The Year 2001 has been one of great tragedy and one with a rapid decline in our area’s economy. Despite these challenges, the HCCNC has been able to move forward and continue to achieve its mission and create value for itself as a young organization.

The continued support of its board and its members, as well as the encouragement received from companies and individuals that see the value of the HCCNC, is heartening and makes me feel revitalized about the past and upcoming years.

The following is a summary of our major activities and programs completed in 2001:

1) The major event of the year was the addition of several key board members, each bringing their tremendous experience and energy to the organization. The new members are:   Susan Haramoto Scott Hayashi Keith Kamisugi Dave Kozuki Sululagi Palega (Advisory Board) We will be featuring 2 profiles on all of our members from the board each month in our newsletter so that the everyone in the HCCNC ohana can find out more about our dedicated volunteers. 2) Finally something in your email that you look forward to reading, the HCCNC Monthly Newsletter. The response has been tremendous, with many people writing to us about their ideas appreciating the newsletter as well as helpful suggestions on how the newsletter can be better used to further build bridges for us Hawai`i ex-pats living here in the Bay Area. 3) What is spring without Cherry Blossoms and a beautiful Cherry Blossom Queen and Court. We participated and supported the annual San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival, welcoming the visiting Queen and court from Hawai`i. This was a great event where we continued our objective of community outreach and helping to make connections between the Bay Area and Hawai`i. 4) We ventured into a new city and made new friends at the annual Port of Oakland Portfest in Jack London Square. There we met several people from the East Bay originally from Hawai`i who joined the HCCNC and enjoyed our delicious kalua pork sandwiches……or as we called them, “Hawaiian BBQ Pork Sandwiches.” 5) PICA’s Aloha Festival was tremendous this year, under the blue skies of the Presidio in San Francisco. And what is an Aloha Festival without the HCCNC? We met with small businesses that were selling everything from leis to t-shirts to beautiful handcrafted wood carvings. At the HCCNC booth nearly 50 of these businesses signed-up to join the HCCNC. 6) The 3rd Annual Road Warriors Tailgate was to have been the largest and grandest, taking place in the front plaza area of Harrah’s Hotel in the center of Reno. However, due to the events of 9/11, this was cancelled. Although many were disappointed what resulted was astounding. Kurt Osaki, our vice president, created “United We Stand” t-shirts, with the UH and HCCNC logos jointly representing our spirit to live our lives as normally as possible following 9/11 and the Aloha Spirit. We organized what was to be a small tailgate just outside of the stadium on the date of the postponed game. We had to actually stop sales of the t-shirts to all the Reno fans just so that we would have some left for the fans from Hawai`i. Everyone there rallied around the HCCNC and our resolve to continue the Tailgate tradition, bringing Hawai`i fans together on the mainland. Although this was the smallest Tailgate, in many respects, it was the most successful. 7) The Bay Area College Hawai`i Clubs are going strong. We initiated a new program called the HCCNC University Liaison Program. Under the direction of board member Cori Miller, this program will seek to bring the benefit, advice and mentorship of HCCNC members who are from Hawai`i and now living and working in the Bay Area to students studying here and interested in life after college in the mainland. Under this program, the HCCNC will host an annual Hawai`i Club President’s dinner and opportunities for various clubs to have HCCNC members present to their students. We will also develop a program to help students contact with employers back in Hawai`i to find job opportunities. 8) We helped the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism of Hawai`i in their campaign to build and improve Hawai`i’s image as a place to do business. This is a cause dear to all of our hearts to demonstrate to the world that the human capital in Hawai’i is as talented as any where in the world.

We are excited with the prospects of the coming year. We have formed a projects committee to manage new opportunities to build relationships and business with Hawai’i and the Bay Area and we have a new membership committee that will be re-launching a major membership drive. All of your continued support and interest is appreciated.

Mele Kalikimaka e Hau`oli Makahiki Hou!

Eric Tao
President
Hawai`i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California

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