA-SAN made history by showcasing his incredible talents and the abilities of the ‘ukulele over four decades. As a young child, OHTA-SAN, Herbert Ohta won first prize at the ‘Amateur Hour’ at KGMB Studios in downtown Honolulu three weeks in a row before they deemed him just too good to continue. By age 12, he was the prodigy of ‘ukulele master, The Sons of Hawai’i leader Eddie Kamae. A true visionary and technical master, OHTA-SAN was the first to implement the low G string allowing him to explore the ukulele’s abilities to reach complex genres of music such as classical, pop, Latin, Japanese and Broadway tunes. OHTA-SAN took to heart all the teaching and advice of his mentor and created his own extraordinary path of success traveling the globe to become one of the most prolific and celebrated masters of the ’ukulele today.

Many world tours and years of recording later, (his first album was released in 1964), OHTA-SAN’s vast repertoire now defies classification – he can expertly deliver a soft, romantic "Tennessee Waltz," a crisp, snappy "Girl from Ipanema," and everything in between. His lovely "Song for Anna" (written specifically for him by French composer André Popp) was an international hit in 1974 and has sold over six million copies. Today, OHTA-SAN is honored as one of the world's greatest `ukulele players, with over 60 albums in multiple genres, and is an inspiration to countless `ukulele players and music lovers throughout the world including the U.S., Canada, France, Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil.

OHTA-SAN’s music has graced the airwaves of national radio. Appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, Dinah Shore Show and his multiple recordings with labels such as A&M Records and Victor JVC have given OHTA-SAN national exposure and brought to the forefront a true appreciation worldwide for this tiny little four-stringed instrument and for the islands of Hawai’i.

Performing on stage with OHTA-SAN will be his long-time musical companion, the incredible jazz guitarist Nando Suan and special guest, OHTA-SAN’s son, Herb Ohta, Jr. Influenced by Wes Montgomery and other jazz greats, jazz guitarist Nando Suan is the perfect compliment to OHTA-SAN's grace and precision. Herb Ohta, Jr. has paved his own successful journey reaching an entirely new audience and generation, taking his love of the ’ukulele and Hawaiian music and infusing the passion and grace of his father's influence in his own compositions, workshops and award winning international recordings. An acclaimed master of Hawaiian `ukulele music in his own right, Herb Ohta, Jr, has released more than a dozen solo and duet albums, as well as having contributed to more than 40 recordings. He is also respected as an instructor/educator, leading classes and workshops and co-authoring books with Grammy winner Daniel Ho on `ukulele technique, and is celebrated for his ongoing contributions to the world of Hawaiian music.

This tour is presented by Hawaii Music Live and Pumehana Productions, two companies committed to bringing Aloha to the mainland through ‘ukulele and slack key guitar performances and workshops with Hawaiian music’s premier musicians. Working with local communities and Hawaiian music enthusiasts in all parts of the nation, it is the goal of Hawai’i Music Live to nurture and share the Hawaiian culture beyond the islands and connect people with the music, traditions and beauty of the Hawaiian heritage. For more information: www.HawaiiMusicLive.com

Hawai’i Chamber to Honor June Jones at Five-Star Aloha

June Jones, former head coach of the University of Hawai’i football team, and architect of one of the most impressive turnarounds in NCAA football history, will be honored in San Francisco on May 1 with the Sixth Annual Kulia I Ka Nu’u Award. Event website here.

This coveted award is given by the Hawai’i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California to recognize leaders and role models with ties to the Islands who have contributed to Hawai’i in significant ways. The award is bestowed at the annual Five Star awards gala benefiting the Chamber’s scholarship program. Past award winners include Mary Bitterman, Ka’ala Carmack, Vernon Chang, Sam Choy, former Judge William Fernandez, Saichi Kawahara, Patrick Makuakane, Sara Sato, Takahashi Market, and Wally Yonamine.

When Jones joined UH as head coach in December 1998, the Warriors had lost 18 games in a row. In 1999, he turned around their season to 9-4. Under Jones, the Warriors broke 380 school and 45 NCAA records. In nine years, Jones had seven winning seasons and led the team to more victories than any other UH coach. In 2007 the Warriors were undefeated in the regular season and won their first invitation to a Bowl Championship Series bowl.

Throughout his tenure in Hawai’i, Jones made it a priority to recruit local players and coaching staff. At UH, he coached six All-Americans, 56 all-conference performers and 16 NFL draft picks. Jones is currently head coach of Southern Methodist University.

Jones’ award will be presented by Allan K. Ikawa, founder of Big Island Candies, internationally renowned for its premium, chocolate-dipped confections and cookies. The Hilo, Hawaii-based industry leader and philanthropist has been recognized with numerous national and local awards, including the June Jones Foundation Humanitarian Award in 2004 and the UH-Manoa Distinguished Alumni award. He is a member of the University of Hawai’i Board of Regents and has served a term as chair.

Master of Ceremonies will be Northern California television ABC7 Sports Anchor Larry Beil, former ESPN SportsCenter and KGMB9 (Honolulu) anchor, and University of Hawai`i Alumnus.

