Volume LVI

Aloha I ke Akea
No. 1

Fall 2015

Beta Beta State

Hawaii

In This Issue

Presidents Message

Presidents
Message

It has been a whirlwind three months since the Spring Convention, so

much has happened. I am proud to be a member of Delta Kappa Gamma
and honored to serve as the Beta Beta (Hawaii) State President. Thank
you to everyone for your friendship and support.

Leadership
Development
Workshop
Southwest
Regional
Conference
Reflections

After months of planning, Hawaii was well represented at the 2015 Southwest Regional
Conference. Twenty-two Beta Beta State sisters, four husbands, and two Alpha Japan sisters
trekked to Wichita. After a few hiccups and flight delays, all of us arrived safely. The conference
was truly inspirational. The keynote speakers and breakout sessions were stimulating. Topics
included: Cyber-bullying, Innovation, and Keeping It Real for Kids. Beta Beta sisters were well
represented as session presenters and facilitators. Patti Jenks and I presided at two different
General Sessions.

Chapter
Highlights
from across
the state
Upcoming
Events

Beta Beta

Hawaii
Chapters
Hawaii
Zeta
Kauai
Eta
Xi
Maui
Gamma

Thank you to all who attended. There are so many people to acknowledge, special gratitude to:
Ellen and Kathy for taking care of the leis;
Our hula dancers: Jenny, Mohala, Maile, Ruth, and Fay. You showed the aloha that
came from your heart;
Pat for a great Presidents Training and for representing Hawaii on the Leadership team;
Pat, Fay, Eileen, and Ellen for their two breakout sessions;
Eileen & Reiko (Alpha Japan) for singing in the chorus and to Eileen for going out at
midnight to pick up Reiko from the airport because her plane was delayed and there was
no shuttle;
Lori, who won the flag, which flew over the Capitol (door prize), at the US Forum and will
be giving it to Wheeler Middle School;
Soo Boo for sharing the delicious chocolates she won as a door prize;
Special thanks to Vicki and Patti for taking care of me and showing me the ropes.
And a special shout out to the new-timers!
During the All States Breakfast on Saturday morning, Fay Toyama invited everyone to the
Southwest Regional Conference in Hawaii on July 4-7, 2017. After she made the invitation
everyone started talking about coming to Hawaii! California has volunteered to help. Texas is
thinking about chartering a plane. Who knows, we may hit Fays goal of 808 attendees.

Oahu
Alpha
Beta
Delta
Epsilon
Iota
Kappa
Lambda
Mu
Theta

Key takeaways: DKG is moving forward. Change is in the air. We are about Key Women
Educators. It doesnt matter where you wear your pin. California and Texas have dropped their
Greek names. Yes, sing The DKG Song if you want to but its okay to change the music.
There were three different renditions at the conference.
So . . . Hawaii, lets keep on moving on. With the biennium theme, Leadership, Membership, &
Making a Difference, we can do it!
Aloha Pumehana,

Donna Min Shiroma

Planners and participants of the June 2015 Leadership Development workshop pause for a photo.

Passing the Torch: DKG Leading the Future

By Jo-An Goss

The 2015 Leadership Development Workshop (LDW) was held on June 13 at Moanalua Middle School. Eighty-six
participants were pleased that their 2014 feedback was honored with a larger venue close in proximity to the airport, and an
adjusted timeframe. It was great to see the chapter teams that came, especially from the neighbor islands!
After a session to reconnect, reflect, and renew, the morning began with a focus on chapter, state, and international
connections by Fay Toyama, our 2017 Southwest (SW) Regional Chair.
Phyllis Unebasami followed by highlighting the beautiful mosaic rose design from last years LDW and then moved the
chapter groups into an Ishikawa Fishbone activity, a strategy to impact chapter Strategic Action Plans (SAPs) and, in
particular, a tool to identify causes of members Many chapters are planning to use this same activity to involve all members to
contribute to possible solutions to chapter challenges.
st

The Nuts and Bolts of Leadership Roles for the various officers and committee chairs included sessions for presidents, 1 and
nd
2 vice-presidents, secretaries, treasurers, archives, history and parliamentary procedure.
V
Chapters participated in a Tellers/Travelers activity led by Jean Matsuo and Kristen Brummel. Attendees quickly realized that
there are similar problems and strengths across chapters! For the closing activity, chapter groups gave a one-minute oral
chapter report to the full group and then individually provided quality written feedback about each aspect of the day.
a
Mahalo to all who attended! Special thanks go to Ruby Hiraishi and her Leadership Committee who spent the year
planning and preparing for this day. Many thanks to all presenters, chairs of committees that provided food and
materials, and to the Moanalua Middle School staff for providing the facilities!

