IPA Students Participate In JASH’s Japan Day

Students from Kapolei’s Island Pacific Academy join three other state high schools for Japan- America Society of Hawaii’s Bi-Annual McInerny Foundation Japan Day from 9 a.m. to noon May 6 at Toho No Hikari Church.

The program features expert volunteers who present hands-on cultural activities such as bon dance lessons led by Betty Dela Cuesta of Hawaii Shin Kobukai; calligraphy brush lessons with Setsuko Tokumine; ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrang- ing); kimono and yukata dressing with Jean Sakihara and Kimono Project USA at University Laboratory School; origami lessons with Hawaii Origami Club; soroban (Japanese abacus) demonstrations and instruction with Hideki Oshima of Araki Hiroya Soroban School; and participation in a tea ceremony with Urasenke Foundation. Taiko Center of the Pacific opens the ceremony with a taiko demonstration.

JASH’s goal is to introduce cultural programs like these to Hawaii’s youths to demonstrate “how traditional cultural values are honored and perpetuated, show the richness of cultures that may be different from their experiences, and to respect people of different cultural backgrounds.” The nonprofit has been offering educational events such as Japan Day since 1993. Visit jashawaii.org for more information.