Tomodachi Tour Highlights

 At the Tenryuji Temple in Arashiyama

 At Odaiba with Gundam

Ron and Shirley Fukumoto (Kaimuki), Joanne (Kalani) and Brad Chikuma (RHS)

 Our fearless tour conductor, Bobby Chinen (MHS) with Joann (Oda) Oshima (RHS) and Dayle (Fujii) Hoopai (RHS)

 Ninja Trainees with their sensei at the Toei Movie Studios.

Harold Fujii (RHS), Lance Miwa (Kaimuki '68), Bobby Imoto (Kalani), Stacy Sakumoto (Kalani '68), David Kaneshiro (Kalani) and Keith Aweau (Kamehameha '78)

The Mt. Fuji selfie.

 Overnight sakura blooming in Kyoto.

 Good times with Keith, Bobby, Steph, Jamie (Kalani '79), and Earl (MHS)

 Dayle (Fujii) Hoopai (RHS), Lorenne (Hasebe) Fujii (MidPac '71), and Chris (Sumiye) Imoto (MHS) at Osaka Castle.

 Ben Woo (Kalani '70) and Merle (Yamada) Woo (MHS) await their Tonkatsu at KatsuKura in Kyoto.

Harold Fujii (RHS), Randy Matsumoto (Kaimuki '66), Shiro Osumi (Hatsukaichi '66) and Cheryl (Miwa) Osumi (RHS) at KatsuKura in Kyoto

 Bobby's cone at Toei Studio lot, Kyoto.

Sayonara Dinner at Le Daiba Grand Pacific Hotel
Ben Woo (Kalani '70), Randy Matsumoto (Kaimuki '66), Lani (Kuwana) Harrington (RHS), Rodney Ohta (Farrington '66), Harold Fujii (RHS), Jane (Kuroda) Ohta (RHS), Merle (Yamada) Woo (MHS), and Lorenne (Hasebe) Fujii (MidPac '71)

 Roy Kobashigawa (MHS), Randy (FHS '66) and Jane (RHS) Ohta

 Shiro and Cheryl Osumi, "Kazu" w/ head, Dana (Ikeda) Kobashigawa (RHS)

More from the '69 Tomodachi Tour

 Stacy (Kalani '68) and Karen (Fukuda) Sakumoto at the Nara Sake Brewery

 Dinner in Gion, Kyoto

Myra (Kamikawa) Tamanaha (MHS '70), Veda (Gyotoku) Shimizu (MHS), Bobby Chinen (MHS), Lorenne (Hasebe) Fujii (Mid Pac '71), Harold Fujii (RHS), Amy (Nakata) Kaneshiro (Waipahu '72) and David Kaneshiro (Kalani)

 An Eye for an Eye in Inatori

Bobby Imoto (Kalani) with his Maguro eye and Chris (Sumiye) Imoto (MHS)

At Shinjuku Park with the Sakura

Amy and David Kaneshiro, Shirley (Matsuo) Fukumoto (Kaimuki), Ron Fukumoto (Kaimuki), Brad Chikuma (RHS), Steph (Yim) Miwa (RHS), Joanne (Amioka) Chikuma (Kalani), Chris and Bobby Imoto

At Oishi Koen (park) on the shores of Lake Kawaguchi

 A rare unobstructed view of Fuji san.

 a '69 Tomodachi selfie with photo bombing by Fuji san

Here's the difference between Fuji san and Fujii san.

Harold from RHS

Omiyage

Brad and Joanne do some "shopping" for omiyage at a rest stop in Inatori.

 Lani, Dayle, Brad, Harold (RHS), Lorenne (Mid Pac), and Merle (MHS)

 More omiyage at Ameya Yokocho in Tokyo

Personalized knives anyone?  At Tsukiji Market.

 Strange omiyage here at Harajuku.
Myra  (MHS '70) and Chris (MHS) and Karen (Kalani).

Class of '69 Tomodachi Spring Tour to Japan

(Blow your Mind in '69)

A group of 35 friends, made up mainly of '69 grads from Kalani, Roosevelt, McKinley, and Kaimuki High Schools say hi from the shores of Lake Kawaguchi as they enjoy a rare view of a completely unobstructed Mount Fuji.

From Kalani:

Joanne Amioka Chikuma and husband Brad (RHS '69),

David Kaneshiro and wife Amy (Waipahu '72)

Karen Fukuda Sakumoto and husband Stacy (Kalani '68)

Bobby Imoto and wife Chris (MHS '69)

Ben Woo (Kalani '70) and wife Merle (Yamada) MHS '69

Jamie Hernandez (Kalani '79) and Earl Kawakami (MHS '69)

 

"Sampling" wine at the Isu Higashi Mikan Wine Shop (tangerine wine)

 

Traditional kaiseki dinner at the Se No Umi Ryokan (onsen)

2015 Las Vegas Bash

The joint reunion group of Roosevelt, McKinley, and Kalani '69 grads are finalizing their plans for this year's Las Vegas Bash that will be held at the Orleans from September 23rd to the 28th.

The committee discussed changing the venue for this year's event to try something new.  Although the Orleans package may be a bit higher than the downtown deal, it will definitely present a different experience for all.  One of the advantages to holding it at the Orleans is that a lot of what we need is in one place, so we won't need to travel as much.

More details are coming soon.  So, start checking your calendars and think about holding those dates for this year's LV get together.

*****

This coming Monday, March 23rd, is the departure date for our Class of '69 Tomodachi Japan Tour that will take a group of '69 classmates from Kalani, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Kaimuki on a 12-day adventure chasing the sakura in Osaka, Kyoto, Inatori for an onsen, and Tokyo.  About 1/3 of this group of 34, have never visited Japan, so this will make this tour even more awesome. 

Yes, 2014 has passed and with it our 45th anniversary year.

Ann Moniz Suen watches as our 45th balloons float away.

Or is that a 24?

 What's happening in 2015?

As planned from last year, a group of 69'ers from Kalani, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Kaimuki are headed to Japan in March for the "Class of '69 Tomodachi Tour 2015."  A total of 34 travelers will be chasing the sakura (cherry blossoms) that should be in full bloom while they are there (hopefully).  Traveling from our class are Joanne Amioka Chikuma, David Kaneshiro, Karen Fukuda Sakumoto, and Bobby Imoto with their spouses.
The trip is being organized by Bobby Imoto and his wife Chris (MHS '69) and conducted by Bobby Chinen (MHS '69) of BCT Tours.
 

Also coming up in 2015 is another Las Vegas get together with the joint Roosevelt, McKinley, and Kalani group.  This trip has been set for September 23 to 28th and is already in the planning stage.  If you're interested, watch for upcoming details.  The group plans on using The Orleans as home base for this trip.