Remarks by Consul General Yoshihiko Kamo 
at the Annual Installation Banquet of the United Japanese Society of Hawaii

June 23, 2012

Good Morning and Aloha!

I don’t want to sound complaining but it is always challenging to speak after Mayor Carlisle. I hope next time I will be put before he speaks. I am fully aware that I should conclude my speech shortest as we now quietly look forward to the end of the first part of the program so we can enjoy lunch by calling upon Reverend Matsumoto who would give us thanksgiving words before lunch. Anyway, we have heard great remarks from our community leaders by now. It seems all nice and important things have been told already. There is not much room left for me to say. So I would rather disappear gracefully as soon as possible after my short remarks.

It is indeed my pleasure to be invited to UJSH ‘s Annual Installation Banquet. This is my third time to participate in this auspicious event and each time I found the event very special and memorable. It is my honor and privilege to be part of this large happy crowd gathering here to send off with much appreciation the outgoing president and his officers who have done a great job to lead successfully this flagship organization in the Japanese American community in Honolulu and welcome the newly elected president and her officers with much cheers and expectations. Everybody agrees that David Arakawa did a fabulous job as president at a critical juncture of the times. Congratulations and thank you David for your work at the UJSH. With your able leadership the Renkyo (UJSH) has grown stronger. I wish Christine a most successful term. Under her dynamic leadership, I am certain that the UJSH will continue to grow and prosper.

I said my speech should be short. I know it’s almost lunchtime. I need to disappear. But before I go, I just want to get out one message to the audience. In the past Renkyo Banquets, I always admired the program featuring a Kanji character in the center of the front page. This time again, I see the character there. What you see there is a Kanji character “wa”. “Wa” means unity, harmony, togetherness and peace as is footnoted there. I take “wa” as UJSH’s symbol word. It stands for what the UJSH is all about or endeavoring to get at. The UJSH has been in existence at core of the Japanese American community in Hawaii for the past 50 and more years. It unites people from all walks of life in Hawaii’s Japanese American community. Perhaps the State of Hawaii or the city and county of Honolulu may claim that what I am going to say holds more true to their case, their accomplishments or policies, but I want to say that the UJSH best shows and practices “unity in the diversity.” Unity in the diversity is certainly an important attribute to our society in Hawaii as a whole where ethnic and cultural diversity flourish. But it is the UJSH that embodies this spirit by their wide ranging activities throughout the year, over the so many years. It is a proud tradition that under the UJSH leadership the Japanese American community in Hawaii will go strong in unison, embracing all the differences and values. I hope you will have a most successful year with the new leadership. Congratulations!