2024 Kumiai in Pictures

Many thanks to Heather Fryer, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Hansen for their photos!

We mingled and admired the table decorations


We wandered around, meeting everybody! 

Look at those table decorations! Many thanks to Akiko Masuda for bringing foliage and flowers from Wailea and to Janet Sorenson for the finishing touches, including the candle centerpieces. 

​Janet has supplied the artistic touches to Kumai for YEARS...another cherished tradition.

We honored those who passed since our last Kumai

We paused to honor our Hakalau-Wailea friends and neighbors who passed since our last Kumiai, held in 2019:
  • Kerry Browning
  • John Charlton FitzGerald, II
  • Linda Ann Hartwell
  • Brett Kaneshiro
  • Grace Kissell
  • Antoku Kobashigawa
  • Kinue “Kay” Kobashigawa
  • Edward Sueto Kurokawa
  • Janet Takako Kurokawa
  • Jeane Monnier
  • Philomina “Jo” Rabago
  • Josephine Lerma Vierra
  • Rosemarie Switalski Walker
Picture
Andrei Burghelea and Simona Vaduvescu review bios of those we lost since the last Kumiai.


​We welcomed newcomers



In this photo, from left to right are newcomers Keith and Sally Marrack, Andy and Meg Pulido, Michael and Janie Loquet, Allan and Ever Siposs. Newcomers present, but not shown include Bob and Virginia Juettner, Rick and Faith Jones, Frank and Ilina Hoferek, and Catherine Liufau.



​We reunited with old friends 



Norma and Robert Yara, formerly of Chin Chuck Camp, grew up in Hakalau and moved away more than 50 years ago. Now living on Oahu, they visit Hakalau several times a year. Dinnie Kysar and her husband Gary moved here from Oahu in 2003 and have attended many Kumiai.

And then there were games...and winners!

Guessing games have long been a special feature of Kumiai...especially enjoyed by the winners! Photos below: On left from left to right: Faith Jones commits to her guess, Molly Hart still pondering. Rodger Hansen and Rick Jones chatting in the background. On right: The winners, front: Phoenix Yamashiro; Back: Andrew Jones, Elizabeth Hansen, Faith Jones.
For the Hakalau Kuleana, our responsibility is to care for the land, the people, and the culture. We are guided by cultural values of YESTERDAY: Engage in collective effort. Look out for each other. Honor hard work. Show respect for those who came before us. Aloha and Mālama `Aina. In 2021, Akiko Masuda added two more values to the list: Consistently show up. Whatever has to be done, jump in and do it!