At the 3rd World Buddhist Women’s Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii in June 1967, a resolution to adopt the Student Exchange program was passed. In 1971 the first two young women, Jan Aratani and Gail Mamura were sponsored by the Hawaii Federation of BWAs and selected to go to Japan . Since then until 2019, 42 others have traveled to Japan. The most recent young women were Chloe Oshiro of Mililani Hongwanji and Katelyn Otani of Pearl City Hongwanji. Their reflections can be found in the most recent HI Federation Newsletter Fall 2019.
On Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Jikoen Hongwanji an “Aloha Reunion Tea” is being planned from 1:00 – 3:00. It will be a time to reconnect with these young women. We’ll have tea and signature goodies from each island. (event follows the Spring Rep Mtg.). It’ll be a wonderful talk story time, since some of them might be traveling from places beyond Honolulu, Hawaii where they are now working or residing.
Assisting President Lois Toyama are Irene Nakamoto, Barbara Brennan, Caroline Otani (Class of ’87), Wendie Yumori and Carol Valentine.
Susan Kakuda (Class of ’93) first row (left) Katelyn Ohtani and Chloe Oshiro (Class of 2019)
