WAIMEA — Kaua‘i interim county film commissioner Art Umezu described it as “The Big Aloha,” as he joined Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste, Waimea High School Principal Bill Arakaki, and instructor Gayle Cuizon and students in the leadership program in
WAIMEA — Kaua‘i interim county film commissioner Art Umezu described it as “The Big Aloha,” as he joined Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste, Waimea High School Principal Bill Arakaki, and instructor Gayle Cuizon and students in the leadership program in unveiling a huge “Gambare” banner Friday.
With about 20 days remaining before 70 students from Agenosho High School descend on the Waimea campus in an exchange program, Umezu explained that the soon-to-be host Menehune students realized that their guests had just gone through the wrath of a typhoon that swept through southern Japan recently.
This prompted memories of their own as they relived the experiences of Hurricane ‘Iniki 12 years ago. Under the guidance of Cuizon, about three dozen students in the Waimea High School leadership program set out to show their support for their guests who would be leaving their homes, some devastated by the typhoon, for an experience here.
Umezu explained that the damages incurred by Oshima, Kaua‘i’s sister city, mean that there has been little, if any, communication with Tokyo, and there is widespread damage to homes, businesses, and schools as Oshima prepares for its “Day of Transition,” still scheduled for Friday, Oct. 1.
Additionally, Umezu said he was in communication with Prefectural Senator Yanai, who reported that for two days following the typhoon, the entire island was without electrical power.
On Oct. 1, the four mayoral prefectures will come together as one, the new district being known as Suo-Oshima, and the mayors will no longer have jobs. Umezu said Baptiste’s goodwill tour to Japan will coincide with these formal ceremonies, and he will be part of the transition.
Cuizon is the activities coordinator at Waimea High School, and one of the spearheads of the upcoming Agenosho High School tour which coincides with the mayor’s trip to Japan.
Umezu said that on the day the 70 students arrive at the Waimea campus, the mayor will be making his way onto the campus of Agenosho High School.
Umezu said the giant gesture of aloha and support has been embraced by several other community organizations, one of which offered to ship the banner to Japan where it can be displayed.
Hilo Hattie, one of the stops of the sister city delegation’s tour here, offered up a large aloha shirt which will also be shipped to Japan along with the banner and well wishes from Kaua‘i.
Umezu chuckled as he recollected how Hilo Hattie officers elected to sew an aloha shirt for sumotori Musashimaru, and that shirt ended up being a 5X. By sending a large aloha shirt, Umezu said it ties in with the dress code in Japan where the period between June 21 and Sept. 21 is when people can wear aloha attire to work.
A large aloha shirt will be very difficult for a person to fill, but it demonstrates “the big aloha that comes from the people of Kaua‘i,” Umezu explained.
“Gambare” translates to mean “don’t give up, hang in there, and try your best,” Umezu explained.
In the meantime, if there are people interested in being host families for the arriving Agenosho High School students, Cuizon said they are still accepting offers.
For more information, people may call 338-6814.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