Major event sponsors include Bank of Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, Westin St. Francis Hotel, Big Island Candies and Rainbowtique.

The Hawai’i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, established in 1999, is a community-based nonprofit with more than 2,000 individual members and 40 business supporters. Its focus has been to serve as a resource bridge between Hawai’i and Northern California. HCCNC supports former Hawai’i residents doing business in Northern California; Hawai’i businesses seeking to expand business opportunities in Northern California and the Mainland; and Northern California individuals and businesses seeking to expand business opportunities in Hawai’i.

Car Sharing and Green Building Catching On

By Keith Kamisugi

I'm writing this column from Hawai'i, having worked all weekend helping the Barack Obama campaign before the Feb. 19 primary caucuses here. Sen. Obama was born, raised and graduated from high school in Honolulu, so it's important that I did something to help him win the Aloha State.

Politics aside, this column will touch on "green building" in Hawai'i and also my experience with car sharing, following the "green" theme of this issue of the Nichi Bei Times.

I had dinner last night with Kyle Chock, executive director of the Pacific Resource Partnership, a joint program of the Hawaii Carpenters Union and some 200 unionized contractors across the state. Kyle has been a good friend of mine for almost 10 years, having first met during his campaign for the state House of Representatives. He is also a member of the state Land Use Commission.

Kyle and I discussed efforts by various people and groups here to create a sustainable Hawai'i – one where the educational, economic, health and environmental needs of the people are met in a way that balances consumption and resources. Part of such planning must include environmentally conscious development, said Kyle.

"Green building is becoming more of a standard practice throughout the residential construction process in Hawai'i, as builders embrace energy-saving and sustainable methods such as recycling materials and using solar power for hot water," reported the Pacific Business News last year. 'Everyone seems to be taking their individual responsibility a lot more seriously now,' Chock said. 'It's no longer the future; it's something that's here now.' "

Last month, the State of Hawai'i entered into a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy called the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative, which seeks to transform the local lifestyle by harnessing the islands' renewable resources.

Car Sharing in the Bay Area

One service in the Bay Area that has transformed the lives of hundreds (including my own) is car sharing.

Car sharing is a service that provides cars parked in dozens of lots throughout San Francisco, Oakland and other Bay Area locations that can be reserved online and driven by the hour or the day. It's a short-term and improved version of the rental car model. Drivers, who must be members of the car sharing service, do not have to pay extra for gas and insurance. Those costs are included in the vehicle reservation rates, which begin at $6 per hour.

I've been a member of the Zipcar (www.zipcar.com) car sharing service for more than a year. (The other local car sharing service is City Car Share.) Since I work and live in the city, I sold my car almost four years ago and using Zipcar has filled in the transportation gaps when the bus, a taxi or rail is either too inconvenient or too costly.

There are Zipcars less than two blocks from both my home and office. The cars come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the utilitarian Honda Civic to the fun and airy MINI Cooper. Not surprisingly, the more fun the car, the more expensive the rates, but those rates are also in line with the value of the vehicle.

Once you become a member, you can reserve any vehicle through the Web or by the automated phone system. After reserving the vehicle for a specific time period, you go to the reserved vehicle and swipe a special card over the reader on the windshield. The vehicle unlocks and you drive it away. After you're done, you return the car to the exact same location, swipe the card again to lock the vehicle and then walk away.

Zipcar members can also access vehicles in a dozen other cities including Chicago, London, New York, Seattle and Vancouver.

Using Zipcars instead of owning and using your own personal vehicle has significant environmental benefits.

First, Zipcar has found that more than 40 percent of its members get rid of their own personal vehicles or decide not to buy a car, which takes cars off the road and parking lots or spaces – a big plus in a congested city like San Francisco.

The company also discovered that its members drive less, as much as half the time they used to drive. Members use other modes of transportation such as walking, biking, public transportation or taxis.

Zipcar estimates that every Zipcar vehicle takes the place of more than 15 privately-owned vehicles, creating less pollution, requiring fewer parking spaces, creating less strain on roads and lowering fuel consumption.

Zipcar also employs diverse and talented people. The local general manager is Genevieve Jopanda, a community-minded Filipina American who was formerly the general manager of Flexcar in the Bay Area. She joined Zipcar after the company acquired Flexcar late last year.
You can spot San Francisco school board member Jane Kim riding in a bright yellow Ford Mustang convertible provided by Zipcar in the Chinese New Year's Parade this Saturday, Feb. 23.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Starting from this issue, Two Japanee Bruddahs columns will have only Keith's or Kyle's byline, depending on which of the Bruddahs pens the piece. Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto are the Two Japanee Bruddahs. Read their past columns online at twojapaneebruddahs.com.

Sen. Dan Inouye to Marry Irene Hirano of JANM

Kenji Taguna, English editor of the Nichi Bei Times, the paper that carries our column, just sent us an email that Hawai'i Sen. Daniel Inouye got engaged to Irene Hirano, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

Here's the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's breaking news story:

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye announced today that he is engaged to Irene Hirano, the president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

Inouye, 83, said the couple will marry May 24 in a private ceremony at a church in Los Angeles.

