Five-Star Aloha Gala To Recognize Takahashi Market and Mary Bitterman
Nichi Bei Times - April 2004
We no tink Tokutaro Takahashi thought in 1906 dat his store would one day be a mecca for buddhaheads hungry for poi, kalua pig and poke. His business, serving stagecoaches on their way to and from San Francisco, would later become Takahashi Market.
Almost a century later, the San Mateo business bearing his name has become an adopted home for many former Hawai'i residents who crave the Hawaiian and Asian foods they grew up with.
The family and staff of Takahashi Market continue to make new friends from Hawai'i by displaying the aloha spirit and helping recent arrivals connect with Hawai'i-related events, restaurants and businesses in the Bay Area. For many years, they published a resource guide to help new Hawaiian arrivals, and its store bulletin board features the most current Hawai'i activities and events in the Bay Area.
The Takahashi family, their employees and their legacy of making life mo' easy fo' kama'aina expats will be commemorated as they receive the Hawai'i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California's Kulia I Ka Nu'u award at the annual Five-Star Aloha Gala on Saturday, May 15 - this year held at the Maritime Museum in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
The Two Japanee Bruddahs can easily see Dr. Mary Bitterman browsing through the Takahashi Market aisles looking fo' some ono grinds. Mary, a fourth-generation Californian, and a beloved kama'aina, will also receive a Kulia I Ka Nu'u award at the gala for her contributions towards Hawai'i business and culture in the Bay Area.
Mary was still newly graduated from Santa Clara University when former Hawai'i Gov. George Arioyshi picked her to lead the state department of commerce and consumer affairs in, well, you know when. Suffice to say, da sistah is still young.
Mary became part of Gov. Ariyoshi's young squadron of leaders that not only ran his government, but later became powerhouses in Hawai'i business, politics and community.
In Mary's case, she became the executive director of the Hawai'i Public Broadcasting Authority and served on the board of the internationally recognized East-West Center's Institute of Culture and Communication in Honolulu, not to mention the countless community organizations she wen kokua.
Mary's accomplishments also include being president and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation, president and CEO of KQED, and director of Voice of America under former President Jimmy Carter.
Today, Mary is the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, which supports lifelong learning programs at 41 colleges and universities in eleven states, including Hawai'i. In addition to being vice-chairman of the Public Broadcasting Service and serving on numerous boards, she is still an influence on Hawai'i business as a board member of the Bank of Hawai'i.
The Two Japanee Bruddahs invite readers to join us and the Hawai'i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California (we both stay on da board, so try come) to the Five-Star Aloha gala. Going be fun!
The theme of the event will be "Navigating our Future," appropriately taking place just steps away from the San Francisco Bay and the piers where ocean liners previously embarked on their journeys across the Pacific. Rick Quan, KPIX's veteran sports reporter and a former Hawai'i resident, will be this year's guide as guests explore the culture and experience the unique synergy of Hawai'i. Jim Andrasick, CEO of Matson, will deliver the evening's keynote.
The event will also showcase the designs of fashion designer Colleen Quen and the music of Konane and Island Touch, accompanied by traditional island dance performances. Massimo's Catering will provide a variety of savory and sumptuous island inspired dishes as well exotic dishes which highlight local California ingredients.
Five-Star Aloha, produced by the Hawai'i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California: Saturday, May 15, 2004; 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Maritime Museum in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Tickets are currently available for $100 and $125 after May 1. For more information on the event and to purchase tickets online, visit www.hccnc.com, e-mail joni@dahukilau.com or kim_kohara@yahoo.com, or call (415) 921-6233.
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Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto are da Two Japanee Bruddahs. Come visit us on da Intanet at www.twojapaneebruddahs.com. Mahalo!
Mary Bitterman
(top) and Takahashi
Market (bottom), award recipients at
2004 Five-Star Aloha by HCCNC