Aa

Iota Chapter invites you to Fall Forum:

September 12, 2015 Pacific Beach Hotel

You may register NOW at: http://iotachapter-hi.org/

Donations needed for the Country Store! Members may fill out our Google Form to let us know what they are
bringing! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19-EdOOxumq7LY22N4ZTcc2gg1iEOmUUnEa67bonBqV8/viewform

Strength in Sisterhood at Fall Forum!

Registrations accepted up until Saturday, Sept.5

Beta
Beta State Hawaii

Aloha I ke Akea

Fall 2015

Volume LVI

No.1

Page 2

Ive a feeling we Are in Kansas!

Southwest Regional Conference 2015
Beta Beta State Spread the Aloha in Kansas submitted by Fay Toyama
Thank you to everyone for your support and special thanks to those
who attended the SWR Conference in Wichita, Kansas! Everyone
worked as a team to distribute the save-the-date and Live Aloha
cards with the plumeria clips. We were so efficient; we even helped
others set up for the breakfast!
Our invitation at the All States Breakfast was a great hit and we
were able to persuade many members to come in 2017. One
member cried and shared her story with us. She was born in Hawaii
when her father was an optician working at Tripler. Her mother
learned the hula and danced the hula for the family for many years.
When she saw the dancers of Hoomaikaiio Pua Lokelani, it
reminded her of her mother. She is very committed to coming in
2017 and there are many more stories like that! Just ask anyone
who went to Kansas! We have expanded our network and also
gained support from other states who are willing to help us in 2017.
L to R: Hula dancers: Ruth Chun (Theta), Maile Agader
(Beta), JennyLee Tam Sing (Mu), Mohala Boncales (Mu),
and Fay Toyama (Theta).

Upon our return, shadow notes were collected and shared at a

meeting of the attendees on August 8 to guide us in our planning.
This information to be shared with the chapter liaisons at Fall Forum.

Plans are underway for presenting an invitation in Nashville, Tennessee July 5-9, 2016. Be part of the BBS Team to spread
the Aloha!

Revisiting Southwest Regional Conferences submitted by Patti Jenks

The return to a regional conference this summer felt comfortably familiar as I packed
knowing what to expect. I looked forward to the general sessions with inspiring speakers
and the mix of traditions and new agenda items. I also looked forward to sharing the
stage with Donna as past state president during the opening procession when we
formalized the passing of leadership with 22 other states in our region. I especially
welcomed the chance to spend time with our outgoing and fun-loving Beta Beta State
and Japan sisters.
However, the most significant difference as a Southwest Conference returnee is the
anticipation of renewing relationships and strengthening connections with those amazing
women outside of Beta Beta State. These women are involved in all levels of DKG and
have taught me a great deal about the parts of the organization that influence, benefit,
and serve both members and non-members. I have befriended women writing books on
a range of personal and professional topics; women making things happen with our
legislature and the United Nations; and women instrumental in funding projects large and
small to support learning and education.

Patti and Donna represent

Beta Beta State

I have a new bond of sisterhood with twenty-one state past presidents. We trained together two years ago and shared stories
about how to lead, laugh and keep our sanity. These awesome, down to earth, intelligent and caring women share the same
challenges and celebrations that I have as a member and leader of Beta Beta State.
Through attendance at Southwest Regionals, I have grown as a DKG member and gained a worldwide and lifelong circle of
friends, mentors, advisors and cohorts. I hope to see each of you in 2017 as you connect beyond BBS and feel the energy,
power and sisterhood within the global community of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

Beta
Beta State Hawaii

Aloha I ke Akea

Fall 2015

Volume LVI

No.1

Page 3

Xi Chapter volunteers at 2015 Kids

Summer Fest at Smiths Tropical Paradise
On June 6, 2015, 11 Xi Chapter members volunteered
at the 2015 Kids Summer Fest. DKG members assisted
with registration for over 1,000 attendees. The annual
Hawaii Pacific Health event was held at Smiths
Tropical Paradise on Kauai. Approximately 235
families came from across the island to participate in
over 20 health and wellness workshops and learn about
healthy, active lifestyles, proper nutrition, and
prevention of injuries.
Thank you Mu sister Lori Furoyama for connecting Xi
with this fantastic community event.

Aloha Beta Beta, Delta Kappa Gamma Sisters. My

name is Rebecca Fries, from Eta Chapter on Kauai.
I have been appointed Beta Beta State, World
Fellowship Chair for the next biennium. Although I
am not new to DKG I am relatively new to Hawaii,
having moved here in 2010 and transferring my
DKG membership to Eta Chapter in 2011. I am
seeking volunteers for my committee from other
Hawaii chapters. Being on the committee would not
require a lot of time commitment and all meetings
could occur via email. I am hoping to get one
volunteer each from the Maui Chapter and the Big
Island Chapter and possibly two volunteers from
Oahu Chapters. My email is
"rfries@hawaiiantel.net" and my phone is 808-3320282. Please email or call if you need more
information or are interested in serving on the
committee.
Mahalo to you all.