"Irene is an extraordinary woman of grace, intelligence, and accomplishment," Inouye said. "She is a rare gem in our society. Without question, I am a very fortunate and lucky man."

Inouye's first wife, Margaret "Maggie" Awamura Inouye, died on March 13, 2006. The couple had been married for almost 57 years.

The Hawaii Democrat said in a press release that Hirano is also chairwoman of the American Association of Museums, and serves on the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees.

According to a press release issued from the Japanese American National Museum, Hirano announced today that she would conclude her tenure in June 2009 after 21 years of service with the museum. She was appointed executive director in April 1988 and named president and chief executive in 1999.

Inouye is chairman of the museum's board of governors, according to the institution's Web site.

Bringing Aloha to da Mainland

By Kyle Tatsumoto

In the closing days of 2007, the aisles of grocery stores such as Takahashi Market, Uoki Sakai and Tokyo Fish Market are sure to be jammed with frantic shoppers filling their carts with traditional oshogatsu essentials.

And, while the vast majority of these shoppers won't realize it, a number of the items in their shopping baskets would not be available, if not for Hosoda Bros. Inc., one of the oldest importers of Japanese food products on the West Coast.

According to company President, Satoru Hosoda, the roots of the company date back to 1915, when his grandfather first established a confectionary store in San Francisco, producing and selling traditional Japanese treats such as senbei and yokan.

The current import and wholesale business was founded by the Hosoda brothers, Satoru's father Juro, and his uncle Tokuichi, in the 1930s. The business, of course, was shut down during WWII, but reestablished shortly after the War.

Today, Hosoda Bros. continues to be an important importer of food products from Japan, specializing, as a result of their confectionary origins, in snacks such as arare and senbei, as well as candies. Their product line has been expanded to also include sakes and small household appliances.

More importantly, however to Hawai'i expatriates like the Two Japanee Bruddahs, is the company's key role as an essential culinary lifeline between the Islands and the Mainland. In addition to their line of Japanese products, Hosoda Bros. has, for about 25 years, been importing Hawai'i food products to California and beyond. Anyone from Hawai'i knows how that first taste of Zippy's chili and rice or bite of Portuguese sausage is often the most effective remedy for homesickness.

If you wen evah buy one Hawaiian Sun lilikoi drink, one package of Jade cracked seed or Diamond Bakery soda cracker on da Mainland, probably wen come from da Hosoda Bruddahs. In addition to these local staples, Hosoda Bros. is also the main wholesaler of Kauai Kookie and Lion's Coffee products, as well as Keoki and Ono Ono brand lau lau and kalua pork, among other items, on the West Coast.

Okay, so dey still nevah figah out how fo' import da kine Rainbow Drive Inn mixed plate or one dozen fresh, hot manapua and pork hash from Char Hung Sut to San Francisco, but we stay sure da Hosoda Bruddahs stay working night an' day on dat problem.

Seriously, Satoru Hosoda is always looking for new products to bring in from Hawai'I, but unfortunately, factors such as shipping costs and shelf life limit the viability of many products. For example, he had considered importing Ishiharaya senbei, but after sampling their tea cookies, he realized that the qualities that distinguish their senbei - thin, light and crispy - also make shipping across the Pacific difficult. Ey, instead of senbei, would be one package of da kine Ishiharaya panko by da time stay reach Uoki Sakai market.

The Hawai'i connection was natural for Satoru Hosoda. His father-in-law is from Hawai'i, and two of his daughters have graduated from Hawai'i Pacific University in Honolulu. He notes that the spirit of aloha is real, as he has always had a strong, ohana-like relationship with his Hawai'i suppliers.

Their earliest Hawai'i product was Hawaiian Sun drinks. While it is still their most popular product, through the years, Kauai Kookies, Diamond Bakery products, Keoki and Ono Ono lau lau and Okahara frozen saimin have joined Hawaiian Sun drinks among Hosoda Bros.' best selling Hawai'i items.

In addition to supplying retail stores, Hosoda Bros. is also an important supplier of lau lau and other products to the rapidly growing legion of Hawaiian restaurants on the Mainland, including most of the L&L Hawaiian Barbecue locations.

So, remembah fo' thank da Hosoda Bruddahs da next time you stay ono fo' saimin or lau lau. With over 90 years of history, the company continues to thrive and can look ahead to a bright future. And, unlike too many other family businesses that have disappeared over the years, three of Satoru Hosoda's four children, as well as several other family members work in the business and hope to keep it going strong for at least another 90 years.

The Two Japanee Bruddahs would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our readers for your support over the past year. We truly appreciate all of the comments we've received in person and through our website. We know dat sometimes we stay on da kine "Hawaiian Time," with da column late or even missing some months, but fo' 2008, we goin' try fo' be mo' bettah (we goin' try -- no guarantees). We wish you and your family a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto are da Two Japanee Bruddahs. Visit them on the Web at www.twojapaneebruddahs.com. Or e-mail them at wot@twojapaneebruddahs.com.