Vegas Reunion Update

Jimmy, Branden, Sharene Ichiyama, Kurt, Derek, Scott and Corey at Las Vegas International. This was in the midst of their 12 hour delay on the way home. Kinda made my 4am drive back to Los Angeles seem mild.

Thanks Denise for sending the pic.

Don't forget, 40th birthday reunion planning is underway! Contact your local representative. Mahalo!

Vegas Reunion

Here is a link to pics from Vegas:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35454&l=2c7b6&id=611613115

You should be able to view the pics even if you haven't joined facebook, but everyone should join since its the easiest way for folks to keep in touch and post pics, etc...

Hope everyone enjoyed Vegas, I certainly did. Thanks to Cec and Kathleen and everyone for putting the event together. I know everyone wasn't there for this, but I'm not sure if I ever had more fun on a craps table than that night when we had the entire table at the Venetian. I just wish I had parlayed my hard eight when Jimmy was rolling.... oh well....

I know some other folks took some pics, so hopefully you can send them to Kathleen, Cec (or you can send them to me) to post. If you want one of the pics in the original resolution, send me a note (facebook doesn't store the high res photo) and I'll send it to you via e-mail.

I have a question for those not on Facebook (and those on too, Iguess) whether or not you would like to see me (or some other volunteer) keep up the blog (iolani88.blogspot.com). I'm willing to do it if folks like reading it. I haven't updated it in a while, but if people are still interested, I will keep it more current.

Also, Cec, Kathleen and I were talking the last night we were there at the Cal about our 25 year or our 40th birthday reunion. Considering how much fun everyone had in Vegas, and Kochis, I'm sure there is interest in getting together again. A Mexico cruise idea was floated, and there was some interest....gambling, all you can eat, pool, karaoke, no worrying about drinking and driving...what does everybody think?

Anyway, great seeing everyone in Vegas, and personal thanks to Kathleen, Orbs and Rick Shintaku for letting me crash. Hey Rick, I noticed you weren't back even when I left for LA. Did you get home okay?

34 classmates on Facebook

Hi everyone, just thought I would give folks that might read this blog and update on Iolani 88 Facebook participation. We currently have 34 classmates on facebook, and it seems to be growing everyday. If you're not already on facebook, you might ask, why do I need something else on the internet to waste my time? Well, what is nice about the site is that you are able to add only those who you want add (and vice verse) and you can set your privacy settings accordingly, so that only your friends (or even specific members) see your profile and/or pictures you may upload. Like you may not want folks in the class of 87 seeing your photos. But for our purposes, there is an Iolani 88 group on Facebook, which is like this blog only that it is much easier for folks to add comments, post their own pictures, and add events like the recent reunion at Kochi's and the upcoming Vegas event. Anyway, I don't work for facebook, but it has been a wonderful tool to get in touch with our classmates.

After 20 years...

I posted a couple of these videos to the Iolani 88 Facebook page (for those of you who haven't joined Facebook, come on, get with the program!). A recent Iolani grad (I think his name is Greg Katara and a friend of his) took a bunch of videos (I think 12 in all) just walking around Iolani's campus. For many of us (like me), a walk around campus last occurred 20 years ago. Below is the video from the art building, with a walk through Mr. Robert's ceramics lab. Enjoy!

Let's all drink the Kool-Aid

Okay, I'm not sure how many folks are still reading this blog, but in an effort to further intra-class of 88 communication, I'm encouraging you to join Facebook if you haven't already. Had you joined Facebook already you would have known that Cathryn Rosa recently had a beautiful baby girl, Naomi, and you would have been already enjoying Orbs' ever changing profile picture. So what are you waiting for, grab your glass and have some kool-aid.

Vegas anyone!??!

Cec just informed me that preliminary plans are underway for a Iolani 88 trip to Vegas. Tentatively, the date is sometime in October, but basically it would be whenever there is a critical mass of folks wanting to go and committed. Please contact Cec at ctsuch1@hotmail.com, if you are interested or have ideas about the trip or would like to help her plan. If it's any motivation (and it is for me), I'm sure we'll make a trip to the all you can eat sushi place, pictured to the right (along with Jimmy Wong).

Kimberly Malia Hiramoto

IMG_7331.JPG, originally uploaded by RemyOmar.

Hello Everyone:

I just wanted to announce the birth of our daughter Kimberly Malia Hiramoto. She was born on December 4, 2007, at 1:13pm by Cesarean section. She was 9lbs and 21 inches long. We are all back home, and Katrina and Kimberly are doing well.

In related news, Cathryn Rosa is also about to have a baby. Please join me in wishing Catt well on her upcoming new arrival.

Double News: Iolani Overpowers Kauai by Chance Gusukuma

Hopefully we can get more info from our resident actor/journalist, but it looks like Chance is writing for the Star-Bulletin. Covering our alma mater, to top it off. Way to go, Chance! You can read his story here.

Chance is also an accomplished actor. The image is from Chance's performance in 2004 as a plantation worker in Kathryn Bond's "Cane Fire". Click on the image for the story.

2 Wild and Crazy Gals

We are fast approaching 20 years since we all left Iolani. What's more concerning is that we are all approaching 40! And yet, annoyingly, we find that some classmates have ceased to age. Here's a picture (and granted it's two years old) of our classmates Erica Chong and Andrea Saranchock, looking like they just left high school (in a good way, I should say, before I get any hate mail). Erica e-mailed that she is living in Australia (working for Qantas), and still stays in touch with Andrea. Erica made a note to say that she isn't partying as hard as she used to (right), but holds her own in Aussie drinking contests with her boyfriend. Erica also indicated that Andrea has a beautiful 7 year old son. Congrats, Andrea!

(this corrects the previous post indicating Andrea's son was only 2, Erica e-mailed to tell me that she might have been "jet-lagged" when she last wrote to me)

'Iolani Girls Volleyball #1

'iolani shoots down the flying zeroes on puns' own home court, originally uploaded by Watari Goro 渡五郎.

Iolani defeated Punahou (at Punahou) to go to 15-0 and hold their number 1 ranking in the state.

Go Iolani!!

Star Bulletin story here
Honolulu Advertiser story here

Thanks again to Steve Okubo the graphics and heads up on the story!