Virtual Community of Kama'aina
Throws Launch Bash

Nichi Bei Times - October 2004

Dave Kozuki (left), founder of Global Pau Hana,
mingles with event guests.

By Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto
The Two Japanee Bruddahs

Almost 200 people crowded The Park bar Sept. 25 to celebrate the official "coming out" of Global Pau Hana, the online community of kama'aina and Hawai'i aficionados.

The evening reminded many party-goers of the Pau Hana events thrown a few years ago when "dot-com" was still a good word. Pau Hana founder Dave Kozuki would send out just one email, and hundreds of kama'aina would turn out to bars all over the Bay Area.

The crash in the early '90s also affected these Pau Hana gatherings, but if this event was any indication, people are ready to party Pau Hana-style again.

"By growing this community and network of people, there are going to be a lot of benefits that flow back to Hawai'i," said Kozuki. "Friendships will be formed, cultural events are going to be done, deals are going to be made and somehow that's all going to flow back. That's the intent, to really help Hawai'i."

One Groove, a popular contemporary Hawaiian band (and Menlo College graduates), played that night and got people off their feet. Bryan Li of the Crack Seed Center (www.crackseedcenter.com) gave out gift certificates and Hawaiian Host (www.hawaiianhost.com) gave away a nice gift basket.

T-shirts were also given as prizes by Stewart Shirasu, principal owner of The Park (www.theparksf.com), which is - as you might guess - located on 3rd Street, across from SBC Park, between Townsend and King.

Shirasu, an Iolani School graduate, now Redwood Shores resident, was thrilled at the turnout.

He wants more Hawai'i-related events at The Park. On Nov. 13, his bar will host another Hawaiian music band, Kolohe Bruddahs, and a happy hour mixer for local girl Kim Shinjo and the Japan Society on Oct. 20.

If you haven't yet checked out Global Pau Hana, visit www.globalpauhana.org. The typical user will register and create a profile on the site that includes his or her name, hometown, current residence, high schools, colleges, employment, interests and photos.

The user can then join an existing geographic group such as Hawai'i, San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Colorado, Orange County, Orlando, Seattle, New York, Chicago, London, Shanghai or Tokyo - as well as a group related to an area of interest such as alumni groups or professional affiliations.

Hawai'i Chamber Networking Event in San Jose

The Hawaii Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and the Japanese American Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley are joining together to bring their members a business networking event on Oct. 20 from 6 p.m. at the Citibank offices on 3510 Leigh Avenue in San Jose.

Sponsored by Citibank and Hukilau, the event is free for members of the two groups and $10 for non-members. Light appetizers and refreshments will be provided. RSVPs are requested via email to membership@hccnc.com.

And speaking of Hukilau, they recently opened up a third location in Palo Alto, making spam musubi and kalua pig more accessible to the masses. The new joint is on 642 Ramona Street, about a block and a half south of University Avenue. Visit www.dahukilau.com for more information.

One Local Girl and the Wife of the (Future) Vice President

When Sen. John Edwards was formally nominated as the Democratic vice presidential candidate, not only did he have to ramp up his staff for the campaign, but his wife needed a staff of her own.

Mrs. Edwards turned to former Clinton appointee Laura Efurd to serve temporarily as her chief of staff. Efurd, who is originally from Mililani like Bruddah Keet, took the position on the condition that she would only serve for the transition in order to return back to the Bay Area and her job at the Community Technology Foundation of California.

Although Efurd and Bruddah Keet did not know each other back home in Hawai'i, her father was Keet's pastor at the neighborhood Baptist church when he was only a keiki.

One Noddah Local Girl Actually Is Vice President

It was recently announced that Carole Hayashino, a local girl at heart and also by virtue of her being married to Bruddah Kyle, was appointed as vice president of advancement at California State University, Sacramento.

Hayashino began her SFSU career in advancement when she was hired in 1997 as director of development. At the time the University had a modest fundraising operation. Since then she has shepherded a period of growth in giving to SFSU, helping to secure funding for the first endowed chairs in campus history as well as other large gifts from individual donors and private foundations and increasing the rate of giving to the annual fund.

One of Hayashino's legacies that is close to her heart is the Garden of Remembrance, a garden and monument on campus that honors the Japanese Americans interned during World War II -- including the 19 students who were forced to leave their SF State studies.

Hayashino is also an SFSU alum and has taught classes in Asian American Studies. She begins her new position in late October.

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Keith Kamisugi and Kyle Tatsumoto are da Two Japanee Bruddahs. Visit them on the Web at www.twojapaneebruddahs.com. Or e-mail them at wot@twojapaneebruddahs.com.

 

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