RIP Senator Daniel Inouye

Senator Daniel Inouye has passed away at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, his office confirms.

Senator Daniel Inouye passed away this morning

Senator Daniel Inouye passed away this morning

United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye, World War II veteran, Medal of Honor recipient and Hawaii’s senior Senator, passed away from respiratory complications at 5:01 p.m. Eastern Standard Time today at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

His wife Irene and his son Ken were at his side. Last rites were performed by Senate Chaplain Dr. Barry Black.

He is survived by his wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, his son Daniel Ken Inouye Jr., Ken’s wife Jessica, and granddaughter Maggie and step-daughter Jennifer Hirano. He was preceded in death his first wife, Maggie Awamura.

Senator Inouye’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for the extraordinary care he received.

The story of Dan Inouye is the story of modern Hawaii. During his eight decades of public service, Dan Inouye helped build and shape Hawaii.

Senator Inouye began his career in public service at the age of 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He served with ‘E’ company of the 442 Regimental Combat Team, a group consisting entirely of Americans of Japanese ancestry. Senator Inouye lost his arm charging a series of machine gun nests on a hill in San Terenzo, Italy on April 21, 1945. His actions during that battle earned him the Medal of Honor.

Following the war he returned to Hawaii and married Margaret “Maggie” Awamura, and graduated from the University of Hawaii and the George Washington University School of Law.

After receiving his law degree, Dan Inouye, returned to Hawaii and worked as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu. He recognized the social and racial inequities of post-war Hawaii, and in 1954 was part of a Democratic revolution that took control of the Territorial Legislature.

Following statehood in 1959, Dan Inouye was privileged to serve as Hawaii’s first Congressman. He ran for the Senate in 1962 where he served for nearly nine consecutive terms.

Dan Inouye spent his career building an enduring federal presence in Hawaii to ensure that the state would receive its fair share of federal resources. He worked to expand the military’s presence on all major islands, stabilizing Pearl Harbor, building up the Pacific Missile Range and constructing a headquarters for the United States Pacific Command.

He has worked to build critical roads, expanded bus services statewide and secured the federal funds for the Honolulu Rail Transit project. He championed the indigenous rights of Native Hawaiians and the return of Kahoolawe.

He fought for the rights and benefits for veterans. Senator Inouye has left an indelible mark at the University of Hawaii, including support for major facilities and research assets. He has long supported local agriculture and alternative energy initiatives.

Dan Inouye was always among the first to speak out against injustice whether interned Japanese Americans, Filipino World War II veterans, Native Americans and Native Hawaiians.

A prominent player on the national stage, Senator Inouye served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Commerce Committee and was the first Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

After developing a reputation as a bipartisan workhorse, who always would put country above party, he was asked by the Senate leadership to chair the special committee investigating the Iran Contra Affair. This was after a successful tenure as a member of the Watergate Committee.

When asked in recent days how he wanted to be remembered, Dan said, very simply, “I represented the people of Hawaii and this nation honestly and to the best of my ability. I think I did OK.”

His last words were, “Aloha.”

Rest In Peace Guy Toyama – The “Mayor” of NELHA

I’ve just learned of the passing of a good friend and a great person, Guy Toyama.

According to Hawaii24/7:

“…Toyama, 42, finished the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Miracle Mile fun run Saturday evening and later collapsed.

He was rushed to Kona Community Hospital and later airlifted to The Queens Medical Center on Oahu, but could not be saved…”

Here are some of the awesome things Guy has done in just the last year:

Just last month he interviewed Mayor Kenoi:

Just last month Guy Toyama interviewed Mayor Kenoi on his new talk show.

A few months before that he introduced us to the Hydrogen Powered Scooters:

Guy Toyama rides a hydrogen fuel scooter

Back in March, his Abalone Poke won the Sam Choy’s Poke Contest in Keauhou:

I’m glad I got a chance to meet him personally and I’m saddened to hear of this.

Ian Kitajima wrote the following:

…He was NELHA’s evangelist…and will forever be the Mayor of NELHA. I am grateful that I got to spend a beautiful Saturday with Guy as he gave me an amazing behind the scenes tour of NELHA. Guy and NELHA are amazing!

Uncle George Na’ope Passed Away Today

I have just learned that Uncle George Na’ope has passed away today.

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Uncle George Na'ope

George Na’ope was co-founder of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival and served as one of the first judges of the competition. He has judged hula competitions worldwide. He travelled the world over performing and teaching hula. “Uncle” George believes that hula is for everyone; not just Hawaiians.

George Na’ope was born in Hilo, and at age three his grandmother Malia Na’ope started him in hula. At four he began to study with Mary Kanaele who was mother and teacher to Edith Kanaka’ole. When he moved to O’ahu, he studied for ten years with Joseph Ilala’ole. He also studied with Antone Kao’o, Iolani Luahine, Lokalia Montgomery, Annie Hall and Jennie Wilson. He ‘uniki’d from Tom Hiona.

He began to teach at age thirteen, because his family was poor, charging fifty cents per week so he could get through school. He taught chant and kahiko to the Ray Kinney dancers, and travelled with Ray Kinney.

“I want to share because if we don’t share these dances, they are going to die. My students are all different races but when they dance, I know they’re Hawaiian.” http://www.kalena.com/uncle_george.html