Happy Birthday to Kappa Chapter (again)!

submitted by Adele Wada

Kappa Chapter held its annual birthday dinner celebration this past May at Arcadia Retirement
Residence. Dinner was served on the 7th floor in a private dining room followed by a bit of
business in the larger room. The agenda included honoring three sisters who have been in the
chapter for many years: Marilyn Naka, Elaine Stroka and Dr. VerlieAnn Malina-Wright. Marilyn
and VerlieAnn have been with Kappa chapter for many, many years. Elaine had been a DKG
member for decades and when she moved to Hawaii she joined Kappa. The three ladies shared
stories and kept everyone captivated. It is so wonderful to hear the stories from Delta Kappa Gamma
sisters, there is so much to learn from them!

Beta
Beta State Hawaii

Aloha I ke Akea

Fall 2015

Volume LVI

No.1

Page 4

A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

submitted by Millie Wellington

ETAs executive team pledged in its 2015-16 program of work to: leave a LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP;
achieve substantial results through COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS in advocating for EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATION; exemplify INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP; and create a vibrantly productive sisterhood with
programs relevant to our members personal and professional interest.
October will begin our final year of this biennium with the presentation of one of our three top Legacy Development
Projects, BOOKS FOR KEIKI. The projects committee will share how it intends to stimulate parent-child oral
language development and communication through the love of reading books. A community service leaflet with
recommendations on how to read to children in specific age levels from birth to age 5 will be provided with gift
books. The leaflet was developed by ETA Chapter and has been printed for distribution through Good Beginnings,
Child & Family Services, Head Start-Kauai and PATCH. Mentoring parents in Reading to Your Child sessions
is being considered as an additional feature to this legacy of leadership development project.
A well attended Back to School event held in July at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center expanded our
partnerships with community at the give-away of 1000 bags which ETA sisters stuffed with school supplies
being donated by shops operating at the shopping center. Sponsorships includedWalmart, Bank of Hawaii,
McDonalds, Wilcox Hospital, Kauai Credit Union members, Macys and more.

L toR:Myra Mayer,
Vicky Medeiros,
Janice Bond,
Robyn Keawe,
Donna Nakahara,
Lillian Takanishi,
Joanne McDowall,
Marjorie
Nakashima, Millie
Wellington
th

On June 24 the Rotary Club of Poipu Beach awarded a

grant of $500 to ETA Chapter to support its BOOKS FOR KEiKI
Legacy Development project. ETA representatives were invited
to participate in the Rotary Clubs walking unit at the Koloa
Plantation Days Parade in July. L to R: Myra Mayer, Janis Bond,
Rebecca Fries, Joanne McDowall and Marly Madayag

Beta Beta State and

Japan sisters
strengthen their
friendships at
Southwest Regional
Conference in
Wichita, Kansas.
Southwest Regional
Conference photos
courtesy of Jim Miller

Beta
Beta State Hawaii

Aloha I ke Akea

Fall 2015

Volume LVI

No.1

Page 5

Mu Chapter Highlights
Seven members from Mu Chapter attended the 2015 SouthWest Regional in Wichita,Kansas from July 22 to
July 25 : Patti Jenks, Ellen Tanoura, Sharon Inamine, Lori Furoyama, and first-timers Soo Boo Tan,
JennyLee Tam Sing and Mohala Boncales. Merited Mu members Eileen Clarke and Kathy Sakuda also
joined us. Patti presided at a general session, while Ellen and Eileen presented a breakout session on the
Hawaii-Japan project, presided by Kathy. Jenny and Mohala led a hula at the All States Breakfast to
welcome attendees to the 2017 SW Regional in Hawaii, and represented Hawaii again at the closing of the
conference in the Talent Showcase at the Celebrating Boots and Bling dinner. Lori Furoyama won a US
Flag for the US Forum session, and Soo Boo won a door prize at the General Session (three boxes of
Kansas chocolates - our dessert later at All Hawaii dinner night!).

Lori won a US flag at the US Forum

Mu members and Pat at All Hawaii Dinner
at the SW Regional Conference Hotel.

First-timer luck: Door prize chocolate winner!

Save the date! Mark your calendars!

Spring Convention hosted by Delta Chapter

April 8 and 9, 2016. Location TBA.
Country Store donations needed: Baked goods and other food items, produce, homemade craft
items, plants, and donations of new and unused items. No white elephant items or books.
Silent auction donation items: new items with a value of $50 or more. One per chapter please.


Beta Beta State Hawaii

Aloha I ke Akea

Fall 2015

Volume LVI

No.1

Page 6